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Home » DIY Projects » Thrift Store Craft Supplies You Should Never Pass Up

DIY Projects

Thrift Store Craft Supplies You Should Never Pass Up

I’m a HUGE fan of getting your craft supplies at thrift stores, garage sales and flea markets. BUT, I may not be talking about the traditional craft supplies you are thinking about like glitter, paint and glue. I like to collect vintage items to use in my DIY home decor projects! Not everything on my never pass up list is vintage, but sometimes the best deals are found second hand!Save this list! Here are my favorite things to look for at thrift stores, garage sales, flea markets and resale shops to use in your DIY projects as unique craft supplies! Thrift store craft ideas and projects come to life when you stash these creative vintage finds as supplies for your upcycling projects! so many ideas here. #upcycle #craftsupplies #thriftstorefinds #craftprojectideas #budgetcraftsupply #vintageDIYideas

When you are out thrifting keep you eyes peeled for some of my favorite craft supplies so you can have them on hand to use in creative ways for your DIY projects. I think so many of these items take your projects up a notch and often add instant age to a brand new creation. By the way – you can click on each picture for a link to that tutorial if you want to know more about any of the projects you see here! 

Craft Supplies I Never Pass Up

  1. Old hymnals/Religious books – Often found for a dollar or so these are paper crafting gold! The pages are often stained, torn, I’ve bought pages with no binding left. The sad little books that no one wants always come home with me. Because they are in such disrepair I don’t feel bad ripping pages out of them for a wide variety of DIY projects. This gorgeous deer banner from sheet music is the perfect garland to decorate your mantel for the holidays or year round. #stencil #makerboss #chalkcouture #deerdecor #chalkart #musicsheet #holidaygarland
  2. Mismatched Hardware Pieces – You will often see a plastic bag filled with a few pieces of random hardware. Stuff like vintage drawer pulls, door knobs, hinges, etc. If it is inexpensive I grab it, not to re-use on furniture or cabinets, but to decorate my decor projects with! Such gorgeousness on a dime. A cozy autumn home tour inspired by books and pages for Fall. Plus a free printable for a friend...You are my favorite book to read.
  3. Sewing Patterns – One of my favorite kinds of paper is vintage sewing patterns. These too are typically a dollar or less and it doesn’t matter what the pattern is for, if it’s already cut up or never opened. That thin crinkly paper is glorious to use in your decorating and upcycling projects!
  4. Game Pieces – I love jars and boxes of random game pieces. Dice, dominoes, scrabble letters, playing cards. All these tiny treasures can be worked into a variety of creative project ideas. Not to mention, they are easy to store and look cute stored in the open as decoration until you put them to work. Batch paint your thrifted finds to save time and get projects completed fast. My Wagner FLEXiO 5000 is the perfect tool to get painting home decor done fast! #wagnerpaintsprayer #paintingtips #thriftedfinds #vintagedecor #homedecorupdate
  5. White sheets – You will be amazed home many projects you can use a plain white sheet for! Of course you want to wash this ASAP, but after that you can rip it, cut it, dye it stain it or use it for tons of different craft ideas. A few simple spring decorating ideas for the home. Light, bright, yellow and gold with pops of fresh greenery help me get my house feeling spring fresh. #springdecorating #springideas #springlivingroom
  6. Napkins – Paper or linen you can use both! You can get some fabulous paper napkins to use for crafting for next to nothing. Most of the time there are just a few, the pattern may be odd or out of date…so no one wants them! With linen you can get a deal on broken sets, but you will use them for something besides the dinner table and that’s where you win!This boring tray gets a farmhouse garden makeover. A DIY napkin "painting" tutorial. www.huntandhost.net
  7. Actual Crafting Supplies – There is nothing better than coming across a sale of actual craft supplies that someone is off loading! I am still working out of a bag full of wooden doll heads and beads I came across for a few bucks years ago! This old enamel pot lid without it's pot gets a makeover into a footed tray. Perfect for indoor or outdoor décor and the easiest DIY ever!
  8. Neckties – The uglier the better. I usually try and buy these in a group of like colors based on my decor style or a holiday color theme. These tiny strips of silk are gorgeous worked into a number of craft projects.How to make old neckties into precious jewelry. This no sew necktie craft will recycle those out of style thrift store neckties into a cute tassel necklace on a serious budget. #diyjewelry #upcycleidea #vintagestyle #necktieaccessory #fashiononabudget
  9. Wrapping Paper – I wallpapered my dollhouse with old wrapping paper from a garage sale. It is so much fun to use for decoupage projects and crafts! (Vintage wall papers are super cool, usually thick paper and have great designs if you happen across those!)Get lost in in cozy comfort with these dollhouse master bedroom decor ideas. Large scale floral wallpaper make the room a dramatic room with vintage touches, you'll seriously want to move into this dollhouse bedroom! Vintage clocks on the fireplace mantel with a dramatic black and white theme.
  10. Old Framed Pictures – People pass up things they can’t put immediately into their house. That’s good for you! Old canvases and outdated pictures become a fresh canvas for super cheap. No need to spend big money on a new canvas! Plus you usually get a frame you can paint with it.If you come across old artwork in thrift stores and wonder how you can re-purpose it, this is a great idea on how to switch up old art prints into modern DIY typography art. #thriftstorefind #DIYartwork #pctureframerepurpose #vintagestyle
  11. Costume Jewelry – Bags of beads and baubles are so fun to have on hand. Use them to update jewelry, add to craft projects, make garland and let your bejeweling creativity go wild.Broach bracelet hunt and host
  12. Things you can deconstruct and re-use – Think about all the ugly wreaths you see at garage sales. The fake flowers are melted and the bows have enough dust to trigger and asthma attack, but you can use this cheap find! Take all the bad junk off and use the wreath base to make your own. Maybe the flowers aren’t that bad for a completely different craft. Look for things you can take apart and use the pieces in your own way.Marry your old wedding candelabra to a picket fence board for the cutest DIY hime decor with vintage style. This quick and easy DIY candle holder get you thinking about what other thrifted finds you can take apart and put back together again in a more useful way! #candleholder #picketfenceproject #thriftedfind #cottagestyle #farmhousedecor #farmhousecandle #cottagedecor #makeitnew 
  13. Candles – You can get AMAZING deals on candles second hand. Taper candles in a variety of colors are great to use in your tables-capes. Fat chunky candles are great for craft projects at a fraction of the cost you’d pay in a store! Looking for a fun and easy heat tool project idea? This decorative candle DIY is a beautiful candle centerpiece for home. If you have a heat tool and are looking for a great heat gun idea you need to check this out! #heattool #heatguntips #heattoolideas #heatgunuses #candledecor #centerpieceideas #tablescape #coffeetabledecor
  14. Silver – May not sound like a craft supply, but old silverware can be used for jewelry, holiday decor, home decor and painting. It’s great to have a stash on hand to use when the idea strikes you! spoon santa spoon tree spoon christmas ornament huntandhost.net

