Greeting cards at bargain prices. Cigar boxes, baby food jars, and stray game pieces waiting for a second chance. That’s the kind of lineup I love, and it all lives inside one tiny Ohio shop.
The whole place runs on volunteers. Since opening in 2017, the nonprofit has helped keep thousands of pounds of reusable craft materials out of landfills. I like how that turns a simple shopping trip into a small good deed.
Fall makes this spot even more tempting. Holiday donations arrive about a month before each holiday, so autumn decor and supplies can show up right on time. Fabric, yarn, paint, frames, and floral crafts fill the bins too.
I can’t imagine a better place to plan a pumpkin wreath on a tight budget. There’s something so satisfying about turning a handful of forgotten craft supplies into beautiful fall decorations, especially when the whole project costs next to nothing.
1. Craft Bins Stuffed With Bargains Are Waiting For You
Bins, shelves, and baskets cover nearly every inch of Scrap It Up, a nonprofit creative reuse center in Cincinnati. The store takes gently used art and craft materials and sells them at low prices.
The idea is simple and kind of brilliant. Leftover supplies from one person’s closet become the start of someone else’s next project.
You can find fabric, buttons, yarn, paint, crayons, and scrapbooking supplies. There are also stencils, patterns, notions, frames, and jewelry-making parts. Fine arts materials and kids’ craft supplies round things out nicely.
The space is small, so the shelves are crowded with goodies. That makes every aisle feel like a mini scavenger hunt. You might arrive for ribbon and leave with a stack of stencils you didn’t know you needed.
The inventory keeps changing because new donations come in regularly. A trip one week can look totally different from a trip the next. That’s half the fun.
My advice is to bring a loose plan and an open mind. Know your project, but leave room for surprises. Some of the best fall crafts start with one odd item that sparks a fresh idea.
2. Your Fall Craft Budget Is About To Stretch Way Further
Craft store receipts can get scary fast. A few skeins of yarn and some paint can add up before you even reach the checkout line.
Scrap It Up offers a friendlier option. Low prices are a big part of its mission, and that opens the door for all kinds of crafters.
Low-cost greeting cards are a perfect example. They’re great for cutting up into fall collages, gift tags, or homemade bookmarks. Some fabric and paper are sold by the pound, which helps when you need a lot.
Affordable supplies also make trying something new less risky. Curious about quilting, beading, or card making? You can test the waters without spending a fortune on a hobby you might not keep.
That matters a lot during fall. Classroom parties, Halloween costumes, and Thanksgiving table decor all need materials. Buying everything brand new can drain a family budget quickly.
Here’s a smart move. Make a short list of projects before you go, like a leaf garland or a painted pumpkin. Then shop the bins with those ideas in mind.
You’ll likely grab extras too, and honestly, that’s allowed.
3. Autumn Decorations Show Up Right On Schedule
Timing is everything with seasonal supplies, and this shop has a clever system. Holiday donations are accepted about 30 days before each holiday.
That means Halloween and Thanksgiving items can arrive when you actually need them. No more finding perfect pumpkin decor in January.
Christmas works a little differently. Those donations are accepted after Halloween, so the holiday shift happens in order. It keeps the shelves focused on the season at hand.
Seasonal items sit alongside floral crafts and frames. Put those together and you have the makings of a fall wreath, a harvest centerpiece, or a cozy autumn photo display. Add some ribbon or fabric and you’re in business.
Since stock depends on donations, nothing is guaranteed. One visit might bring a box of faux leaves. Another might bring a pile of frames begging for a fresh coat of orange paint.
Plan to stop by early in the season, then check back later. Fall is long enough for more than one shopping trip. Think of it as a harvest, just with glue sticks instead of apples.
4. Odd Little Treasures Make The Best Fall Projects
Cigar boxes. Baby food jars. Loose game pieces.
Odd items like these regularly turn up at Scrap It Up, and creative people know exactly what to do with them.
A baby food jar becomes a tiny candle holder with a strip of fall fabric. Add a battery tea light, and you have instant autumn glow without the fire risk.
Cigar boxes are great for keepsake projects. Paint one deep red or mustard yellow, then glue on buttons or pressed leaves. It makes a handy box for recipe cards or acorn collections.
Game pieces are sneaky little winners too. Old letter tiles can spell out words like HARVEST or GRATEFUL for a table sign. Small tokens can decorate frames or magnets.
Costume jewelry is another fun find. Broken necklaces and stray earrings can add sparkle to a wreath or a pumpkin. Nobody needs to know it came from a mismatched pile.
The trick is to see the object, not the original purpose. Ask yourself what it could become. That small mental flip turns a jar of odds and ends into a weekend of happy making.
