MSE Blog Discussion: Grab bundles of craft supplies from £1 via scrap stores

MSE_Jenny

Read MSE Jenny's blog: 

Grab bundles of craft supplies from £1 via scrap stores

From tinsel to textiles, buttons to bubble wrap, scrap stores let you grab dirt-cheap craft materials that might otherwise have been sent to landfill. We're keen to hear from anyone who's used them. What have you picked up? How much was it? What did you use it for?

Huge thanks for your help!
MSE Jenny

Marcon

I've been to the Watford Scrapstore first when it was in Watford, then in Northwood Hills, and now (haven't yet visited) back in Watford. Website: https://wrapwatfordscrap.wixsite.com/wrap/about

I went with a friend who runs a Rainbows and a Brownie group in the area. Joining fee for her group was £10 admin + 'group' fee of £35 for the year, which covered as many visits as you wish/anything you chose to take away.

Stock varied quite a lot, but was invariably more than worth the visit. Lots of fabric, paper/card, packing materials such as polystyrene peanuts and bubble wrap, wool, ribbon, sequin waste and the like. Without a doubt you need to be disciplined about what you take, rather than going for a 'grab it all' approach.

Stashbuster

I’ve used the one near me so many times both for personal projects and for supplies for WI meetings. This long rag bunting used scraps of fabric from my sewing offcuts, some fabrics from the scrap store and a 12m long length of ribbon I picked up from there too. 

sammy_kaye18

Why!

Why did I even look.....

Guess whos going to coerce the husband or sister into a trip to Cardiff now just to mooch about........

Looks worthwhile though and the added bonus that you not only can find some good items and materials for crafting but you can save things from landfills too seems like an added bonus .

Reuse

Great to see scrapstores mentioned. I have volunteered at Rushcliffe Play Forum in Nottinghamshire for 12 years and we have just worked with a local Councillor to provide FREE craft boxes  for the children in the community we are based. The boxes were fully inclusive as as well as a variety of our scrap we included  a pair of children’s scissors, a roll of sticky tape, a glue stick , a pencil and some crayons. 65 boxes were collected from us. 

Katiehound

sadly nothing near me. There used to be one at Skegness but you had to be registered for school/ youth group etc. Long gone: replaced by Tesco!!

lindos90

 I would love to visit a scrap store! I follow one on FB and it's amazing, the volunteers look like they have lots of fun too! I understand that its not accessible to the general public though. Only for students, teachers, childminders and community groups   I guess its to ring fence the resources for worthy causes so I understand why they have done that I guess.

suzeesu2000

I’m an individual and have just joined a scrap store. They even agreed to post to me as I live on the Isle of Wight and we have none here. I think the membership depends on where you are or which scrap store you are choosing. 

Katiehound

Nothing near me.