Frequently Asked Questions

Everything’s in flux. My receipts tell the story: cotton, acrylic, wood blanks, glues, even the dumb little sewing machine needles—up five, ten percent in a few months. Tariffs, inflation, shrinking coupons, and shopping apps that feel like they’re gaslighting me. Welcome to craft supply roulette.

What craft supplies have gone up in price most recently?

Wood blanks. I mean, is this a joke? Last year they were pricey, sure, but now—nearly double at the same chain stores. Who’s actually paying this? Cotton fabric, too. The basic stuff, nothing fancy, suddenly clocks in at almost $10 a yard. Hobby Lobby’s flyers try to make it look like a deal, but come on, we all see through that. Industry folks keep shouting about raw material spikes and shipping fees, and honestly, it’s not subtle. I’ve heard from people who said their supply costs jumped 13%—not even a “maybe,” just straight up.

Yarn? Don’t even get me started. Imported specialty threads hit five bucks a skein, and that’s if you’re lucky. Tariffs, shipping, whatever—they’re just expensive now. Paints and resins? Sneaky. Tiny tubes, but if you want a full set, you’re looking at a price that stings more than my last power bill. I know a modeler who straight up swapped to house paint for backgrounds. Can’t blame them.

How can I save money on craft supplies in today’s market?

Honestly, I stopped even glancing at those “clearance” ads after the fourth time nothing was actually marked down. Facebook groups for swapping supplies? Weirdly effective, way less soul-crushing than trying to stack coupons. That old Joann’s 40% off coupon? Pretty much a myth now. I just hunt for bulk deals online or try to catch a price match, but half the time they “can’t verify” the price. Whatever.

Here’s something nobody wants to do: track every penny. I met this potter who’s got a spreadsheet older than most of my craft supplies—Windows XP, no joke. She logs everything. Her margins are apparently bulletproof, and I kind of respect it.

Are there any apps that help with finding deals on craft materials?

RetailMeNot, Honey, all those—sure, they exist. But when I actually use them? Three cents here, twenty cents there, and a bunch of pop-ups trying to make me “refer a friend.” Not worth the battery drain. There’s that resale app for local craft stuff, but it’s 90% mod podge jars and questionable felt squares. Occasionally you’ll find something legit, but you have to dig.

My neighbor keeps telling me about Flipp. It matches circulars, but half the time, crafts get lumped in with “seasonal,” so I end up scrolling past snowman stickers and random saw blades. Makes no sense. If you’re truly desperate, just refresh your cart at 1 a.m. on sale nights and hope for the best. That’s as scientific as any “deal alert” I’ve ever gotten.

What are some creative alternatives to costly craft supplies?

Last weekend I drove past a garage sale and snagged a bag of drapery samples for less than a sandwich. They’re thicker than actual artist canvas. Total win. I’ve unraveled thrift store sweaters for yarn—though, honestly, if you hate knots, don’t bother. Dumpster-diving behind hardware stores for scrap lumber? Not glamorous, but I watched a makerspace build entire workbenches that way.

Expired gift cards? I use them as palette knives. Saw a sculptor at a street fair using cassette tape ribbons for metallic highlights. If you’re not above rooting through “free stuff” bins, you’ll find ways around these price hikes. Everyone borrows these tricks. Nobody cares.

How has the trend in craft supply pricing affected small business owners?

Small Etsy sellers, woodworkers, the whole lot—they all say the same thing: tariffs and base prices are just killing margins. A paper artist told me she had to bump her prices up 18% in half a year just to keep up with “invisible” shipping and supplies. They’re not hiding it, either. People literally tell their regulars, “Hey, sorry, prices went up again.”

It’s rough. “My spreadsheet says I need to charge $40, but nobody wants to pay more than $28.” So they work more and make less. Half the folks I talked to are basically chasing deals, switching suppliers every month, just to stay afloat. No magic fix. Just hustle and hope.

Do I need to adjust my crafting budget due to recent price shifts?

Yeah, probably. Unless you’ve got a secret stash or some magical craft supply wormhole you’re not sharing with the rest of us—because honestly, where is all my money even going? I swear, every time I blink, the price tags creep up a little more. I used to tell myself, “Fifty bucks a month, that’s plenty,” and for a while, it actually was. Now? If I get out under $75, it’s a minor miracle, and that’s only if I skip the more ambitious stuff (which, let’s be honest, I rarely do).

I try to track things. I’ve got spreadsheets, I check price guides and tips, and I still feel like I’m just chasing my own tail. Everything costs more. Well, except hot glue sticks—those seem to be holding steady, but I don’t trust it. Feels like a trap. So, yeah, I guess the only move is to actually look at what things cost now, stop pretending last year’s prices are still real, and just redo the math. Not that I’ll stick to it. But hey, I’ll try.