Free Kids’ Craft Supplies

Looking for ideas to keep your kids busy? Keep these free craft supplies on hand, and they’ll stay entertained for hours.

• Cardboard tubes

• Lids

• Egg cartons

• Bottle caps

• Scrap paper

• Scrap cardboard

• Oatmeal canisters

• Packing peanuts

• Beads from broken jewelry

• Swatches of old clothing

• Coffee cans

• Shoe boxes

• Junk CDs

• Film canisters

• Old socks

• Styrofoam trays

• Popsicle sticks

• Magazines or catalogs

Getting Organized

Free craft supplies are great, but only if you have a compact and organized approach to storing them. Place each supply in its own box, and be sure to label it. Since these supplies are designed to keep your kids busy, clear containers are best. This will allow your kids to find and pull out the supplies they need without a lot of help from you.

What to Do

Kids are great for coming up with projects on their own, but it may be necessary to inspire them from time to time. To ensure your kids always have project ideas, keep a folder of possible projects. If you get in the habit of tearing project ideas out of magazines and printing craft instructions off the Internet, this is fairly easy to maintain.

More Supplies

While you can obtain a lot of kids’ craft supplies for free you’ll probably still need to purchase a few. Here are some basic items to have on hand:

• Scissors

• Construction paper

• Glue

• Paint

• Crayons

• Markers

Inspiring Creativity

As your kids become more proficient at making projects out of recycled items, encourage them to look around for other salvaged craft supplies to incorporate into their projects. By doing so you’ll be fostering your kids’ creativity and teaching them about the importance of reusing items and reducing waste. Now that’s a winning situation for your kids’ and your wallet!

-Erin Huffstetler

  Erin Huffstetler is a freelance writer specializing in frugal living tips and tricks. Her work has appeared in numerous print and electronic publications including Family Circle, Guideposts For Kids and Pregnancy. As the stay-at-home mom of two young kids, Erin is always looking for new ways to live better for less. For fun decorating and craft project ideas check out Erin's "Trash to Treasures" and "Bead Making Basics" courses at Suite101.com.