Santa Cruz County Creative Reuse
Discover the joy of crafting, community, and sustainability at Bits N Bobs, your local hub for creative reuse. We’re on a mission to bring together hobby hoppers, crafters, and eco-conscious makers in Santa Cruz County to transform donated materials into beautiful, functional, and meaningful creations.
What We Do
Bits n Bobs is a growing creative reuse movement in Santa Cruz County. Right now, we are starting small by collecting donations of art and craft supplies like fabric, yarn, beads, buttons, paints, paper, and tools. Instead of letting these materials sit unused or end up in the landfill, we are already finding ways to get them back into the hands of people who can use them.
Our vision is to grow into a permanent creative reuse shop — a community space where anyone can find affordable, inspiring supplies and explore their creativity without barriers. This will be a place where “hobby hoppers” can try new crafts without the high cost of buying everything brand new, and where people of every age, from kids to retirees, can discover new skills, passions, and joy.
Bits n Bobs is about more than supplies. It is about transforming leftovers into opportunities, reducing waste, and building a culture of sharing and making. We are at the beginning of this journey, but with every donation, every new participant, and every project created, we are moving closer to a community where creativity is accessible to all and nothing goes to waste.
Our Vision
Bits N Bobs is more than a club; it’s a movement. By reducing waste and promoting sustainable crafting, we aim to create a vibrant community where creativity thrives. With your support, we hope to grow into a dedicated creative reuse center offering workshops, tools, and a space where imagination and community intersect.
Whether you’re an experienced crafter, a curious beginner, or someone looking to make a positive impact, Bits N Bobs welcomes you. Together, let’s craft a better world—one bit, one bob at a time.
Why Join Bits N Bobs?
• Connect with a community of like-minded crafters and makers.
• Access free materials and reduce crafting costs.
• Give back by making handmade items for those in need.
• Be part of Santa Cruz County’s growing creative reuse movement.
Let’s Get Crafting!
Visit us at our next craft exchange or sign up for a Compassion Crafting workshop. Have supplies to donate? We’d love to hear from you!
Stay tuned as we grow into a full-fledged creative reuse center, bringing workshops, supplies, and inspiration to Santa Cruz County.
Items you may find in our exchange:
ARCHITECTURE/DESIGN
Carpet samples (12′′x12′′ or larger), Formica samples, wallpaper, large tile (colorful – 4′′x4′′ max), paint chip samples, upholstery books, upholstery swatches (6′′x6′′ or larger), contact paper.
ARTIST SUPPLIES
Most types of paint, brushes, pastels, glue, art/craft books, chalk, ink, carving tools, stencils, transfer letters, crayons, markers, rulers, clay, glue guns, silkscreens, canvas (blank and used), easels, grout.
CRAFT SUPPLIES
Pipe cleaners, craft foam, bike tire tubes, feathers, glitter, doll supplies, marbles, game and puzzle pieces, silk flowers, wine corks (plastic and cork), metal bottle caps, pinback buttons, candle wax, straws, shells, pinecones, trophies.
COLLAGE & SCRAPBOOKING
Stickers, scrapbook paper, embellishments, punches, rubber stamps, stamp pads, playing cards, maps, calendars, postage stamps, photographs, postcards, photo albums.
CONTAINERS
Small glass jars with lids (mason jars are okay), tins, jewelry boxes, small cardboard boxes, shopping bags, prescription bottles (no labels), plastic crates, cigar boxes, coffee tins, Rubbermaid type bins w/lids, buckets, small tubes, burlap sacks.
FABRIC AND NOTIONS
Fabric, zippers, buttons, trim, beads, jewelry pieces, thread, sewing needles, sewing pins, sewing tools, sewing patterns, quilt and cross-stitch patterns, ribbon, Velcro, leather, yarn, knitting needles, crochet hooks, wool scraps, felt, elastic, needlepoint and cross stitch supplies & kits.
HOLIDAY
Wrapping paper, cards, unfinished/unused holiday-themed craft materials for upcoming holidays. We will take holiday and/or seasonal items beginning 2 months before the date of the holiday or season.
For example, we will take 4th of July items beginning in early May.
Wrapping paper (full rolls are fine), ALL gift bags, tissue paper, raffia & Easter grass, greeting cards & envelopes, party decorations, ribbon and bows, Mylar balloons, holiday gift wrap (non-xmas) & party supplies.
MAT BOARD, FRAMING, SIGN MAKING
Mat board, foam core, frames w/o glass, acrylic, Plexiglas, corrugated plastic, sign board, adhesive vinyl.
MEDIA/TECH
CDs, records, tape cassettes, film canisters, slides, slide carousels, floppy disks, photography equipment, overhead projectors, slide projectors, cameras.
METAL
Bottle caps, metal jar lids, tins, ornate metal fixtures (hooks, door knobs, etc.), keys, tools.
OFFICE SUPPLIES
Pens, pencils, erasers, scissors, hole punches, staplers, staples, staple removers, tape dispensers, tape, 3 ring binders, file folders, tab dividers, transparencies, rubber bands, paper clips, labels, plastic/metal organizers, envelopes, labels, spiral note pads, small notepads/notebooks, clipboards.
PAPER
Copy paper, cardstock, letterhead, art paper and pads, construction paper, small rolls of paper, large rolls of paper, poster board, paper sample books, blueprints, sturdy cardboard tubes.
PLASTIC
Bottle caps, miscellaneous colorful bits, old gift cards/key cards, straws, plastic produce netting, spools.
VINTAGE
Photos, paper ephemera, small bits, jewelry, linens, postcards, greeting cards, notions, magazines, sewing patterns, craft.
WOOD
Small blocks and boards, sheets of cork, craft wood, spools, dowels, stretcher bars, Popsicle sticks, assorted wood pieces (ALL sizes).
Types of magazines:
Craft, quilting, cross-stitching, etc
Art, Home and garden, Fashion, Photography, Pop Culture, National Geographic, Vintage
Materials we generally do not offer for exchange:
Any cloth, fabric, crafts, art with pins, needles, safety pins or any other sharp objects that may cause harm to an employee or customer.
Clothing of any kind – not even as fabric
Books (unless they are art- or craft-related) & magazines (except National Geographic)
Household Goods and Appliances
Knick-Knacks – figurines, ornaments, flower pots Furniture
Computers, printers, ink cartridges, software Food Containers – yogurt tubs, cookie containers, Tupperware or Storage Bins
Packing Peanuts – bring them to a shipping store Plastic Packaging
Block Styrofoam
Toilet Paper or paper towel Rolls, Egg Cartons Baskets
Aerosols (spray paint, etc.)
Fabric scraps (less than 1⁄4 yard)
ALL glass (except mason jars)
Upholstery fabric
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