So you've got your X-acto blades and craft glue ready to start some awesome crafts? Oh wait, no books? That's ok, this post will give you some insight on the best sources for books you intend on using just for crafting purposes.
The easiest and most obvious source of crafting books are to look through the one you already have. Sift through those old boxes in the attic and use the guidelines from my last post to decide which ones to keep intact and which to upcycle. Be selective but fearless. You don't want to go cutting and gluing with Great-Aunt Myrtle's treasured copy of The Old Man and the Sea, but her 900 bodice ripping romance novels can go right to the chopping block.
If you don't have a large selection of usable books at your home and need to purchase them, there are 4 viable sources: Regular bookstores, Used bookstores, Thrift stores, and Yard sales.
Regular Bookstores
This option may seem like a pretty good idea if you are a rich perfectionist. The pros of a regular bookstore are the selection of books available to you (if you want a specific title for your craft they probably either have it in stock or can easily order it for you). The books will also generally be in pristine condition. However, the major con of the regular bookstore is a biggie: the price. Regular bookstores charge anywhere from $15-30 for a books and that can add up. So unless you really need a hard to find brand new book for your craft, it might be a better idea to find a more economical option.
Used Bookstores
Used bookstores can be a great place to find crafting books, especially when they are having a "bag sale", where you can get as many books as you can carry for a flat rate. However, used bookstores tend to carry a lot of valuable titles that probably shouldn't be used for crafting.
Thrift Stores
Thrift stores are by far my favorite place to acquire more books, both for my personal collection and for crafting. It's different than a used bookstore in that since they don't deal strictly in books, they are less diligent about determining the value of them. They tend to just want them off the shelves, so you can get a lot of books for as little as fifty cents. A personal favorite thrift store for books is at Deseret Industries in Sacramento.
Yard Sales
Yard sales, and specifically estate sales are great potential sources of books. Since these types of sales are often just to clear out space, you can get a great deal on a lot of books. The downside is actually finding a sale that has a significant amount of books to choose from. Select this option if you already go to a lot of these sales and just keep an eye out.
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