5. Sewing And Knitting Fans Will Want Extra Tote Bags
Fabric gets a lot of love at this shop, and it’s easy to see why. Cottons, patterns, notions, and yarn give sewists and knitters plenty to dig through.
Fall is prime time for these hobbies. Cooler nights call for scarves, cozy throw pillows, and simple quilted table runners.
Yarn makes chunky hats or pom-pom garlands a breeze. Fabric scraps can become pumpkin pincushions, stuffed fabric gourds, or a patchwork table topper. Buttons add perfect stems and faces.
Patterns are worth a careful look too. Older patterns can include charming designs you won’t find on new racks. Pair one with discounted fabric, and a homemade costume suddenly seems doable.
Notions are the quiet heroes of every project. Zippers, bias tape, thread, and trim always seem to run out at the worst moment. Stocking up here saves frantic midnight store runs.
One tip for beginners is to buy a little extra. Practice pieces make mistakes way less stressful. If your first fabric pumpkin looks more like a lumpy potato, you’ll still have material to try again.
6. Volunteers Keep The Whole Operation Humming
Every person working the register at Scrap It Up is a volunteer. The nonprofit runs entirely on donated time, and that says a lot about how much this community cares.
The shop operates under the sponsorship of the Kennedy Heights Arts Center. That partnership connects it to the wider Cincinnati arts scene.
Its founders are Beth Muething, Kathy Michel, Mary Lennard, and Mindy Burger. They first connected through the Church of the Nativity of Our Lord. The group launched the nonprofit in July 2017.
Volunteers also work during closed hours to keep the shelves organized. That’s no small job for a space this full. Sorting buttons alone sounds like a full-time hobby.
The result is a store that feels thoughtful, not chaotic. Labeled bins and sections help you find paint, paper, or beads without too much digging.
When you shop, be patient and friendly. The people helping you are giving their own time to keep supplies out of landfills. A smile and a thank-you go a long way here, especially on busy days.
7. Your Craft Stash Can Help Neighbors In Need
More than 200,000 pounds of materials have been saved from landfills by this Ohio nonprofit. That’s over 100 tons of fabric, paper, and other supplies given a fresh purpose.
The good news doesn’t stop at recycling. Low-cost inventory from the shop supports a long list of community projects.
Crafters have used materials to make reusable menstrual pads. Others sew items for Ronald McDonald House families. Some create wheelchair bags for veterans.
Pillows and beds for homeless shelters come from these supplies too. The shop has also helped collect plastic bottle caps that were recycled into a playground bench.
Scholarships are part of the picture as well. Scrap It Up has helped fund summer program spots at the Kennedy Heights Arts Center. So your bag of yarn can quietly support young artists.
Fall is a natural season for giving. Consider making an extra project for a local charity while you craft. A cozy pillow or simple tote takes little time and means a lot to someone receiving it.
Your weekend hobby could become a neighbor’s bright spot.
8. Plan Around These Short Shopping Hours
Mark your calendar, because this shop keeps a tight schedule. Scrap It Up sits at 5935 Ridge Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45213, in the Pleasant Ridge neighborhood.
Shopping hours are Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday hours stretch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The shop is closed Sunday through Tuesday. Wednesday evenings are handy for anyone who works a daytime job.
Short hours make each trip feel like a small event. They also mean you should double-check timing before heading out. Nobody wants to arrive with a craft list and find the door locked.
Pleasant Ridge is easy to reach from much of the city. A quick drive makes it simple to fit a shopping stop into a fall Saturday errand loop.
Want a fun plan? Grab a coffee nearby, hit the shop right after it opens, and spend the afternoon crafting. Early birds get first pick of whatever just hit the shelves.
Late shoppers still find surprises, though.
9. Smart Parking And Donation Tips Save Headaches
Parking matters more than you’d guess at this little Ohio shop. The best spot is the upper lot of the Pleasant Ridge Recreation Center, which kindly shares space with shoppers.
Skip the side of the building and the lot across the street on Parkview. Those areas can lead to tickets or towing.
That’s a pricey way to ruin a bargain trip. A short walk from the rec center lot is a much better deal.
Got supplies of your own collecting dust? Donations are accepted by appointment only, on Tuesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m. Each appointment is limited to two bags or boxes, with a maximum of 40 pounds of fabric.
Contact the shop in advance if you have a larger donation.
Fall cleaning is a great time to sort your stash. Unused fabric, extra frames, old scrapbook paper, and half-finished kits could thrill another crafter. Just remember the holiday timing rules for seasonal items.
Giving and shopping make a nice cycle. You clear space at home, and your old supplies avoid the landfill. Then you return later and fill that space again with new treasures.
Funny how that works, right?
Share this story
