Where To Buy ...

[MsLaura529]

I'm trying to stock up on arts/crafts supplies, things for sensory bins, and getting some wall decorations.

Does anyone have a great place they buy these things, store or website? I'm going to check out the dollar store for sure.

[itlw8]

The best time to stock up is the back to school sales. With schools starting mid Aug here it seems the sales start now the end of July 1st of August.

Walmart, Target, Staples are places I stock up at. Discount School Supply often has great clearance sales. I never pay full price. Back to school means paint sales at most of the school supply companies.

[jessrlee]

Discount school supply has a huge sale at the end of the school year. I stock up then and at the beginning of the school year at walmart.

[littlemissmuffet]

Dollar Stores!

[NeedaVaca]

I agree with PP's and will add Michael's-they have a dollar section and sales with coupons every week. Hobby Lobby also has some good deals.

[KnoxMom]

Dollar Tree is a must but the best quality is at Michael's. I NEVER pay full price there but you can find treasures in the clearance section. I subscribe to a local blog that tells when things go on clearance/closeout at all the different stores in the area. Big Lots is great for seasonal items but it can be hit or miss. I don't know what state you're in but we also have a store in TN called Ollie's Bargain Outlet that has crazy prices for quality items. Lastly, I check in at Goodwill bi-weekly for yarn, baskets and knick-knacks (things we can paint or repurpose). Hope this helps!

[melilley]

All the bigger craft stores have coupons. You can get them in the Sunday paper or sign up through email and they will send them to you. And they are usually 40% or more! It helps!

[Kym2098]

Oriental trading too has good buys

Dollar Tree is a must but the best quality is at Michael's. I NEVER pay full price there but you can find treasures in the clearance section. I subscribe to a local blog that tells when things go on clearance/closeout at all the different stores in the area. Big Lots is great for seasonal items but it can be hit or miss. I don't know what state you're in but we also have a store in TN called Ollie's Bargain Outlet that has crazy prices for quality items. Lastly, I check in at Goodwill bi-weekly for yarn, baskets and knick-knacks (things we can paint or repurpose). Hope this helps!

[Starburst]

Dollar Stores!

I suggest walking (or driving) around your town and look at some non chain 'ma & pa' or oriental stores- sometimes they have things you don't even see at other stores and have it really cheap. Just make sure if you get anything that is plastic to read the lables and make sure it doesn't say anything about containing chemicals that can lead to reproductive issues or certain types of cancers; if your state does that (in CA they have to do that). At this one store I went to I saw these really cool bowls in different colors with little flowers on it and they were 4 @ $1 but the only thing was they had that warning but I found some other bowls at another store that looked good, also 4 @ $1, and didn't have that warning.

[slpender]

The Dollar Tree is the best Pom poms craft sticks felt craft foam ect. Even really good storage bins

[Starburst]

Dollar Tree is a must but the best quality is at Michael's. I NEVER pay full price there but you can find treasures in the clearance section. I subscribe to a local blog that tells when things go on clearance/closeout at all the different stores in the area.

I used to work at a Michaels and It is really expensive. If you go there make sure you have a 40% or 50% coupon you can either get it in a newspaper ad or signup for a free e-mail. They only let you use one per transaction and some stores also say '1 per customer per visit' so if you have more try brining your kids or a friend so they can be a 'different' customer but you can still pay. They used to keep extra ads with coupons in the store but then they started writing 'void' or cutting out the coupons on all the ads in the store. It doesn't work with some items like books, magazines, bigger machines, custom floral/framing (they have seperate coupons for those), or sale/clearance items. Also keep an eye out for 'Sunday Madness' and 'Monday Madness' sales they usually run from 4-8 pm and if you have that coupon (depending on what it says- they hand it out at the store for a few weeks or you can get it in the newspaper/E-mail) you can save anywhere from 15%-25% on your ENTIRE purchase sometimes even sale/clearance items (but it still won't work on some bigger items like books/martha stuart items).

Edited to add: most of their coupons only last about a week (Sunday-Saturday) and some are only good for a few days so make sure to check the dates on the coupon and try to wait until about friday or saturday to see what their adds will be to see if they are having better sales/coupons the next week. If so than try to wait until Sunday to do shopping.

[MsLaura529]

Wow, thank you everybody! I forgot about Oriental Trading Company. I had belonged to Michael's e-mail program, but I was getting 3 or 4 e-mails a day from them! We don't get the paper, though. Maybe I'll just rejoin and **** it up And I've been looking through the discount school supply online, it's addicting! Haha, good to know about their sales.

[Oneluckymom]

Speaking of Michaels....did you know that you could get a teacher discount card.

I told them I was a daycare owner and showed them my business card...although the lady said she didn't need to see my business card.

Just thought I would mention that.

[MsLaura529]

Speaking of Michaels....did you know that you could get a teacher discount card.

I told them I was a daycare owner and showed them my business card...although the lady said she didn't need to see my business card.

Just thought I would mention that.

Nice tip! Thanks! (They never let me get the discount when I was a substitute teacher)

[KnoxMom]

Speaking of Michaels....did you know that you could get a teacher discount card.

I told them I was a daycare owner and showed them my business card...although the lady said she didn't need to see my business card.

Just thought I would mention that.

Had no idea! Thanks for sharing