Finding pen pal and paper craft supplies at thrift and consignment shops

This is my blog so I can ramble sometimes, right? I often find pen pal and paper craft related items at thrift shops for cheap: rubber stamps, stationery sets (“vintage” from the 1980’s or early 90’s), note cards, scrapbooking/cardmaking paper, envelopes, decorative scissors and punchers, notebooks, calendars, etc. I’ve had pen pals express surprise and state that they never find such at thrift shops. Really, I do! I sense some have doubts about my claims.

Maybe one reason I find these items is that I am in thrift shops regularly, at least once a week. One huge charity thrift shop that really clears the merchandise (gets lots of donations and sells a lot!) is only about 2 miles from my house. It easy for me to run in there on my way to or from somewhere else. There are 2 sections of the store with items that especially interest me, and I check those sections. I may only check those areas, going in and out of the store quickly. So don’t think I am spending excessive time in thrift shops! I am not. But my frequency increases my chance of finding items, as opposed to someone that only goes to thrift shops on occasion.

It is hit or miss. I may find nothing for a few weeks, even months, and then find something great or even a bunch of stuff or find stuff several weeks in a row!

There is also a huge consignment store about 3 miles from my house, and I find rubber stamps and paper craft items there – but less often than the thrift shop. The items cost slightly more, as it is consignment, but I still find good deals. The items decrease in price the longer they are in the store, and bargains can be found. The price slowly goes down from 25% off to 50% off to 75% off. They package rubber stamps in bags of about 5-15 instead of selling them individually like the thrift shops. Often, I only really like or want half the rubber stamps in a bag, and I’ll decide to take a “wait and see” approach, returning when they have been marked down.This is a risk, as someone else could buy them, of course! But I’ve also found the stamps still there, and got a bag for a deeply discounted price.

In closing, I visit a relative several times a year who lives about 3 hours from me in a small town, and this little town has 3 charity thrift shops! None as huge as the ones near me, but I always stop in these shops when I am there. I’ve never found rubber stamps, but I have found stationery.  I am always on the lookout in my travels – and you just never know what you will find…