When looking at some beautiful, detailed cards, boxes or other handmade crafts do you ever wonder:
- Wow, I love those flowers, I wonder when she got them from?
- that lace is amazing, what is it called?
- these card boxes are exactly what I've been looking for, whats her supplier?
- I want those embellishments too,
- I want to make my own wedding invitations, where can I get that paper she used from?
It's Sunday today, quite a miserable day I have to say. So I'm just sitting on the sofa, sipping my posh coffee and going through Pinterest images, looking for some inspiration and ideas for my next project. And this is how I came up with today's' blog post idea...
I ask myself these questions every time I see a cute handmade card, cushion, box or a bag...so you are not the only one. There are so many stores and online shops where you can get all those pretty things for your homemade crafts. Over the last few years, when shopping online for craft essentials I have narrow my list to just a few shops where I get what I need and usually more ( unfortunately for my wallet).
So today I made a list for you with my top 5 craft supplies shops. So if you ever wonder - when looking at my cards or invitations- where I got those papers, boxes, flowers or all the embellishments from, here are my favorite suppliers:
1. Stampin' Up!
Stampin' Up! designs and makes great quality, unique decorative stamp sets, accessories and embellishments for greeting cards, scrapbooks, craft projects and home decor. They offer a wide assortment of stamps, punches, dies, papers, tools, and other accessories;
What I love about Stampin' Up! is great quality products, unique designs, and coordination. You can buy their products online through a demonstrator's website.
It's SU where I get lots of my stamps from, punches, amazing thinlits dies, or patterned papers. I would highly recommend their inkpads - high quality, great variety, re-inkers available, some beautiful colours and new design as well. I also like their tools - my must have paper-piercing tool, paper snips, or stamparatus. Their blending pens are just amazing as well.
This will always be my No. 1 craft supplies shop. I love it so much I became an SU demonstrator.
If you would like to see what Stampin' Up! is all about feel free to visit my website or you can request a free catalog - just send me a message. On the website as well as on my blog you can find out more about current offers, sales, or the benefits of joining Stampin' Up! family (free goodies, 25% off, training, support, business opportunities, and more).
2. Imagine DIY
They specialize in wholesale DIY wedding stationery and invitations, card making and craft supplies at affordable prices.
From this craft shop, I always get my embellishments (pearl, crystal, and especially antique embellishments), boxes for my card and lace. Sometimes I like to get a new patterned or embossed paper, and some fabric flowers - they are amazing!
What I love about this online supplier is not just cute craft essentials, but also amazing service. Unpacking my order is like unpacking a present - beautifully wrapped and often with a little sweet gift attached! How cool is that!
I am pretty sure they offer some discounts for large orders.
I highly recommend their lace and trims - beautiful designs, high quality and the prices are the best I have ever come across, even cheaper than eBay!!!!
It's a supplier of handmade mulberry paper flowers - HUGE VARIETY!!
All the flowers used in my cards and crafts come from this particular shop. The prices are pretty competitive. They very often have flowers on sale or special offers. Most of their flowers come in different colours and sizes. I love this shop!
I recently discovered the shop is undergoing some maintenance, and their website should reopen by the end of August - fingers crossed because I am running out of flowers :)
4. Hobbycraft
Everyone has heard of Hobbycraft, seen or visited one. The most popular, the largest craft supply shop in the UK. When you step into the store you get overwhelmed by all the colours, a variety of products, offers, beautiful designs etc.
I do like to visit the shop to browse through their sales/clearance rack or get some nice deals. A good way to find some inspirations for my DIY projects.
Apart from value essentials, they offer art materials, craft kits and components, cookware and baking supplies, paper crafts, knit, stitch and haberdashery items, jewelry making supplies, home decor and much more.
I always buy their brown kraft card - great quality and best value. I also like their white card/paper which I usually use for my cards and invitations.
What I love about Hobbycraft is that you can find pretty much everything in one place. And their sale/clearance section is always my first place to look through. If you get their store card you get 15% off your first order. Also, every time you shop and scan your card at the till you get entered into some monthly competitions. You are sent emails with special offers as well They also run different workshops in stores. Great gift ideas. A good place to spend lots of money... :)
5. The Works
I am sure you all have seen the bright yellow sign in every town. The Works. They stock books, toys, gifts and what we - crafters- like the most; stationery, arts and crafts. All at discounted prices. If you are looking for a bargain - this is the place.ou can shop online as well.
I love this shop for stationery, different journals and notebooks to help me with organizing my day-to-day tasks. I also have a reward card - you collect points which are converted into reward vouchers every 3 months.
Every time I'm in town, or shopping centre I like to visit the store to see what bargains I can find - embellishments, patterned paper, books, tools, craft essentials...
These are my favorite craft suppliers - my top 5. These are the shops I visit all the time to get all my craft essentials as well as new products, quite often at a bargain price, for all my projects.
I hope I helped you discover a new crafty shop you didn't know existed, Or maybe i helped you make up your mind on where to shop next for your craft essentials.
I am also sure, next time you see my projects and like something I used, you will know where to look for it and buy it for yourself :)
Have you got your favourite craft supplies shop? I would love to hear about it. Feel free to share it with me in the comment.
Thanks for visiting
Happy crafting :)
Mazzy xxx
