Where To Find Inexpensive Art and Craft Supplies

You are a Hobbyist and find crafts very fulfilling. However, engaging in arts is also expensive. What to do then? Where to go for cheap art and craft supplies? May be somewhere mentioned in the following list!

Local Library: For old, colorful magazines and books that can be used in collage, mixed media and altered art.

Recycle Groups: Join the groups in your area on some recycle websites. You might get a bag of fabric scraps or some old leather item for your next project.

Online Communities for Classifieds: Check the network of online communities, featuring free online classified advertisements. You might get something at lower prices.

Thrift and Resell Stores: Most of them have a section of art and craft supplies. Otherwise too, you might find other items that you can turn into craft supplies especially when you need fabric or books.

Family, Friends, and Neighbors: Check with them. Exchange items among yourselves. What is a waste for them, might be useful for you and vice versa.

Local Shops and Decorators: Upholstery, furniture shops and decorators might be willing to sell their scrap to you at very low prices. Don't hesitate to ask them though politely. Grocery shops can also give you wooden crates etc.

Local Dollar Store: Not all will be quality material but it's a good location to look at and stock up on some basics like paint brushes and storage containers.

Children's Discarded Stationary: Look into the discarded stationary items, pencil boxes, bags etc. of you own or relatives, friend's children. You might find craft paper, crayons, paints etc. from there.

Discount Websites: There are many discount websites. Check them, see what online bargains can you get. You might find promotional codes and free shipping offers, saving yourself a lots of money.

As International Women's Day passes by, it interests me how women can be figured in the global business of handicrafts. As I make an attempt to find out certain related facts, I am amazed to see that women engaged in home based occupations contribute 1/3 to the global economy.

According to the World Bank statistics, women make up 40% of the total population. In the recent times, most of these women are working from their homes. The highest percentage of such women workers can be found in textiles and clothing, food processing, and handicrafts sectors. As such handicrafts is a big segment where women workers are engaged as income generating force. According to a recent international study conducted by the United Nations Population Fund, the income generated by home workers is equivalent to 1/3 of the global economy. Its actual value is more than 4000 trillion dollars annually. However, this income can not be felt as this kind of work is not included in calculation of the national incomes.

What's more important is that such home based businesses by women are not only prevalent in developing countries, but also in other European Countries and United States as well. An international study reveals that approximately 46% of home business owners in the United States are women whose income exceeds those working in offices by 28%. This can be attributed to the fact that a woman who works from home saves much of her income as opposed to a woman who works outside. The office workers spend about 40% of their income on appearance and conveyance.