Having a pastime is an excellent way to unwind, but gear and materials can quickly eat into your finances.
As a seasoned craft writer who juggles multiple hobbies (and has a crafty child), I require lots of supplies. I visit the dollar store whenever possible for staples and extras that let me complete projects without blowing the budget.
Dollar stores differ by location, but here’s what you’re likely to discover — and how much you can pocket — when you skip the craft superstores or big-box chains. The price comparisons below come from Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, Michaels, Walmart, Target and Amazon.
Blank T-Shirts in the Summer
The seasonal aisle at the dollar store is worth a peek if you enjoy holiday decorating. In summer you’ll find red, white and blue items, faux-flower leis, plenty of inexpensive flip-flops and the thing I most often shop for: solid-colored T-shirts.
My local shop stocked kid-sized tees in roughly a dozen hues, ideal for adorning or using in projects like making T-shirt yarn, necklaces, dog chew toys and other DIYs.
Elsewhere, plain kids’ T-shirts cost anywhere from $1.76 on Amazon to $6.95 at Walmart, depending on size and retailer; the average price among stores I checked was $3.46, so picking them up at the dollar store can shave off about $2.46 per shirt.
Drop by during other seasons to find budget-friendly Halloween, Christmas and Easter decor that’s perfect for seasonal crafting.
Score Affordable Flowers
The floral section at your neighborhood dollar store is a smart stop for brightly colored artificial blooms at about $1 per stem. You can assemble a bouquet for a wreath (or create a pretend flower shop for a child) for just a few dollars.
Don’t overlook the vases, usually shelved near other craft goods. There’s often a solid assortment of glass vases. You’ll also spot floral foam and foam wreath rings — ideal for many projects.
Faux flowers come in a range of quality and price; the cheapest ones I found at larger retailers ranged from $1.20 at Jo-Ann to $5.80 at Walmart, yielding an average of $3.12.
Basic glass vases ran from 97 cents at Walmart (though that item was out of stock when I checked) to $3 at Jo-Ann, averaging $2.26. A foam wreath base cost between $4.19 at Jo-Ann and $5.88 at Walmart, averaging $5.24.
If you bought all the materials for a floral arrangement — floral foam, a glass vase and six flower sprays, for instance — the dollar store total would be $8. The least-expensive combination from other retailers would cost $11.94 at Jo-Ann, $16.92 from Michaels, $16.95 on Amazon and nearly $40 at Walmart. Target’s total came to $31.28 — though they don’t carry floral foam.
Don’t Ignore the Hardware Aisle
You might not immediately think of the hardware section for craft supplies, but it often carries a helpful selection of paint brushes (bristle and foam), paint cups and drop cloths.
You’ll also find adhesives, twine, rope and other hardware useful for projects. Wrap a bottle with jute or cotton twine to make a rustic outdoor candle holder, or grab duct tape to fashion wallets, flowers and custom school supplies.
A one-inch paintbrush purchased elsewhere runs from 99 cents at Michaels to $3.49 at Target, while foam brushes — sold in an eight-pack at the dollar store — would cost you from $1.59 for a three-pack at Target or $6.95 for 25 at Walmart. With these examples, that’s a savings of up to 41 cents per brush.
Craft Department
Of course there’s a craft aisle at the dollar store, which can skew toward kid-friendly items like googly eyes, feathers and craft sticks or include more grown-up options such as scrapbook paper and yarn.
Stock can vary by location, but I love to grab kids’ craft basics here: beads and pipe cleaners for jewelry projects, feathers and googly eyes for the endless creatures my kid enjoys making, paints and stencils to personalize notebooks, and plenty more.
You can find colored twine, glitter glue, pony beads, pom-poms, craft kits and extras. My store even carries tiny jars of Mod Podge and tubs of Play-Doh for just $1.
Savings depend on what and how much you buy, but as an example, a pack of 100 multicolored wooden craft sticks — useful for building, making frames and many other crafts — ranged from $2.87 at Walmart to $9.99 at Target (where you’d have to purchase 500).
Pony beads are $1 for a pack of 400 at the dollar store, compared with $1.97 at Walmart for a small pack, $2.79 for 720 at Jo-Ann, $4.29 for 580 at Michaels and $3.07 or $6.29, respectively, for 1,000 from Amazon or Target.
For related thrifty ideas, check out cheap craft projects and tips for scrapbooking on a budget.
School Supplies
The school supplies section is another smart area to hunt for craft materials. Among other dollar bargains, you’ll often find posterboard at an excellent price.
My local shop sells white posterboard for 50 cents and colored sheets for 69 cents each. Compare that to 97 cents per sheet for white or colored posterboard at the Walmart across the lot. The savings really add up if you need a large quantity.
You’ll also spot stickers, bulletin decorations, pens, pencils and notebooks for the creative members of your household.
Other Craft Supplies Worth Buying at the Dollar Store
- Picture frames: plain frames are perfect for painting, and certificate frames make great holders for kids’ artwork
- Containers: plenty of organizing options, from plastic bins with lids to open baskets and more
- Aluminum trays: generally sold in multipacks, ideal for holding paint or containing a project when using spray paint or adhesive
- Party supplies: ribbon, streamers, tissue paper and small party favors you can repurpose to embellish a wreath or a child’s room frame
- Sponges: cellulose sponges can be cut into stamps, used to add texture with paint or to clean up messy crafts
- Kitchen and bath items: wander these aisles and you might be inspired to try painting with a back massager or using a small strainer to sprinkle glitter
Stroll through your preferred dollar store every so often to discover fresh inspiration and inexpensive supplies. Affordable dollar-store finds can keep you crafting and creating while staying within your budget.
