How to Get Your Money's Worth From Craft Supplies

If I think about how much money I've invested into the various supplies and tools that populate my craft room, I would have some serious sticker shock! Sure, it was only a dollar or two here and there, some larger purchases for the tools, but even at $5 a pop, it all adds up. The most important thing, of course, is to make sure I get that investment back by being able to use my supplies to their fullest potential--and I'm sure you feel the same. Here are some tips.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Store your materials properly. Paper should be stored flat in order to avoid crumpled edges or bowing from vertical storage. Paints and glues should be kept within the temperature ranges listed on the bottles and tubes to avoid separation or drying out. Brushes should be cleaned immediately and stored flat or bristles-up to preserve their shape. Simple things like this can make the difference between usable supplies and wasted money.

2. Organize your supplies, because if you can't find it, you can't use it and might end up spending more on a replacement. Whether your supplies fill a bookcase, a closet or an entire room, making a place for everything and keeping it there will prevent overbuying and save you time when you get an idea. The less time you spend hunting for your supplies, the better.

3. Evaluate larger purchases based on versatility. A prime example of this is shaped cake pans; they can cost a lot per pan and seem to have limited use, but if you trace the basic shape of the pan and just look at that--instead of the colorful insert--from a few different angles--you might be surprised at what that pan can do! For instance, a simple snowman pan can easily be turned into a light bulb, an ant, a spider, a swimming pool or a mismatched pair of eyes showing shock or surprise. Lots of possibilities make this a good investment.

4. Buy quality tools to start with to save money on replacements later. Sometimes you really do get what you pay for, so when you're faced with a tool that costs $2 and the same one that costs $10, look at why the price is so different. If it's just a brand issue or a pretty color, the extra expense may not be justified, but if the price increase is due to higher quality materials or comes from a company that has a better track record or a lifetime guaranty, then you might want to consider spending the extra money to ensure you're happiness with the product.

5. Save and use your scraps and leftovers. Frugal crafters know that many leftover bits of yarn or scraps of fabric can be used for accents or embellishments later on, and will keep them for just that reason. Partial sheets of paper can be used in decoupage or to mat stickers, buttons or charms on cards or scrapbook pages. Again, knowing what you have is important, so try to keep them organized and ready to go.

[gailM]

on 1/1/2009 You are right that we need to take good care of our expensive craft supplies. I look for these at yard sales, to minimize the expense.