SEPTEMBER 2015
Chihuly
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Inspired
Whimsical Step-by-Step Projects You Really Can Do!
Stash for LE$$ • Look, See: Building Your Visual Vocabulary
9 t ep
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2015 16 20
finding courage
my journey through fear to an extraordinary creative life
stash not cash
fill your supply closet without emptying your wallet
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knock-off
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look, see
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3 step-by-step chihuly-inspired projects for the disaster prone
get inspired & find your voice by expanding your visual vocabulary
disaster to master
pinteresting projects redesigned with you in mind
stash
master 5 ways to fill your craft closet without emptying your wallet
It’s
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happened! It’s really happened! You have found the perfect project on Pinterest. Not too hard, not too easy, but just right! And you have the perfect place to put the finished product. Woo hoo! You’ve mustered the courage to give this one a shot. Hooray! Now, all you have to do is gather the supplies together. Paint, sandpaper, clear coat, paint brushes, a table cloth, Popsicle sticks, paint stirrers, an embroidery hoop, embroidery thread in 9 colors and wire. Bam! All of a sudden your courage wanes in the face of $50 or more worth of supplies. Oh no! This is no longer an experiment. Your afternoon adventure has become a serious financial investment.
Having a well stocked supply closet allows these moments of inspiration to evolve into creative and crafty experiences rather than an afternoon of disappointment. But how do you stock your closet without blowing your budget?
1. Bit by Bit Just like any collection of tools, one way to build a well stocked supply closet is to purchase items one at a time. Try adding them to your shopping list. If you tend to buy groceries at a mass merchandiser, add the craft supply aisle to your weekly trip. Set a budget of $5 or $10 dollars each week. Pick up one or two items and you’ll have your stash in no time flat. The advantage of
this method is that by budgeting, you won’t notice the expense and you will always have supplies on hand. For tools or more expensive purchases, skip a week now and then or allow yourself a larger budget one a month or once a quarter.
2. Dumpster Dive
Re-purposing doesn’t have to mean digging in the dumpster however. Often times you can purchase a similar item intended for a different purpose for a fraction of the cost. Need twine - try hardware.
3. Dollar Days Discount retailers and dollar stores can be a craft closet gold mine! Many of the large craft stores also have “Dollar Days” sales a few times each year. Be prepared to stock up when the prices are at their rock bottom. Resale shops and second hand stores can also be a real treasure trove. Look for grab bags of supplies that have been partially used or even brand new!
Re-purposing items that you might otherwise discard is a great way to build up those supplies. Styrofoam trays can be re-purposed as printing plates. Cardboard boxes can be deconstructed for use as a substrate for illustration, painting and three dimensional projects. Rather than discarding old t-shirts, cut them into strips to create rugs and other woven projects. You might find that by limiting yourself to these found items, your creativity expands by Many craft retailers offer a weekly leaps and bounds because you coupon good for 40, 50 or 60% are no longer concerned about off a regular priced item. Often ruining good art supplies.
4. Coupon Queen
you can access these coupons via your smart phone. This is a great way to stock up on more expensive items like artist paints, alcohol markers and tools. Having these items on hand will make your crafting time more productive and enjoyable. Use these coupons to purchase project specific items as well. Often, stores will honor their competitors coupons so you can get the best deal possible.
5. Estate Sales Garage sales and estate sales are excellent opportunities to pick up someone else’s stash for a fraction of the price. Often times, because of the nature of these sales, you will find large quantities of items being sold as a single lot. Don’t worry about being able to use every item in the lot. If most of the items are usable, it can be a worthwhile investment.
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