Types of Crafting Supplies Marked Down This Week

Clearance aisles never match the flyers. Most deals are just tossed on end caps when nobody’s looking. Michaels and Factory Direct Craft dump bins of seasonal decor, unfinished wood shapes, and garland scraps right after holidays, all for prices that look like mistakes.

Ornaments and Holiday Decor

Glitter everywhere. Again. Ornaments—wood, resin, some weird plastic reindeer from last year (I swear it’s the same one)—stacked under clearance signs. Not just Christmas, either. Snowmen show up by the register with “winter” tags, but the real stash is unfinished shapes near the fake flowers.

A friend in retail told me those paper mache stars? Nobody buys them before December 26th, but after? Instantly 70% off. Craft managers sometimes bundle ornaments with beads or random metallic thread—factory bundles nobody talks about, but you find them on the shelf if you’re lucky. Factory Direct Craft’s holiday craft supplies section updates almost weekly, and half the stuff never even hits the physical store.

Wreaths and Garlands

Wreath stands—always blocking the aisle, then suddenly gone with a “final markdown” sign. Mesh wreaths, faux firs, some minimalist twig things—some are gorgeous, most are… a lot. Bulk garlands (especially pre-lit) get discounted by brand, not by style, which makes zero sense. Last year I found eucalyptus garlands in the Halloween bin for £3—when they’re £20 in spring.

Floral wire and cheap plastic wreath rings? Still full price. But finished wreaths? They plummet. One shop’s “Winter Berry” garland was £7.99 one day, £1.50 the next. Michaels staff just restock with whatever’s in the back, so November leftovers get slapped with a red sticker nobody can decode. For a quick price check, here’s what I spotted in-store this week:

Seasonal Ribbons and Fabrics

How many plaid ribbon spools does a normal person actually use in one lifetime? I’ll never figure it out. But the clearance bins at every big-box store? They seem to think the answer is somewhere north of “you’ll die under a pile of velvet.” Velvet wired ribbon, candy-cane grosgrain, green burlap—if it was tied around a candle last week, it’s now crammed into a clearance shelf with a half-peeled orange tag. And, for some reason, always next to half-unwound fabric quarters nobody even wanted. It’s not just ribbon, either. Holiday fleece, snowflake cotton, weirdly chunky yarn that looks like it should be a scarf but is labeled “stocking supplies”—all of it dumped together.

Target’s holiday craft deals change constantly. Last week, my friend scored twelve yards of red velvet for $2.95 and nobody even blinked. I watched “teacher packs” of craft felt ring up at half price with zero signage. I mean, is this legal? Who’s in charge here?

Here’s the thing: every store seems to pretend those leftover wired mesh rolls from floral displays don’t exist. So you can just grab ‘em for pennies and use them for wreaths, bows, whatever. I overheard two employees muttering about mispriced table runners tossed in with the craft fabric. Sometimes I think even the markdowns are just accidents.

Discounted Supplies for Upcoming Holidays

Don’t even talk to me about “seasonal” aisle resets. Why do they happen weeks before you actually need them? Suddenly you’re tripping over pastel Easter bins, patriotic flags, and Halloween pumpkins all jammed next to discounted napkins. The markdowns hit hard this week—sometimes timed, sometimes just a total surprise if the manager’s in a mood.

Easter Craft Finds

Leftover bunny picks, paint-by-numbers egg kits, neon felt, plastic eggs—every year I swear I’m not buying more, every year I walk out with another bag. The wood cutouts? Those are the only things I bother hunting for now. Most of this stuff is in-store only, and it’s gone if you so much as blink. I found a pile of “DIY basket kits” under the party favors sign, and the clerk just shrugged and said they’re flying off the shelf. Who’s making baskets? Do kids even want this?

Anyway, the discounted Easter crafts—unfinished chicks, foam stickers, felt bunnies—are probably best for classrooms. Bulletin board borders at 60% off? Why does nobody ever mention saving on those? Plastic grass, dye kits, “Rainbow Cross” foam tumblers—those yellow stickers nearly made my eyes cross. Real tip: dig behind the gift bags. Last time, I found pastel paint markers for a third of the spring price. Not kidding.