If you are an art kid

Here are some tips to save a little money if you are an art kid.

1. Go to local shops.
If you need something matted or framed professionally then go to a framer or local shop. They are almost always a lot cheaper than Michael's, JoAnn's, or Hobby Lobby even with the coupons that are in the mail. Supplies at local shops are usually cheaper also. Google, look around, or just ask most likely someone with similar interests will know a hol-in-the wall local seller. Also you support your community rather than a big store.

2. Shop around.
Go online or browse stores and find the deals that stores close to you are offering. Most likely some place will have what you want at a decent price.

3. Wholesale.
There are a lot of online retailers that will well you bulk supplies at a cheaper cost. Stock up and use that for awhile plus if you stock up then the shipping and handling fee will be less or sometimes free for larger orders. If you decide to shop at a store then you will not have to use the gas that you will have to if you go back in a week. Ebay and Etsy are both websites where you can buy large quantities for really cheap.

4. Ask around for free supplies.
Sometimes if you know someone in specific indistries they will let you have scrap metal, paint, or other supplies. A friend of mine was a welder, he took scrap metal from his company's trash and gave it to me. Occasionally you get free materials that you would have never thought to use that are just what you needed, pieces to practice on, or just free supplies. My father is a painter, if he has old paint that he does not use or paint in the garage then I can most likely use some of that. You can even mix the perfect color with those or find the perfect mixture already made and in gallon supplies.

5. Keep your eye out.
If you are walking down the street then most likely you will find a plethora of odds and ends that can aid in your art or crafting. Lost buttons, charms or just nature that is inspiring, free and you are being enviromentally friendly.

6. Do it yourself.
Frame and matte your art work on  your own. Number 1 kind of mentioned this but still, you will save a lot in the long run. A local shop around me sells large things of matte board for $5 and scraps that still do the job for 50 cents. I can matte things at home without paying the framer a ridiculous price.

7. Sell your stuff.
There are plenty of websites that will let you sell your arts, crafts and supplies. Clean out your pile of art you have in the corner of your room and make some money. Etsy is a well-known site for this. Ebay can work too or start your own website. Those are just a few websites that I think are good.

8. Trade.
Ask another artist if they want to trade art for art. You get a free piece of art and get your stuff out there for possible future clients.

9. Give as presents.
You spend a lot of money on materials for the things that you are passionate about. This is the season for gifts. It's a pretty simple idea. Create a piece of artwork that you think someone will like and from there you can frame and gift it. It's free if you have the supplies handy and a gift that the person receiving will always remember.

The moral of this story is, don't be afraid to ask for supplies, go to a local shop, buy larger quantities, give homemade, or just look around and compare prices. It may seem like a chore to compare but most likely there is a website that will compare the things that you want to buy.

If you have any tips then post them in comments. I am just a broke college kid who is an arts and craft junkie, I enjoy all the tips that I am given.