| Have you noticed the high prices of craft supplies? Me | | | | - Leaves |
| too! | | | | - Sea shells |
| To find cheaper crafting materials, crafters often visit | | | | - Sand |
| flea markets, garage sales, and consignment stores. | | | | - Abandoned bird nests |
| These are all wonderful sources for less expensive | | | | - Feathers |
| craft supplies, but there's one place even cheaper - | | | | Natural materials often need some type of treatment |
| and everyone has access to it. | | | | to be usable. Pine cones, for example, have sap and |
| The outdoors. Mother Nature has a spectacular array | | | | bugs and so should be heated in an oven before using |
| of materials useful for craft projects, and it's free. | | | | in your craft projects. |
| For free craft supplies, try looking in your own yard, | | | | Flowers and leaves will need to be dried for use in |
| open spaces and trails, friends' yards, city parks, or | | | | certain projects, like collage or card making. You can |
| even next to roadways. Be aware that removing | | | | press between newspaper and heavy books, or even |
| items from some areas, such as national parks, is | | | | make your own flower press to accomplish this. Look |
| illegal. | | | | for instructions online. |
| I've used several natural items in my craft projects. | | | | Rocks, sea shells, sticks, and bird nests need to be |
| Here is a short list to help you with ideas: | | | | cleaned prior to use. Sand can be sterilized by heating |
| - Pine cones | | | | in an oven. |
| - Rocks big and small | | | | Take a step outside. It's amazing what you can find in |
| - Bark | | | | nature to use in your craft projects. And best of all, |
| - Sticks, twigs and branches | | | | nature's craft supplies are free. |
| - Flowers | | | | |