Trash to treasure: How to find materials on the curb
That stacking plastic bin can cost US$12-$15 in stores. But last night, while driving around, I found three of them on the curbside. The homeowner was throwing them out as trash.
Dumpster diving and its relative activities can be an amazing source of unique and totally free materials for use in everything from art projects to getting yourself organized. Some also suggest that, because it is an activity that reduces the amount of stuff heading for landfills, that it is a green activity.
Related: Etsy Trashion street team
Posted by on July 2, 2007 4:05 PM
in Crafty How-to guides| Finding Materials| Recycling
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As a recent student, and now substitute teacher, my craft budget is fairly small. Thus, I’ve resorted to many ways to get my supply fix. I particularly like going to a large craft store like Michaels (I’m in Canada) every few weeks and checking out what they’ve got on clearance (and use my 40% off coupon!). This takes some time, but I can usually score a few bargains. Last week, I got some gorgeous bead kits for $5 CDN (regularly $13) and a bunch of glass beads for $3 per set (shown left). Disadvantages: I usually walk out with a lot more stuff than I was expecting to buy, including stuff that wasn't on clearance.
Whether you call them wiggle eyes, googly eyes, or shaky eyes, those little black and white eyes that move around when they are shaken are a lot of fun. I put them on everything. I've made purses, tshirts, and even belt buckles.
On my recent visit to a very wet and soggy 
We got a shipment of books today at work (I’m an editor) and they were packaged with some weirdly thick pieces of cardboard. No one was surprised when I collected the cardboard and took it back to my desk. My coworkers are used to my crafty ways and my fondness for scavenged materials.
Last week I was invited to an 80s fancy dress party. What better character to go to a fancy dress party as than a computer-generated Italian plumber who is turning to a raccoon? Alright, I admit it is not the first thing that jumps into your head, but I am a video-game girl at heart and Super Mario is beloved to many of who were 80s kids.
People give away all kinds of stuff, including craft supplies. I get a lot of my knitting and crochet supplies at second-hand stores. Just last week in one shop I found a whole pile of knitting needles for 69 cents (Canadian) a pair, including a set that had one of those nifty row counters attached to it, and several skeins of yarn and crochet thread for just a couple of dollars. 
