There are a lot of great deals on art and craft items, but you should definitely avoid these 2 types of craft supplies at the dollar store!
Ok, look, I loooove the dollar store. I know some of you have Dollar General, we have Dollar Tree, whatever you’ve got, they’re great for a lot of things. We can just gloss over the fact that items aren’t actually a dollar anymore. I guess Dollar Twenty Five Store doesn’t have the same ring to it?
Anyway, there are soooo many good deals at the dollar store, especially in the art and craft supply aisle. And there are also soooo many articles on the internet about what craft supplies you should buy from the dollar store.
I’m going to save you some heartache and instead, tell you that in reality, while a lot of items are great, you should avoid these 2 types of craft supplies at the dollar store. They’re not worth the project fail! If you have any additions to the list, please share them, we’d love to hear it!
What Craft Supplies Should I Avoid at the Dollar Store?
I have 2 rules of thumb for which craft supplies to skip on your next dollar store shopping trip:
Dollar Store Craft Supply Rule Number 1: Avoid anything sticky.
I realize this sounds ridiculous, but TRUST me on this. I have tried a variety of sticky products from the dollar store and they’re terrible. I once got glue sticks and cellophane tape (aka Scotch tape) for back to school there and we had to get rid of them all because they wouldn’t even stick to paper.
This rule also includes avoiding: clear cellophane tape, packing tape, masking tape, washi tape, glue sticks, adhesive dots, and double stick tape.
Are there any exceptions to this rule? YES! The dollar store hot glue sticks are usually fine. Also, if you find name brand Scotch magic tape and name brand clear Con-Tact paper (which actually isn’t even found in the craft section) is fantastic and makes a great alternative to fancy vinyl transfer tape.
Bonus rule-a word about stickers: Dollar store stickers are great for kids. They are not great for scrapbookers or paper crafters. Don’t do it.
Dollar Store Craft Supply Rule Number 2: Avoid anything liquid.
Paints and glues from the dollar store would probably be acceptable for crafting with kids. But if you are working on a craft project yourself and you want good results? Skip them. The quality just will not be good enough for good results.
Poor quality glue can be thinner and less sticky. Don’t get store brand school glue or clear glue (unless you’re using it to make slime). (I also saw dollar store brand decoupage glue once. NOT worth the risk!) If you get dollar store glitter glue, it will not have that much glitter in it compared to other brands. And without a ton of glitter, what’s the point?
In terms of paint, poor quality paint will definitely require more coats for coverage. Avoid dollar store brand acrylic paint, chalkboard paint, tempera paint and dimensional fabric paint. Honestly, if you have to use more of the supply to get a good results, you’re not really saving money or time, are you?
Are there any exceptions to this rule? YES! Name brand Mod-Podge comes in small bottles at the dollar store and is good for small projects. And if you happen to see any glues by Elmer’s or paints by Crayola those are also good. Those items may be smaller but they’re the same quality you’d get at any other store.
What Craft Supplies Should I Buy at the Dollar Store?
If you want to know what art and craft supplies you SHOULD grab on your next dollar store shopping trip, my friend Bre has two fantastic lists that will get you started! Here are 10 craft supplies you should buy at the dollar store AND 10 more craft supplies you should buy at the dollar store. She’s a dollar store and crafting expert and her recommendations are spot on and exactly the same as what I would choose!
If you liked this, you may also like some of my other posts…
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- Learn to Knit – How To Use a Pom Pom Maker - August 29, 2024
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