If you have an abundance of stuffed animals that you want to get rid of, instead of attempting to give them to Goodwill and being rejected or sending them to the landfill, why not use them in another way?
Open them up and use the stuffing for other crafts like making pillows, or new dolls or whatever else you can come up with that would require stuffing. And if you are crafty enough, you may be able to reuse the fabric the stuffed animal was made of. May save some money when those pennies are tired of being pinched and you still want to be creative and crafty.
Source: Thought of it when I read a post on Facebook by my sister who is glad her husband doesn't get her cheesy stuffed animals. I realized how many I have gotten rid of over the years when I could have repurposed them for something else. I'm always trying to save money. Wish I would have thought of it sooner.
By Crissy from Columbia, SC
This page contains the following solutions.
If you want to create incredible, long-lasting, vibrant, and ready-to-hang masterpiece but all you have around you are old throwaway materials such as Sheetrock, plywood, or some other sturdy but unremarkable surfaces...
I keep a running list of things I am almost out of and things I need for crafting. After every holiday I go by the different stores and pick up bits and pieces of things on my list.
When you get interested in a new craft, don't buy the books or magazines at the start. Use your public library. Many libraries are part of a regional network and they'll get books from other libraries for you. Check the online directory.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
How do you save money on buying material for crafts?
Help me please.
Sarah
Sarah,
I buy discounted materials from walmart for my crafts. If the craft I'm making is something I plan to sell, then I note in the product's description that the styles may vary depending on availability.
Marla
http://www.forgetmenotaromas.com
Hi Sarah,
I went to a sewing class and was told to start a "resource center". It is great! Anytime I go to a flea market or yard sale, I look for things to add. I mark the boxes and can pull out lace, material, rubber stamps and just about anything I need. I found it all at bargain prices and everything is at hand when I need it!
Go to your local decorator fabric store and ask for out of date fabric samples and scrapes. They will probably give them to you free or at a very small price. I did this a few months ago and walked out with two large garbage bags full of fabric absolutely free!! Good Luck
Let people know that you are a crafty person.
Yard sales are a great source for craft materials ... cheap.
If you do crafts for a charity or nursing home, when you let people know, they will funnel materials to you for free.
Been there done that!
Buy old clothes at garage sales, and go to thrift shops, and get things at a low cost, such as dresses, and use the material from things like that.
Check with your local Freecycle chapter to see if anyone has any fabric that they don't need anymore and just want to give away.
HI I am incredibly cheap when it comes to crafting!!! I recycle alot(quilts and crafts from gently worn clothing).
I find alot of my fabric at Wal-Mart, In the $1.00/yard or $2.00/yard. (I wont pay more than that). Jo-Ann fabrics sometimes has deals in their bargain area in the back.
You should also browse for fabric on auction sites....and remember always add the shipping price before you divide the cost per yard!!!(Of course you are saving fuel not driving into town)
And my favorite....ReStore. Look for a recycling store in your area where you can find all kinds of craft supplies at really reasonable prices. The ReStore in my area, they have large bins filled with Yardage and large scraps. They charge by the pound. Great Value.
Yard sales are great too!! I found 10 yards of 4 different (high quality) fabrics for $2.00!!! I love yard sales!!!
I like to work with copper wire and I get it free from construction dumpsters...Contractors pay by the pound to have them dumpted. I always ask and then look for all the plastic coated wire used in wiring the houses. Even telephone wire and computer wires have copper centers. They vary in size.
I go to yardsales and estate sales. i look for material that is interesting,pops and is very pretty.
Most of the time i pay only 1.00 to 1.50 for my material
Check with local second-hand stores, they always get clothes that are stained, torn, or too out of date to sell. The ones in my area give them to me instead of the dumpster. Even stained items make good rag rugs.
I go to GOODWILL every Sunday here,(50% off for Seniors day). Look for large sized garments ,household items. Sheets tablecloths, ect , in print and colors I like. Cut them apart at home an start making what ever it is I need . Especially baby Quilts. We just welcomed our 7th, 8th, and 9th GREAT GRAND BABIES!
For those of us who have fallen on tough times more recently, this essay is intended to help you find a creative outlet for free and perhaps the chance to make some gifts that will be all the more treasured simply because you made them.
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
Instead of paying the high price for "poly-fill" stuffing, I recycle unwanted stuffed toys. There is an almost ENDLESS supply of stuffed toys available.
