Australian craft supplies are so expensive.

I've been reading a ton of tutu tutorials.. all of them saying tulle is a couple of dollars a yard(?).. but here, its $8 a metre. I'd need at least 7 metres.. which would equal $56 for half a costume Im probably only going to wear once. The other option, was $3.50 per metre, and was netting.. which would still cost me $24.50, and I really dont have that much to spend on it.

Also, all of our other craft supplies are really expensive. felt is 99c for an A4 sheet.. I know that isnt too bad, but it adds up really quickly. I dont look at beads, buttons, chains, studs or anything like that, because I know I cant afford them. Even jump rings, are about $4 for a pack of about 100, which I can use in a week.

Okay, I feel better now I got that out.. Happy

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10 replies since 5th October 2010 • Last reply 5th October 2010

Reply #1:

Wow $4 for jump rings is bad! I thought $2 was bad... lol

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Reply #2:

Wow. I recently picked up felt sheets for 25 cents each.

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Reply #3:

I feel your pain Melvin! I'm in Tassie! the only craft store where I live is Spotlight,its so pricey! its is frustrating with no competition they charge what they like! Might I had there is never any parking the shop is always in shambles and they never keep the same colours in stock!
If I'm near a $2 type shop I always have a look, sometimes they sell little crafty bits and pieces for cheap!
another thing I do to try and keep the cost of my crafting down is use recycled materials whenever I can, Charity stores are a cool place to find pretty fabric Happy
I'm glad I'm not the only one with this problem!
and I feel a bit better after a rant too!

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Reply #4:

I'm tired of living in crafting no man's land. I have to go to Harrogate to get anything which is an hour by bus and I still can't get stuff like resin or plaster of paris. It's just not FAIR!

Grump over, all is ace now.

xx

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Reply #5:

Its the same in Serbia too... Happy Where I live we only have one craft store witch imports from Hungary,so everything is really pricey. And...we dont have thrift shops here... Happy boo...
But I sometimes go to the next city where there are plenty second hand shops and Im lucky that my mom has tons of fabric saved for me.

But polymer clay,jewelery parts,beads,buttons,shrink plastic is really pricey. And I cant find resin either...

But the Craft Material Swap helped me a lot so now I have all this awesome stuff to use for crafts. Happy

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Reply #6:

I live in a city and the one 'crafty' shop shut down so now all I have is a fabric place which is helpful yeah but only when fabric is needed, nothing else. I resort to online shopping. I know it's a pain in the bum and I hate postage fees but sometimes it's cheaper then going into town and getting it! Mental. I feel your pain though guys. It must feel like you're being penalised for wanting to be creative =(

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Reply #7:

Wow--see, everything in Israel is 2-3 times the price it should be, EXCEPT for the craft supplies. They're cheaper here than in the USA, which is insane, since NOBODY here uses them. That's probably why, actually, come to think of it...

Of course, there are times when I wish I could just go to the store and buy ONE thing for a decent price--and not have to think, "This is STUPIDLY overpriced--I'll just make it."

>.>

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Reply #8:

Wow, this makes me feel super glad and lucky living in Central Java. I think craft supplies here, like beads, felt, wire, yarn and so on are pretty cheap (it would be way cheaper if it's counted with foreign currency). The only problem for me is that the shop is far from where I live.

However, crafts like clay and resin are expensive and rare here. I think because those two are not really as 'famous' as beads and felt/cloth. This kinda makes me sad, 'cuz I'm rather addicted to air-dry clay at the moment.

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Reply #9:

Omigosh honey that's terrible. I managed to make like 4 tutu's for about £25 for all of them. It's only about £2/3 metre I think...

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Reply #10:

oh wow, i had no idea it was so expensive elsewhere.I live near a lot of thrift stores, and some craft stores are cheap prices.
so my only prob is getting out to get them.But I do a lot of online shopping.Went to the thrift store yesterday and got some great goodies.I wish you all could get to them. Happy

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