FUN STUFF

Thinking Outside the Box: 5 Places to Find Inspiration

By Kristen, age 19, Massachusetts
Sweet Designs Staff Intern





I am a self-proclaimed girly girl. I love pink, floral prints, polka dots, you name it. I love everything girly. I love to shop for things, from clothes to anything with which to decorate my room. However, I am very strapped for cash these days. I've resorted to the hobby of arts and crafts, where I can recreate high end pieces at the fraction of the price. I have found many places to build up my craft supplies and keep things handy just in case I have a sudden burst of inspiration. Here are five places you can look to find craft supplies without breaking the bank.

Mom & Dad's Shed or Garage

The last place you'd want to look is your parents' shed or garage - they might make you clean it! But I do suggest going there (try not to get noticed), and look for scrap pieces of wood or metal for your craft supplies. Just the other day I got some spare PVC piping cubes from my dad, with which I intend to make an abstract 3D poster. From painting spare pieces of wood for a beautiful piece of art to a duct tape purse - just go for it!

Your Local Recycling Center

One person's trash is another's treasure. Your local recycling center is the prime place for someone who wants to make crafts. Paper, ribbon, yarn, buttons, knitting needles ... the list of things there are endless. Go there with a big bag and an open mind.

The Outdoors!

Everything in nature is free, meant for us humans to use to our advantage. From rocks to flower petals, you can think of a lot of things in nature to incorporate into your craft designs. Press some flowers and glaze them onto furniture for a permanent and beautiful look, or collect some differently colored rocks for a collage. The possibilities are endless!

The Craft Store

If you do have a couple bucks to spare, the craft store is great for glue, decorative paper, buttons, glitter, and googley eyes. The craft store is great for the essentials. Try speaking with a sales associate for the best deals and prices.

Your Own Bedroom

Have any bland furniture in your room that needs some jazzing up? Leftover supplies from your latest science project? Candy wrappers? These things are the perfect basis for crafts. Try www.designspongeonline.com for DIY projects and tips for crafts. It's one of the best craft design blogs out there!



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February & March Magazine Issues

March 15, 2012

The February and March issues of Sweet Designs Magazine are now online, featuring a combined 53 new articles and features!!

- Cover: Stephanie Lynn reflects on 5 years
- Cover: India (of Darn-licious knitwear)
- Life in the dumps (moving in with my bf)
- The difference between men and women
- Angels among us (parts 1 and 2)
- Arts graduates & the dark night of the soul
- Triple threat (how I survived my teen yrs)
- Dating isn't easy (my true story)
- How to turn not-so-great gifts ... (fashion)
- Ten reasons to love being single
- Taking the big leap (college)
- Valentine's Day (not what you'd expect!)
- The last of the cold (hopefully) (fashion)
- A month full of love
- Ten tips for successful airline travel
- Reasons I love writing for SDM
- Who needs love?
- They're not all the same
- The life I'm glad I don't have (fiction)
- Professional dress/ finding Fendi (fashion)
- An airport anniversary: a true story
- Inappropriate Facebook photos
- The perks of a big city (college)
- A night(mare) to forget (part 2)
- The Anita Blake series (book review)
- Saving June by Hannah Harrington (book)
- Under the Mesquite by GG McCall (book)
- The Lullaby by Sarah Dessen (book)
- If I Stay by Gayle Foreman (book review)
- My sweetheart (original poetry)
- Isn't it funny (original poetry)
- The stranger (original poetry)
- A winter wonderland (original poetry)
- One night valentine
- The thick envelopes (college acceptance)
- Southern love
- Healthy hair and vitamins
- It's a date (dating idea alternatives)
- The 30 hour famine
- School's out forever!
- Marching right back into spring? (fashion)
- Dear John
- When TV shows depict your life
- 3 Fun ways to rock spring's hottest trends
- Neglected teeth
- Starting something new
- Guy movies
- To hesitate or dive in?
- Deadly, by Julie Chibbaro (book review)
- Beastly, by Alex Flinn (book review)
- I don't care (poetry)
- Together, alone (poetry)

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