Key Categories Affected by Price Changes

Before I even notice my checkout total creeping up, a tiny price tag on a bottle of ink or the sudden resin drought tells me more than any spreadsheet ever could. The extra costs show up first where you use the most—my drawers of half-used vinyl sheets practically groan every time I open them.

Inks, Dyes, and Pigments

I’ve been chasing the same ultramarine ink for weeks, and every bottle is up at least 10% since winter. The fancy brands? Not spared. One supplier blames global dye production hiccups (tankers stuck at ports, again), which lines up with these reports about commodity swings.

Dye powders and high-quality pigments are the worst—big jumps, and bulk orders or minimum buys make sense for businesses, but what about the rest of us who just want five tiny jars? Sometimes I think I’ll save with “student grade,” but last month one bottle leaked and ruined everything. When a small shop owner tells me wholesale rates are up 18% across all primary colors, I just start living on coupon forums.

Resin and Epoxy

There’s a gallon of casting resin under my sink—price per ounce is almost double since last May. Yes, I track it. Some of it’s tech stuff: “ultra-clear” or “zero-VOC” epoxy costs more, and it’s not just hype, the lab data backs it up. And the resin shortage from that Texas chemical plant fire? Still comes up every time I try to order.

Makers talk about hoarding hardeners or mixing brands (don’t do it; I tried, and half a pendant stayed gummy for weeks). Small resin pigment sets now come with half as many colors for the same price as last year. Weirdly, shipping sometimes costs more than the resin itself—industry breakdowns say that’s because producers pass on every cent as oil prices jump.

Vinyl, Sublimation, and Cricut Supplies

Cricut mats, vinyl rolls, hunter green iron-on sheets—why do these always shrink in size but never in price? I’ve tried off-brand vinyl, and it’s never as good as the glossy stuff, especially when the machine decides to eat half the sheet. Can’t afford to waste it, but here we are. Some colors (holographic, patterned) just disappear from shelves, or suddenly cost double, and I’m supposed to believe it’s all about “raw plastic” and “supply disruptions”? Yeah, sure. Basic demand principles—but only when it’s inconvenient for us.

Every forum is yelling about Cricut subscription fees, but nobody’s talking about how finding a replacement blade is like playing roulette. Sometimes it’s sold out, other times it’s “premium” price only. Sublimation blanks—mugs, coasters, those weird metal business cards—blink in and out of stock, and nobody at customer service knows anything except how to offer a sale on the one style I absolutely can’t use. If you ever spot vinyl transfer tape under $4, just grab it. Don’t even think. It’ll be gone tomorrow.

Comparing Popular Craft Material Price Movements

Honestly, keeping track of craft supply prices now feels like a part-time job. I don’t know every SKU by heart, but if something jumps more than a buck, I notice. Meanwhile, everyone else seems to wake up only when their 40% off coupon stops working. Is it just me?

Glitter and Craft Paints

Five years ago, $2.49 for a paint pot. Now? $3.39, same shelf, same sad little jar. Did I miss a global pigment crisis? I keep hearing suppliers blame “mica shortages” or “ethical sourcing” for glitter, which sounds like a cover for higher prices. I mean, I get it—Mintel says 72% of US adults did a craft last year, but why does my favorite paint color always get discontinued and then reappear at a “deluxe” price? “Supply chain resilience”—give me a break. It’s just a price hike with better PR.

Glitter’s even worse. “Eco-friendly” bio-glitter is everywhere, but it’s 20% more expensive. So now I’m broke and environmentally conscious? Great.

Wood Blanks and Molds

Somebody at the shop once said unfinished pine blanks were $2.99 “forever,” but now it’s $4 for splintery pine, $10 for birch. Tariffs, maybe? Who knows. Hardwoods are a joke, MDF’s only cheap until a housing boom hits. Industry analysis blames tariffs, but even local crafters say bulk-buying foreign blanks barely saves money anymore. Silicone molds? Forget it. As soon as resin trends hit TikTok, prices skyrocket. I’ve switched suppliers three times just to avoid paying $20 for a mold that used to be $7, but resellers catch on and even eBay gets cleaned out.

Tumblers, Vases, and Ribbon

Tumblers—every time a Stanley dupe video goes viral, shelves empty and prices double. No explanation, just gone. Bulk glass vases stay cheap until—bam—shipping rates jump and suddenly they’re double the price and half the thickness. Ribbon? It’s a circus. Satin’s up, grosgrain bounces around every holiday. Sometimes I find a clearance deal and feel smart, but then the “standard” spool drops from 15 yards to 12 and the price goes up anyway. Sneaky.

I get that supply and demand is real, and manufacturing costs aren’t magic, but why do the basics—neutral ribbon, stainless tumblers—always cost more after every craft show season? TikTok blows up a trend and the whole market freaks out. I could chart this, but honestly, I just chase coupons and panic when the price jumps for no reason.