50+ Free Art and Craft Supplies and Free Craft Samples

For those who love to make art and work on craft projects, they know all too well that supplies can get very expensive.

Craft, stationery, fabric, and hobby shops may be the places to find supplies easily, but these stores are not the most inexpensive places!

If you are willing to put some extra time and energy into finding free supplies, the costs for your projects will drop considerably.

This page links to internet sites offering free craft samples and art supplies. Scroll down to see what you can easily find using a computer!

As a cautionary statement, please only give information to reputable companies you feel comfortable working with. Read the fine print; a self-addressed stamped envelope may be required. But that is usually all you need to get free craft samples and art supplies from internet sites.

Scroll down to find our list of over 50 places to find free craft supplies or samples.

But internet sites are not the only places to find free craft supplies!

Think outside of the box…we can help!

Where can I get free craft and art supplies?

1. At Home

Let’s start right under the nose with the home.  Your home is a great place to find free craft supplies! Look in the recycling bin, boxes of old items saved for that "someday I'll need this excuse," a basket of old magazines, jars that, with a little work, can have the labels removed, paint from old projects, old clothing, and so much more.

The home can be a treasure trove if you get creative! Needlepointers has an entire department full of ideas for using recycled crafts materials.

2. In Nature

And don't forget about the natural world around you!  Go hiking to find rocks to paint, pinecones for projects, flowers to dry, and so much more. Free craft supplies, my friends.

3. Buy Nothing, Freecycle Groups

There are also websites and apps like freecycle.org, where folks list items they have to give away for free or list items they are looking for. The same goes for Craigslist. 

Search Facebook for local buy nothing, yard sale, or freecycle groups. Don't be shy. Ask for what you need, and you may be very surprised!

4. Friends or other Crafters

How about checking with a friend, especially a fellow crafter?  Those who enjoy arts and crafts almost always have a stash of items they bought for projects they thought they'd make and no longer need.  They'd probably be happy to give away craft supplies to get them out of their house!

5. Trash to Treasure

If a crafter is bold enough to “dumpster dive,” great treasures can be found in other people’s trash. I'm not recommending going through trash bags, but when a box of items or furniture is at the end of the driveway, think of how they can be used as free art supplies.

Where can I find Inexpensive Craft Supplies?

This brings us to the inexpensive but not free craft supply category. Thrift stores and Dollar Tree are amazing places to find art supplies for a fraction of the cost of buying new.

I made a beautiful 3 tiered tray from Dollar Tree plates and candle holders that I decorate for every season and holiday.  At a dollar per item, that was a bargain project.

And please don’t overlook garage, yard, and estate sales!  People purge their homes when they have a yard sale, and it is sometimes amazing what can be found to use as inexpensive and almost free craft supplies.

More Free Art and Craft Samples and Catalogs

This site has thousands of links to free craft projects, supplies, and catalogs.  For kids, Free Samples and Stuff for Kids may have some fun supplies.  The Free Arts, Crafts, and Hobby Catalogs page has many interesting catalogs that can be requested for free.

So get out there, use our ideas, or think of your own, to score some free craft supplies!