It’s now summertime and along with the nice weather another thing that summer brings is…garage sales! Call them what you want – garage sales, yard sales, rummage sales, whatever your choice of word is, people are selling their unwanted junk (I mean treasures) to strangers roaming the neighborhood. I find it fun to browse and wander and find all kinds of things you aren’t expecting to find. Sometimes someone’s junk they are selling is also just that to you, junk. But sometimes you might find something really great and to them it’s just junk. And if you’re an art teacher, you might want to be on the lookout while you browse those neighborhood garage sales this summer. Here are some I like to keep in the back of my mind as I browse.

Magazines

People are always wanting to get rid of their giant stack of old magazines! These can be so useful in the art room. If they have good images, colors, and words you can use them for collage projects. You can roll them, fold them, and weave them for other kinds of 3D projects. If they are not really colorful or useful, you can use them as scrap placemats. I do this when we paint clay projects so we don’t get paint and glaze on the tables. If I find older, vintage type magazines, I like them to use for my personal collage and junk journaling type projects. Using magazines in the classroom might make some teachers uncomfortable if you don’t know what is in the magazines. I’m thinking of the occasional underwear or swimsuit ad that an elementary age kid will come across. You can definitely skim through the magazines and take out any pages you deem inappropriate. However, I usually know my magazines are more family oriented and I just give my classes my speech about how magazines are like the internet, you can’t control what’s going to pop up! They can quietly throw away anything they come across that they think is inappropriate and no one else should see. 

Paper and Binders

I have been lucky enough in the past to find stacks of paper at a flea market. Each stack was bound in stacks of about 25-50 sheets and was 25 cents a stack. I got a few stacks of various shades of gray, brown, and cream. They ended up being great for some cave painting projects I did and also for collage work. It wasn’t the best quality paper, not exact sizes you’ll find when you make your supply order for the year, but I couldn’t pass it up! Keep your eye out for stacks of paper, sketchbooks, notebooks, and binders you can use. People tend to want to sell off those old binders and folders they don’t use in their offices anymore too.

Toys/Games

Legos are a hot commodity! While they may be harder to find these days in garage sales with all the collectors out there, I always keep my eye out! Legos are expensive and if you can get them for cheap, do it! Your students will love playing with them during free time or if they are done early. Other games and toys can be useful in the art room too. Look for fun games to play for early finishers or toys to play with, give out as prizes, or use as a model for drawing.

Containers

Art teachers are suckers for containers. I’m always excited to find new containers of different sizes that might fit that one supply or material. Bonus if there are multiples, divided spaces, or different colors! Tupperware containers for storing food are great for storing art supplies to pass out to different tables. Large plastic bins or shoe box bins are good for storing things in your supply cabinets or closet. Baskets are also a great way to store things in your art room.

Still Life Objects

If you have a unit in your curriculum where students can draw from real life, garage sales are great for still life objects! Vases, baskets, fake flowers, tools, wooden blocks, ornaments, toys, the list goes on and on. Think about the shapes and details of objects and if they will work for what you are teaching your students. 

Yarn and Fabric

Yarn and fabric are kind of like magazines. People end up with a ton of them at times and then want to get rid of it! They’ll have leftovers and scraps from various craft projects they do and then not be able to use them. Those smaller pieces can be great for your students! Perfect for those random weavings or mixed media collages.

Scrapbooking Supplies

People get into hobbies and then fall out of them. Scrapbooking is one of those where you might find people selling off supplies like patterned scrapbook paper, stamps, stickers, specialty scissors (you know, the ones with the fun edges!), and more. This kind of stuff is the stuff that kids eat up! Perfect for collages or free time. Kids get really creative when you give them a lot of random things. 

CDs/DVDs

In this age, people don’t want their CDs or DVDs anymore and they aren’t really worth much. You can buy a ton at cheap prices and use the discs to create all kinds of art projects with. Sharpies look so bright on them, create your own scratch art, create spinners, or even print using them. The boxes might even come in handy for a special project too!

Teacher Supplies

This time of year, teachers are cleaning out their classrooms, retiring, switching grades or subjects and wanting to get rid of a ton! If you find the right garage sale, you can find the jackpot! From leveled readers, art supplies, games, binders, book boxes, color coordinated containers, furniture, you name it! You can get really lucky sometimes. 

Books

Whether you are using books to create an art journal, an altered book, collage images, or you’re going to read it and research from it, books are everywhere! People sell their books at garage sales a lot and you never know what you’ll find. Picture books are great to have on hand in any classroom and coffee table books are great for art images that you can rip out and laminate to use as resources. 

I started writing this with about 5 things in mind and then the ideas just kept coming! If you are into looking through stuff at garage sales, you can definitely find a great use for all kinds of things! Keep your eye out as you drive around this summer for signs advertising garage sales, especially those big neighborhood sales. You can also search online to find when garage sales are going to happen and also online marketplaces where people are selling  these items. Just remember to keep an open mind while keeping an eye out this summer and you might just find your next treasure for your art classroom!

Keep blending,

Laura