You may be thinking of starting your own arts and crafts business to make some extra cash on the side. You’ll soon learn that you can buy art and craft supplies from numerous places, all with different pricing levels and products. There are lots of people who are not making as much money as they could from their arts and crafts business because they don’t know how to buy affordable art and craft materials. Almost all craft businesses like jewelry making, custom scrap booking and even card making require a lot of different craft tools and supplies. To really be profitable you have to learn to buy your craft supplies and materials from a number of different stores.

And while I love shopping at a new craft store and can spend hours browsing through the latest supply and crafting magazine or catalog, sometimes searching in more unique stores and shops can yield some amazing finds. Here are some unique places you can start looking for craft supplies:

Discount and warehouse stores: We have several different franchise stores in my area that specialize in over run items, dented and dinged merchandise and things that have simply been discontinued. Their stock rotates pretty regularly and one week they may have a pallet of cook books for $4.00 a piece while the next week they have bed sheets and pillows for a steal. I always check their arts and crafts sections because every now and then they have piles of craft supplies from some big chain craft store that closed down somewhere. I usually end up filling a hand basket filled with beads and scrap booking stickers and even some art paint and knitting supplies when I stumble across them because I know that they won’t be around next week!

Hardware stores: Yes, I know this sounds crazy, but if you’re looking to buy some fun craft tools and supplies then you really have to think about going to a hardware store and looking over their sections of fasteners, screws and even nails. I’ve picked up grommets, washers, and even some cool little metal clasps from my local hardware store and used them all in different craft pieces. Many hardware stores now have paint chips and even small samples of paint which can be used in a number of different craft projects. You can even make jewelry out of some of the washers and screws you find there!

Both of these types of stores are great places for finding cheap art & craft supplies. So keep an eye out the next time you’re shopping for tools or picking up some dish soap at the store: you might just be moments away from discovering some amazing deals on unique and affordable craft supplies!

You can save even more money on art and craft supplies by buying all your art and craft supplies from online websites.