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Thanks everyone! I'm loving all of these ideas!
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Wow Crystal, these are great. I never would have thought of some of these things.Comment
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Yup I love the USPS and order shipping boxes pretty often. I like to build them inside out so that the brown cardboard part of the box is on the outside and we use them as large cardboard blocks. I used to work for Lowe's so I know what time they start unpacking their stock in the evenings so I call ahead and ask them to hold large boxes for me (if I'm lucky I can get my hands on fridge and stove boxes and the kiddos like building forts, stands, etc. I've also gotten the ends of chain, carpet remnants, broken tiles (for mosaic crafts), wood leftovers for wood crafts etc.
From a friends motorcycle shop we get free little flags to stick in the ground and make roads with for our bikes, thick brown paper to paint on (from their shipping boxes). From the wood store next door to him I've gotten wood leftovers that we use as blocks etc. A friend of mine works in IT for an architect's office and we get blueprints, end rolls of paper, office supplies (you wouldn't believe the stuff they throw away including the ends of toilet paper rolls). I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you aren't used to asking random people you should try starting with the people you know. Know someone that works for a cleaning service? Ask them for the empty bottles of whatever and wash them out very well and use the spray bottles for painting etc. My mom works for state farm insurance and we frequently get pens, balloons, flags, tote bags with coloring books etc. Her boss is more than happy to give me stuff (okay so I used to baby-sit her kids when I was in high school
) because I always hand these out and the kids take them home, can you say free advertisement? . Be creative and try the you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours routine.
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