How to Find, Buy & Store Your Craft Supplies: The Best Tips

Last Updated on December 21, 2022 by Katherine

Every crafter’s secret weapon is their stash of craft supplies. However, the first challenge is finding quality supplies without completely draining your bank account. Your second challenge comes in storing these crafting supplies so they don’t completely take over a room (Unless you’re lucky enough to have a dedicated crafting room).

So read on if you’re struggling for ideas and get inspired! Let’s start with where the heck you can find all those crafty supplies.

Sourcing Your Craft Supplies

I recommend that you find a few favorite places where you shop for your supplies. Retailers, both online and offline, will have their own offerings. Being open to shopping around will enable you to find the best deals for your wallet.

1. Amazon

Amazon is the largest online retail marketplace in the world. With a few clicks, you can find some pretty sweet deals on crafting supplies. You may need to look elsewhere for unique items, but I often buy my findings for jewelry-making on Amazon.

2. eBay

I don’t have a lot of experience with eBay, but you might be able to snag a sweet deal on the auction site.

3. Your Local Craft Store

I love to visit my local stores, you can find unique pieces to craft here, mostly. They can be on the more expensive side, but sometimes I like supporting local!

4. Michaels (Or other big box stores)

In Canada, it’s Michaels, but you lucky peeps in the States have Joanne’s, Hobby Lobby, etc. I have to shout out to my former employer (Michaels) because they do have some excellent beading supplies and yarn. If you hit it at the right time, they’ll be clearing some stuff out to make room for the newer supplies and you can usually snag a pretty sweet clearance deal.

The big box store will usually have fairly decent prices, I will use them when there’s a sale (online flyers are your friend folks) or coupon.

5. Createforless.com

I think of Create For Less as the amazon of crafting supplies. They carry a lot of the same brands that Michaels carries, plus a few others. They offer free shipping in the US for orders over $75 and international shipping, and they have never disappointed me in any of my orders from them. Make sure you also check out their Think Crafts Blog for some clever crafting ideas!

6. LetGo, Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, Etc.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention these. Often you can find someone who is getting rid of unused crafting supplies on these websites (or even a garage sale).

Also, if you want to receive more crafty ideas, delivered straight to your inbox, enter your email down below and receive a free pdf copy of my crafting checklist (details below):

Supplies Storage

Now that you have your crafting supplies, you need a place to store them when you are not using them. Depending on your situation, you may be able to create a whole room or just a small corner of space for crafting. Everyone is different in what space they have available!

The solution to this is to invest in some clever storage ideas. You don’t need to spend an entire month’s salary on storage solutions either, though not going to lie, I’m tempted to invest in a Dreambox from Create Room!

Let’s look at less extreme options for now though, shall we?

First Let’s Plan

Start with figuring out what you need to store. Take a complete inventory of your supplies: beads, ribbons, paints, etc. Don’t neglect your tools either, like your scissors, your resin molds or your jewelry making pliers!

Next, I recommend looking at the space you have to store the items you want. Take pictures to help visualize what items you’ll want to consider buying.

I’m a visual learner (with a slight lean toward tactile or doing things) so I benefit from actually having a list of all the things I need to store and a plan for the space. Otherwise I could buy crafting storage items that I neither have space for or even really need!

Clever Storage Hacks You May Find Work

Every crafter has their unique situation. I have my own challenges with space that another crafter may not have, so these are all hacks that I think are interesting and certainly worth considering whether they will fit the bill for you for your particular set of crafting hobbies! Let’s explore!

Plastic Containers With Compartments

As you might guess, given that I have a category specifically for jewelry-making on this blog that I have collected a lot of beads and assorting jewelry-making findings over the years.

Enter the plastic organizer box. I particularly love the DUOFIRE branded container boxes as they organize my beads beautifully. I swear by the DUOFIRE Plastic Organizer Container set of 4 that you can buy on Amazon. This is the best value for your money – hands down.

These compartments also work for buttons, needles, or other small pieces.

Glass Jars As Storage

Depending on your supplies, you can snag some mason jars or other lidded containers that are clear to store your supplies. Apothecary jars are my favorite look.

A Wall Full Of Shelving

Consider emptying your space and picking a wall where you can run shelving across the length and height of it. You can vary between open shelving and closed shelving (or shelves that are covered by a door) and store the more decorative craft supplies on the open shelving. Use stencils to paint on what each closed shelf contains.

Consider Pegboard

Pegboard is a great way to use the vertical space in your crafting area to store supplies. You can find pegboard usually at a hardware store or online at retailers like Amazon or even Wayfair.

Bringing All Your Craft Supplies Together

Sourcing and then organizing your crafting supplies will make you a crafting dynamo, enabling you be an efficient crafter. An organized craft room allows you to stay on project without having to pause and find another item.

Organizing your craft supplies will allow you to focus on more important things – creating your amazing crafting projects! Instead of searching high and low for where you stowed your alcohol inks, you can lose yourself in trying that new technique that you learned on YouTube!

Did this post help you with your crafting hobby? Hit the share buttons to spread the word on your favorite platforms and pin this post to Pinterest to refer to when you need it.

Some Craft Projects To Get Started:

• Making an Easy Peasy Custom Wood Sign
• 3+ Amazing Sharpie Marker Crafts To Try Right Now
• 11 Clever & Colorful Things to Make With Alcohol Inks
• How to Make an Awesome Milk Jug Bird Feeder
• How to Make A Wonderful Mason Jar Candle

Until next time, stay crafty (and organized) my friends!!