Crafting Supplies on the Cheap

Like most crafters, I like to find the least expensive (cheap!) way to support my habit. It gets pretty costly, as you all know, to feed the itch to "create". One way I help keep the cost down is to look for supplies in places that aren't commonly known for having crafting supplies. One of those just happens to be the fishing aisle at a certain discount store.

The other day I was wanting to make some braided necklaces and the only cording I had was either too thin or way too thick. So off I went to WallyWorld, thinking I could find some black twine in their hardwares section. I was having trouble finding where their rope was, go figure!, it's never the same place twice! So I found an actual employee (woo hoo!) and asked if she knew where they had twine. She happened to be the person that worked the sporting goods section and took me right to a display set up for catfishing. I was only wanting black cord to begin with but once I saw the pink and yellow, well, they'll go together soooo well! Plus the ball of neutral color will work well for another project I've had in mind.

The rolls of colored twine are 260 ft. of #18 twisted nylon and the ball of neutral is 180 ft. of #48 cotton/polyester. All of them were $1.97 each! Pretty good price, I thought. While I mostly use hemp cord because I like the natural aspect of it, a roll of it similar to the ball of cotton/polyester is close to $5.00. Besides, I really think the neon colors are so cool! But that may just be the retro coming out in me....

Photo Prep Tip

Here's a little tip to get rid of lint or cat hair or whatever off of your background when setting up to take photos. I like to use dark backgrounds and they show everything! It doesn't help that I have a cat that thinks that the desk I've set up as my "studio" is the perfect spot for a nap.... Just take masking tape and hold a little piece between your first two fingers and wrap it around your hand a couple of times with the sticky part to the outside. Don't wrap too tightly! That way you can release the part between your fingers and it'll roll as you brush across the fabric. Or you can just pat the fabric and when one side gets to where it's not picking anything up, just slide it around on your hand and use the other side. I go through a lot of tape but it sure beats trying to edit out a spot of fuzz or that darn cat's hair. This works great on your dark clothes also!