Cheap ways to craft tips

i keep my eyes open at thrift stores for wool and whatnot. i once made two scarves out of wool that i had bought there. i do a lot of scrapbooking/card making so i am always looking for stuff that i can put on there such as bits of broken jewellry and whatntot.

I get my yarn at rummage sales, usually churches are the best place to look. Otherwise I get some from an occasional rummage sale. I've been thinking if I knew how to make a hat & mittens I'd make extra's beyond my kids needs and donate them to their school or other charities that are always in need. I never thought about ripping appart a sweater to re-make into items. I've contimplaited blankets that looked fairly new @ thrift stores. But in a way I feel guilty destroying someones hard work. Like I found a cute crochetted baby blanket a few days ago w/ almost new yarn in it, I couldn't help but buy it especailly @ 50% off. I'm going to try to follow the pattern instead. My aunt has been crochetting for over 30yrs and she will give me her yarn dogs if she has any so I can use them in my granny square blanket I've been making on and off for a while. When she goes rummaging she finds scrap fabric for me to use in my quilt. She found 2 grocery store sized bags full for .25-.50 ea! Can't beat that ! Just need to find the room in my house to bring up my stuff from the basement again.... it was a great hobby til we had kids and our spare room is now occupied.

When I was crafting, a while back, I also use to go to all the thrift stores to find my craft items. I use to create miniature scene's using really cute little bears (looked like mini Boyd's Bears), small cats, dogs, birds (use to put real feathers on their tails), and just about find anything I wanted at these stores. I would also find items I could re-store and make something out of it, using it as a project of some sorts. Hard to explain exactly what I did, but if it was usable, I'd find it there. I sold quite a bit, along with the normal wreaths, hanging decorations, Christmas items, you're making me miss doing this, lol!