Teacher Craft Supply Swap

Hello Teachers and Educators!!

We hope you’ve had a restful, fun summer and are excited to share some resources we have for you now and this fall!! 

When we hosted a couple of free Craft Supply Swaps, the community told us they wanted more community connection and access to creative supplies. So, we opened Creative Reuse Montana in November, a shop in downtown Livingston for secondhand arts and craft supplies! Sharing supplies with teachers, youth programs, senior centers, and memory care centers is core to our mission.

How it Works ✅

• Teacher Craft Supply Swap on  Monday, August 10, 11-2 at the Livingston-Park County Public Library

  • Bring your excess items to the Teacher Craft Supply Swap (see suggested materials list)

  • “Shop” for items at the Teacher Craft Supply Swap. All items are free, you don’t have to bring anything!! Just show up!! Swap Day shopping happens anytime during 11-2pm! Go home with new-to-you supplies :)

  • If you are unable to attend, email us your list and we’ll set those items aside from any leftovers and arrange to get them to you.

  • If you are unable to drop-off items for the teacher swap, you can bring them to the shop! (See donation information; we will hold items specifically for teacher swap unless you specify otherwise!)

• Items not taken by swappers will be redistributed through Creative Reuse Montana! We work hard to find a new home for every last supply. Some of the items may end up in the Creative Reuse Montana shop (including kits or workshops), partners, or be shared with local programs through our Art & Education Supplies project.

• Between swaps, come get inexpensive supplies at the shop at 129 S. Main Street - all donated and organized by your community! Core shop hours are Thursday-Saturday, 12-6 with some bonus hours. You can also text us for an appointment outside of those hours - we’re around!

What is This?! 🧑‍🎨

We will accept almost any art or craft supply. Donated items should be in good, usable condition. Drop them off and then go "shopping" from what others have brought. We will sort and arrange all the materials into a second-hand craft supply extravaganza. 

• All swap items are free.

• Open to all. You do not have to donate supplies to participate! Swappers do get to shop first.

• Please join us in the spirit of this event: to get materials into the hands of people who will use them, saving money and waste - no stashing.

• Read more about us in a recent Park County Community Journal article!

Questions? 💁

Contact swap@creativereusemontana.com

What to Bring: Suggested Materials 🎨 

These swaps are about usable crafting and art making materials and supplies. Bring clean, new or gently used craft supplies donations including:

THINK: Anything you have an excess of and want to get out of your classroom! Anything another teacher might make use of.

• Bulk of anything

• Tools: yard sticks, color wheels, table easels, circle cutters, paper cutters (with safety), self-healing cutting mats

• Teaching supplies

  • Cricut: cartridges and machines

  • Sizzix: machines, tools, cartridges

  • Lamination: laminators, laminator sheets

  • Silhouette machines

• Craft Supplies

  • Popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners (chenille stems), stickers, stamps, stamp pads, stencils, felt, craft foam sheets or shapes 

  • Markers and highlighters

  • Crayons - Crayola preferred

  • Glue: Elmer’s School Glue (white glue), Glue sticks (big and small)

  • Children’s scissors with metal blade and blunt tip, scissors up to 6”

  • Rulers including 1” with inches and centimeters

  • Pencils: #2 packages, hand-held pencil sharpeners with and without receptacle

  • Erasers: pink; small, kneaded

  • Pencil pouch or school box

• Office & Classroom Supplies

  • Headphones (not earbud, not chargeable, not Bluetooth; must plug in)

  • Small sticky notes (multiple colors), paper clips, staples

  • Tissues, cleaning wipes, bandages, zip baggies

Prepare Your Donation - Things to Know ⚠️

Please be sure to: 

• pack sharps in a labeled, hard-sided container

• bring items in containers we can keep

• organize your items with like items

• pack your donation in boxes, totes, or bags that we can keep

Leave these items at home:

• items NOT in usable & sanitary condition.

• items that cannot be used immediately and without rehabilitation as a crafting material, supply, or tool

• dirty or broken items

• anything that held food, medication, or hazardous material