Do you dumpster gift for xmas ??

[fowlfarm]

I do with things that I find if they are still in the package
or I try and use my ink rewards to but stuff which is like diving stuff as I dived the inks

do you have all your gifts bought or dived yet ?

I dont

[Sethe]

I'm trying a more "homemade" Xmas this year. I'm sewing stockings, making cookies, candy, etc.

Hmm, some of the tissue paper is dived, maybe some of the wrapping paper (I might have sold it), etc. No big gifts have been dived... YET!

[fowlfarm]

making cookies, candy, etc.

mmmmmmmmm nice the best gifts I have always thought were home made by the person giving

shows lots of love

[AlleyKat]

this is what I made everyone for christmas http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/easy-christmas-gift-mug
I actually wrote this how-to

[tommy]

With stuff we got from Bored ers, I think we were able to make gift bags for all the relatives. Even the bags were from the dumpster. I'll have to try to get a pic posted. Think of all the stuff they sell besides books, stationery, pens, scrapbooking stuff, novelties. All that gets thrown out eventually. We mostly bought for the kids, and just a few things for ourselves. Doing some cookie baking (gourmet frozen cookie dough found) and candy making.

[Sethe]

That is awesome. B0rders and other big box stores are horribly wasteful.

I also like the site AlleyKat. I'll have to spend more time perusing it.

[fowlfarm]

you guys are on top of your game

that is a cool site
Alleykat
you said you do a lot of crafts
Do the crafts stores where you live toss stuff out
They do here places like sleahcim

[AlleyKat]

I don't know.. but cood idea.. im not really a dumpster diver yet..im more of a- if I see something that I like then grab it. Its winter here so not really a good time to start diving.. but this spring I plan to.. thats why I joined here, so I can learn from the masters Have you been in a craft store dumpster.. what kinds of things do you find?

[Sethe]

I found some awesome stuff in a M1chael's bin once. I actually found entire sheets of glass for framing- INTACT!

Found some nice wooden (retail 60+ bucks) picture frames.

Gotta' be careful- some places break the glass on purpose.

[sel999]

No dumpster gifts here.

I'd really like to find some.

[AlleyKat]

ouch glass.. cool finds though! It angers me that people would rather see something go to the dump than to know someone can use it. so much greed in the world

[fowlfarm]

I have found all kinds of stuff paint, glitter , google eyes woodburning kits glue guns lots of glass and frames xmas stuff like fake trees ornaments ect just all kinds of stuff from sleahcim

[AlleyKat]

Im so going to raid a sleahcim dumpster! I want free googlie eyes too!! any particular time of year yeilds the best stuff?

[Sethe]

Certain times of the year yield goods. Over time you will learn the schedules.

If you dive big-box stores, you'll first want to determine their trash schedule.

Then learn when they do inventory (they throw out a lot of crap then), big sales, etc. Xmas returns can also be big.

[AlleyKat]

ooh good tips sethe! thx

[Sethe]

Yeah. You may even want to make a calendar and mark dates that are "productive."

It'll take a year to get an idea of "seasonal" sales, etc., but if you really study one store, you'll be amazed at how predictable they are.

[TrashBag]

I work in a craft store and we are always throwing things out simply coz the packet is damaged or something is missing...so dont underestimate the craft store trash

[fowlfarm]

craft stores are great for finding stuff

[Zolabraun]

Yes, afew weeks ago I found a 5 foot tall artifical tree, ornimates, and other Christmas decorations. I also found Halloween stuff recently. This was at a swap meet or flea market. There is the Rodium in Torrance, CA. The best time to do this is between 2pm to 4pm, Mon thru Fri. There are lots of used stuff being sold, and sometimes the venders don't want to take everything home. Lots of this is brand new. Lots of people do this. Weekends Sat-Sun are bad because it is different venders with new stuff who take everything home. The Quarter Man sells everything for a quarter, and somethimes he gives things free at the end. Management kicks everyone out at 4. Free entrance after 2. You usually don't have to dive in dumpsters because everything is on the ground, not much food lately. I give lots of stuff away, but I don't tell them I get it for free.