Frugal Crafts for Free

From LoveToKnow Save

Crafting can be a great way to relieve stress, especially if you're taking advantage of ideas for frugal crafts for free. Challenging yourself to create something unique without spending any money provides a feeling of accomplishment that's hard to ignore.

Save old buttons for use in frugal craft projects.

Rules for Frugal Crafting

Frugal crafters, regardless of whether they're interested in knitting, sewing, card making, or beading, know that following a few simple rules makes it much easier to save money on their projects.

Think twice before you throw anything away. For example, you can mix together several different colors of paint to make your own unique shades. Another great way to stretch your craft supplies is to glue paper scraps onto a new sheet of cardstock in order to make your own customized patterned paper for a scrapbooking or card making project.
Stay organized. Have you ever ran out to purchase adhesive for a craft project, only to discover the following day that you had a new package of glue sticks tucked behind some old magazines? Keeping your craft area neat and tidy will make it easier to see what supplies you have, thus reducing the amount of unnecessary purchases.
Only buy items with a specific project in mind. Resist the temptation to spend a free afternoon browsing through your favorite craft store. Buying whatever catches your eye makes it hard to stick to a budget and almost impossible to keep your craft area properly organized.

Ideas for Frugal Crafts for Free

Frugal crafters also tend to be very practical crafters, so it should come as no surprise that some of the best ideas for frugal crafts for free are items that you can put to use around your home. For example:

Cover sturdy cardboard boxes with old wrapping paper, magazine cutouts, or copies of family photos to make your own decorative storage containers.
Decorate glass jars with beads, ribbon, and silk flowers to make your own pretty candle holders.
Make customized pillows for your couch by sewing together scraps of fabric. Old neckties make a great choice for recycled sewing projects. Fabric that has sentimental value, such as bits of your daughter's prom dress or a portion of your grandmother's old apron, is also a good choice.
Design unique wall art for your home by spray-painting a collection of mismatched photo frames one color, then cutting your own photo mats using the paper of your choice.
Remember that a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for tired old furniture. If you're feeling exceptionally creative, try using faux-finishing techniques or stenciling a design on the piece.
Glue your favorite family photos onto old jar lids, then add magnetic strips to the back for a simple craft that will perk up your refrigerator.
Take apart a broken necklace or bracelet, then use the beads to string together some unique tie backs for your curtains.
Make bookends for a child's room from a pair of old stuffed animals. Carefully cut apart one of the seams from the toy, remove the stuffing, and fill with marbles or dried beans before stitching it back together.