Tell me what you look for to use in your craft projects. I love to get fresh ideas to keep my eyes open for. I hope this list helps you look at that garage sale junk a little different. 

Blessings, Kim from Hunt & HostConnect more here:

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Comments

  1. Montee Wellman says

    December 20, 2019 at 7:06 AM

    Yes!

    Reply
    • Kim at Salvaged Living says

      December 21, 2019 at 10:08 AM

      🙂

      Reply
  2. Pearl says

    December 23, 2019 at 10:44 AM

    I love all of these great ideas!! Uncovering thrifted treasures is one of my favorite things to do ❤️

    Reply
    • Kim at Salvaged Living says

      December 29, 2019 at 7:59 AM

      Isn’t it so fun!!

      Reply
  3. Linda Hickey says

    February 7, 2020 at 6:14 PM

    Love all your home warm displays.

    Reply
    • Kim at Salvaged Living says

      February 15, 2020 at 11:06 AM

      You are the sweetest friend!

      Reply
  4. Becky Coutras says

    August 16, 2020 at 3:09 AM

    Hi Kim,
    A good while back you showed a video of you and your children shopping at a Salvation Army store in the Fort Worth/Dallas area. Where was this SR store located? Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Kim at Salvaged Living says

      August 16, 2020 at 8:26 AM

      The one we went to was in Mansfield! Xo

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Kim. I believe getting your hands dirty can be a way to get your heart clean. This blog is a decorating and DIY guide to seeing God in the details of your day, hobby and home. Read more...

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