Crafts are expensive

[mousme]

It's not really a secret that I am rather fond of crafts. I am not especially artistically inclined, and so my efforts are more enthusiastic than than effective, but I do enjoy the process a great deal. I have, in the course of my life, dabbled in many kinds of crafts. Knitting (though crochet escapes me completely), beading, scrapbooking, messing about with clay/polymer clay, macrame & attendant string-based crafts, etc.

Lately, in a fit of what feels like nostalgia, I've been struck by the urge to go back to the crafts that I enjoyed as a child and adolescent. FIMO and gimp are the ones that have been occupying my thoughts, closely followed by beading. I used to make very simple things, and I can't help but wonder if I might not be able to step up my game and produce better things if I have the right tools and tutorials. I could make presents out of them, after all, or whatever. Post pictures of them on Instagram, at the very least. ;)

I went online and poked around, and HOLY GOD are these things expensive now! I mean, I remember crafting supplies were never cheap, but we're talking over $5.00 for a single packet of FIMO. That's not counting a kit of basic sculpting tools, and don't even get me started on beads. Plus you have to get storage for all these things (and it's not like we have a surplus of space in this house. Poor pdaughter practically had to rearrange the living room in order to make space for a small cupboard for her cake decorating supplies). Getting stuff online is less expensive, but there's shipping to be factored in, not to mention that it's not THAT much less expensive. Online prices are about 60-75% of regular prices.

No matter which way I look at it, I can't justify the expense. It's a little sad-making, though I'm not devastated or anything. These days anything that's not a necessity (gas, mortgage, food, hydro, etc.) just doesn't get to go on the purchasing list (except cable and the internet, which are technically luxuries, but I refuse to do without the internet and we do enjoy the TV a lot). If I bought every little thing that caught my fancy I wouldn't be able to afford food or the mortgage, after all. I'm sure that if I ignore the urge long enough, it'll pass. In the meantime, I should probably stick to knitting or writing if I want to get creative.

What I need to do is find stuff to do that doesn't cost money and somehow also doesn't take up any time. The perfect hobby. ;)

Comments

[kiwano.livejournal.com]

What I need to do is find stuff to do that doesn't cost money and somehow also doesn't take up any time. The perfect hobby. ;)

I thought a hobby was supposed to take up time. As a craft, how about whittling? All you need is a sharp knife (bet you've already got one of those) and some wood (sticks and branches picked up off the ground work fine). Pretty close to free, but it does need cleanup after..

[mousme.livejournal.com]

I was being facetious. I don't really have time for a(nother) hobby, let's face it. I need to just make it through the nostalgia and I'll be fine.

As for whittling, I only have kitchen knives, and I think that my using any of them to whittle would be frowned upon. Besides, sharp knives + Bean are a bad combo. He insists on shoving his fingers between me and the cutting board every single time I try to chop vegetables, no matter how many times we've told him not to/put him in time out/whatever.

[kiwano.livejournal.com]

I was being half-facetious myself, with the understated comments about mess in a household with a child and all ;)

[mellybean71.livejournal.com]

Michaels frequently has sales on Fimo/Premo (I would avoid Sculpey) and you can use a 40% off coupon for the tool kits. When it comes to polymer clay try to think outside the box -- there's a lot you can do with tools meant for other crafts and with stuff from the dollar store. Just remember that once you use something for polymer clay it can't be used for anything food related afterwards.