SCRAP PDX — Attraction in Portland

I really appreciate the concept of this non-profit. As someone who does arts and crafts, I can think of so many occasions when I have purchased something and then didn't like that activity. Or wanted to try something out, but it was really expensive just to experiment. The beauty of Scrap is that if they will accept your donation of partly used art project materials, someone else will find those treasures and enjoy them. I'm told that you're supposed to finish projects that you start, and if I'm not going to finish it, someone else should. Before I went, I made a list of things that I could use if the price were right. And more importantly, if they had it. It is impossible to know what they have until you go in, and their employees said that it's always variable. I found several items on my list, a couple of things I hadn't thought to put on the list, and not all of them were used or opened. Several items were new, which costs a little bit more, but is still ridiculously inexpensive compared to any of the chains that sell crafting supplies. DO NOT GO TO THIS STORE UNLESS YOU HAVE TIME. Don't take anyone with you that won't enjoy looking at art supplies for a long time. You will not be left alone to dig around. I specifically went by myself so I wouldn't be rushed by anyone, which would be especially frustrating when items could be anywhere. You are not going to be able to run in and find that one item that you need. It could be anywhere (see below). I roamed around that store for at least 45 minutes, digging through things I would have thrown away to find treasures. It reminds me of a saying I learned in college. "Fast, good, cheap. Pick two." If you go to buy something at a chain, it is more likely to be fast and good, but it won't be cheap. At Scrap, when you find that item, it will be reasonably good, and it will be cheap, but it will not be fast to find it, if it is there at all. If you don't have time to dig for it hoping you find it, save yourself a headache and just go pay more money and be done with that errand. There were a few reasons that I only gave it four stars. Reason number one is that they will not always have what you need. While I found some things, I did not find everything on my list, and not everything their website lead me to hope they had, but I found a couple things I didn't know I needed. Along with not having everything all the time, you don't really know what they have until you go in that day. But if you are someone who does a variety of arts and crafts regularly, you're always going to find things that you need. How hard can I complain about that though, because that's part of their concept. My second reason for giving four stars is that there is no order to the store and where things might be. Similar items had multiple locations, so there was back and forth while looking at those items. My third reason is that some of their inventory should probably be thrown away, in my opinion, if they can without violating their mission. Some of the acrylic paints were completely dried up and solidified in the containers. With the right project, I guess you could work around that (maybe? That's wild speculation on my part about grinding dry paint up), but that's not really what I was looking for in paint. Some of the other items were a little bit of a stretch calling it art supplies. Again there are things that could be done with a bunch of colorful plastic bottle caps, but the only things I can really think of are already being done by someone else to demonstrate what we could do with those lids. I feel like they've cornered the market, so I'm not going to try it. In the end though, the trip was a success. My hands were full enough that I kept dropping things on the floor, and my total purchases added up to $3.50. Some new items and some used. I look forward to going again when I have enough time to dig around, and seeing what other hidden gems will be there next time to help me finish...

I can't say enough about this store. It's the most awesome, fun, funky, unique, crafty and handy store I've ever had the fortune to shop in. I could come here every day and still never fully see everything that there is. Everyday brings in new items that are donated by a wide variety of sources, I don't know specifics but based on the eclectic array of stock I've seen over the years, I'd guess that the stuff comes from regular people and households as well as some businesses and schools. What's so great is that here you can find things that are now obsolete, or rare random things that you never knew existed, I've found so many handy gadgets here that I'm so grateful to have because they just don't exist in a retail market anymore. I love the clever packets that they create by combining items of similar color or type and packaging them as either grab bags or kits....it's handy and convenient to have certain packets already coordinated for you and the prices are exceptionally reasonable most of the time. You don't have to be a crafter to love this store because they have stuff like hardware, connectors, home repair elements, right now they have a big selection of tiles, and there's hard to find electrical stuff, just a mish mash of things. They also have a large section of office supplies...all items range from new or never used to vintage and one if a kind . They have all kinds of paints and related chemicals, both craft related and interior exterior paints...there's just truly so much stuff, I couldn't possibly list it all, if you have an imagination then the sky's the limit to what all you'd discover here ...calling it a craft store or saying that it's a scrapbook heaven, or a sewers delight, or a book utopia, or a party supply source ...and the list goes on, would just be an insult to the wealth of treasures and goodies filling every nook and cranny of this...

My family motto "This I'll Defend". It reasonates deep meaning when I visit SCRAP PDX. SCRAP PDX is by far the best in regards to customer support, customer service, customer assistance & customer appreciation. I have awarded SCRAP PDX the most prestigious award for; "Best Arts and Crafts Business of 2023", of the greater Portland Metropolitan area. Jo-Ann's and Michael's are great Arts and Crafts Businesses. However, SCRAP PDX is where artists can get inspiration from all demographics. From junkies to school secretaries, SCRAP PDX does a great job appealing to the frugal budget of a starving artist. I also remember the comment by the SCRAP PDX employee who works evening shifts. This beautiful employee executed an example of customer appreciation. "I asked the employee how much? "They said, 5 bucks". I said " You're my Sunny Day by Anees is a great song". They said, "I like your 💅 Nail lacquer (💅 polish)". I was wearing a hybrid polish 💅 of "All Amped up by Nails Inc. mixed with a metallic blue from O.P.I Nail lacquer 💅 (polish). I then proceeded to round up my family friend who was like a rockstar inside a record store 🏬. SCRAP PDX is jam. Scale ⚖️ 1 to 5 Permanent Markers 1 marker means janky to.... 5 markers means Swanky....

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