Arts >> Art >> Art Supplies

Free Art Supplies for Kids

If you are looking for traditional art supplies for kids, the Internet has made the task of matching surplus with need a bit easier. Some websites exist for the sole purpose of supplying kids with these tools. Look to your community as well by approaching businesses that may throw away materials that can be used for art-making. Don't forget to look inside and outside your house for materials that the creative mind can turn into art.

  1. Art-specific Suppliers

    • Prang Power's website provides a point-program for teachers to earn free art supplies. Purchases of Prang, Ticonderoga and Dixon supplies will amount to points. Teachers can also register at the iLoveSchools website to find a donor for new and used art supplies. Crayola's website provides more than 1,000 free coloring pages you can download and print, even if you're not a teacher.

    Requesting From Websites

    • Craig's List can be a helpful source for free art supplies. Under "Community," choose "Artists, or " under "For Sale" click "Free" to start browsing what may be available. You can also make your own request listing. The Freecycle Network works in a similar way but requires email sign-up. Depending on the size of your community, you may get multiple daily email digests of available supplies for which you can make a request.

    Approaching Businesses

    • Businesses in your community may be throwing out possible art supplies on a daily basis. Fabric shops can supply samples and scraps for sewing or collage projects. Copy stores provide various types of paper. Photography stores usually have a surplus of film canisters for sculpture projects. Building stores can provide anything from wallpaper swatches to wood scraps to paint swatches.

    Looking Around the House

    • Before many items reach the trash can, they can be reconstituted as art supplies. Consider saving your popsicle sticks for crafts. Newspaper can be used for paper mache projects. Junk mail can turn into collage paper. Paper towel and toilet paper tubes hold great sculpture potential, as well as plastic food containers of all varieties.

    Looking Outside

    • Decorating outdoor items, such as pine cones, with glitter and paint can be a fun art activity. Kids can use surfaces found outside to make rubbings on paper with crayons, creating textures for the basis of drawings. You can also make your own supplies with natural materials. Black walnuts are an excellent source for permanent ink. The process is best handled by an adult, but it can create a large quantity of drawing ink. Charcoal can be made from burnt twigs -- a process that takes some experimentation -- but is entirely possible.

+:
+:

Art Supplies

Related Categories