Join us – Check the calendar to see where we are next!

We’re building something exciting — a permanent creative reuse shop for Santa Cruz County. Until then, Bits n Bobs is popping up in the community with donation drives and preview events where you can find unique, affordable craft supplies rescued from going to waste.

Where We Are Now

Thanks to generous donations from local families, teachers, and businesses, we are collecting a wide variety of materials that would otherwise sit unused or end up in the landfill. These items are sorted, stored, and will become the foundation of our future reuse shop. At pop-ups and community events, you may see:

  • Pens, crayons, markers, and colored pencils

  • Sewing notions, yarn, and fabric

  • Scrapbooking supplies like stamps, paper, and tools

  • Wood, plastic, and metal pieces for creative projects

  • Greeting cards, gift wrap, and party supplies

  • Teaching and classroom materials

  • Items donated by local businesses

Every donation we receive today moves us closer to opening a permanent home for Bits n Bobs.

Our Goal

The Bits n Bobs Creative Reuse Shop will be a welcoming, community-centered space where:

  • Anyone can browse shelves full of affordable supplies for hobbies, school projects, or professional work.

  • “Hobby hoppers” can try a new craft without spending a fortune.

  • Teachers, parents, and artists can stretch their budgets while finding inspiration.

  • Materials are kept out of landfills and put back into circulation.

How You Can Help Us Grow

  1. Donate Supplies: Bring us your leftover or unused craft items — from fabric and yarn to paper and paint. Your donations help us build the shop’s future inventory.

  2. Visit Pop-Ups: Stop by our events to see what creative reuse looks like in action. These are small previews of what’s to come in the full shop.

  3. Spread the Word: Tell friends, teachers, and neighbors about Bits n Bobs so more materials can be saved from waste.

A Note About Donations

Bits n Bobs is not a nonprofit, which means donations are not tax-deductible. Instead, we operate as a social enterprise, with the goal of building a self-sustaining reuse shop that reinvests every dollar and every item back into the community. Your generosity directly fuels this vision.

More information in our FAQ.

Items you may find in an exchange (not guaranteed)

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.

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.

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.

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 we accept:
Craft, quilting, cross-stitching, etc
Art, Home and garden, Fashion, Photography, Pop Culture, National Geographic, Vintage

Materials we generally do not accept:

Any cloth, fabric, crafts, art with pins, needles, safety pins or any other sharp objects that may cause harm to an employee who will process your donation.
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