If you're crafting or creating in Vancouver there are plenty of great shops that carry what you'll need. I'm not a huge crafter and I've never scrap-booked, but I do have some favorite things that I make throughout the year or for special holidays. I make most of my greeting cards, it is rare for me to purchase one from a store. I also sew small things like purses, curtains and fancy pillow cases and of course I make my SOCKRRZ.
One of the best local haunts I have found since moving to Main Street is the Urban Source. This shop is a total anomaly in the big city. I was confused by it when I peered in while passing by, but after my first visit I have returned again and again.
Urban Source, located at 3126 Main Street is a crafter and recycler's heaven. The small store is filled (and I mean filled) with odds and ends that look like the things your grandma would pull out of a junk drawer to entertain the kids on a rainy day. All those little things you should have saved in case they were needed...Urban Source has been saving them for you. They have bins filled with old slides, old photographs, puzzle pieces, wire, paint chips, test tubes you name it. A lot of their inventory is donated from companies or people whom I assume are cleaning out their basements. While this may sound kinda dumpy and gross, everything is clean, in great condition and organized. You can purchase a bag and fill it to your heart's content with diamonds in the rough or you can browse their stock of new merchandise. Urban Source is great for me because it is only a couple blocks away. If I have a rainy day inclination to make a mobile out of old film cases...I just have to wonder into the shop. And if you have little ones but don't want to spend a ton on art supplies for a project that may become a chore halfway through, Urban Source is a great place to let them pick out what they want.
Of course Michaels is an awesome craft store, it really does have it all. Be aware that it is quite pricey and there are many tempting impulse purchases to be had. If you're going, have a list of exactly what you need and stick to it. I have a craft box full of extras that were purchased not for the task at hand but because they inspired other projects for later. Not a problem if you're willing to drop a few hundred bucks on craft supplies. They are great for dried flowers, wreath making etc...
Dressew Supply Ltd. at 337 West Hastings is an obvious winner for everything fabric. This two-level shop is home to hundreds of great fabrics and every sewing notion in the free world. They also have a huge bulk button section and at Halloween a ton of costume doodads and fobbles. FabricLand is great for fabric too. There is one on South East Marine drive, right near the Knight Street Bridge.
If it is Halloween stuff you're currently looking for, like I said, Dressew is awesome. Also Party Bazaar at 215 West 2nd Ave has loads of holiday-related stuff. It's a little pricey but it'll probably have whatever you need for any of the standard Halloween costumes. If you don't know what to be yet, a trip to Party Bazaar could very well inspire you and send you in a direction.
Don't forget Value Village for cheap clothing that you need for a costume but probably won't use again. They too have a wide variety of new merchandise to spook you out. There's two Vancouver locations: Hastings at Victoria and on Victoria near 49th. There is also at least one in Burnaby.
For great Halloween masks, New York Novelties at 2429 Main Street has a ton, and they're really great ones. I bought a deer head mask for my father. It's hilarious and only ran about $30. I haven't bought a lot of masks in my day, so I'm not sure if that is a good deal, but it seemed reasonable.
Another great tip if it still exists: Last year (and possibly the year before?) there was an awesome Halloween store that popped up in an unused shop in Burnaby, just for October. I don't know what it was called, it may have been The Halloween Store, certainly that's what I called it and I don't know if it'll be back this year. But last year it was beside the Future Shop just to the West of Metrotown. If it's still there, go, they have it all. And if you hear of any set sales from films that are wrapping up in Vancouver, they often have great costume accessories and low prices too. But you'll wait in a very long line to have the privilege to buy a $2 turban or a $5 wedding dress.
And Finally, if you're looking to add some holiday decorations to your house but you don't want to take out a second mortgage just to decorate, both Welks on Main Street and Wonderbucks on Commercial Drive or West Broadway always have fun holiday decorations, usually for much cheaper than other stores.
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