Some people collect souvenirs when they travel across Iowa, but the smarter move is collecting sketchbooks, paint tubes, glitter, and that one mysterious pen you absolutely did not plan to buy.
From Iowa City to Sioux City, the state is packed with art supply stores that can rescue a school project, kickstart a new hobby, or send your creative side into a joyful little spending spree.
We pulled together twelve standout spots where shelves brim with color, tools, paper, and inspiration, plus the practical details you need before heading out.
If your craft drawer is looking suspiciously empty or your imagination needs a friendly shove, this guide will point you toward the aisles where creativity begins and your wallet starts negotiating.
1. Blick Art Materials – Iowa City
Walk into Blick Art Materials in Iowa City and the first thing you notice is possibility stacked from floor to ceiling.
Located near the University of Iowa area on South Clinton Street, this store feels tailor made for art students, working artists, and curious beginners who want quality tools without guesswork.
You can browse serious inventory here, from acrylics and oils to printmaking supplies, drafting tools, canvas options, and enough sketchbooks to make commitment issues feel completely reasonable.
What keeps this place memorable is how it balances scale with actual usefulness, because the selection is broad but still organized in a way that saves you from wandering in circles.
Staff members usually know their materials, which matters when you are comparing paper weights, hunting for specialty pens, or trying to decode the dramatic differences between five shades of nearly identical black ink.
If you want one of Iowa’s strongest all around art supply destinations with a reliable physical location and a genuinely creative pulse, Blick in Iowa City earns its reputation quickly.
2. Michaels – Coralville
Color seems to multiply the minute you step inside Michaels in Coralville, where craft ambition meets suburban convenience in the most dangerous way for your shopping cart.
Found in Coralville’s busy retail corridor near Highway 6 and I-80, this location is easy to reach and especially handy when you need supplies fast for holidays, classrooms, home decor, or last minute creative heroics.
The selection leans broad rather than super specialized, so you can grab acrylic paint, vinyl, yarn, floral materials, frames, beads, and baking extras in one very efficient stop.
I like this store for the pure range of projects it can support, because one aisle says watercolor weekend and the next whispers, very persuasively, that you suddenly make wreaths now.
Its physical location inside a major shopping area also means parking is usually straightforward, and that alone can feel like a tiny miracle during a rushed Saturday errand run.
For families, casual makers, and anyone building a hobby stash without needing elite studio stock, Michaels in Coralville is a practical, upbeat, creativity friendly go to.
3. Michaels – Cedar Rapids
Few stores understand the art of tempting you with one extra project quite like Michaels in Cedar Rapids.
Situated in one of Cedar Rapids’ major commercial zones, this location works well for quick supply runs, bigger family craft outings, and those spontaneous moments when you decide your living room absolutely needs hand painted signs.
Inside, you will find familiar Michaels strengths, including paint, brushes, frames, fabric basics, yarn, papercrafting tools, seasonal decor, and plenty of kid friendly activity kits.
The big advantage here is convenience wrapped around volume, because the store carries enough categories to help beginners and multi hobby households shop without making three separate stops across town.
Its physical location also makes it accessible for shoppers from surrounding neighborhoods and suburbs, and the framing department can be especially useful if your masterpiece deserves better than a thumbtack and wishful thinking.
When you want a dependable Cedar Rapids store where craft supplies, school project backups, and decorative inspiration all share the same roof, this Michaels delivers solidly.
4. The Art Store – Des Moines
Independent shops have a certain magic, and The Art Store in Des Moines brings that energy with a focused, artist first feel.
Located in Des Moines with a long standing presence that local creatives know well, this store is the kind of place where serious supplies matter and random filler does not get much shelf space.
Expect quality paints, drawing tools, brushes, paper, canvas, and specialty materials that appeal to students, professionals, and anyone who prefers informed choices over giant chain store wandering.
What makes it stand out is personality, because the selection feels curated by people who understand how artists actually work, not just how retail planograms think artists shop.
Its physical Des Moines location gives central Iowa makers a dependable destination for studio basics and harder to find items, and that can save you from panic ordering something online at midnight.
If you value expertise, independent character, and a shopping experience that feels more like creative encouragement than a sales funnel, The Art Store is a smart place to start.
5. Hobby Lobby – Ames
Big projects need big aisles, and Hobby Lobby in Ames definitely does not believe in thinking small.
Located in Ames near the city’s main shopping areas, this store serves students, families, decorators, and hobbyists who want a wide assortment of craft goods under one very large roof.
You can stock up on canvases, acrylic paints, brushes, model supplies, fabric, floral pieces, frames, and home decor accents that may or may not convince you to redecorate three rooms before dinner.
The store’s scale is its clearest strength, especially when your to do list jumps from art class materials to party crafts to picture frames in a single trip.
Because the physical location is easy to work into regular errands around Ames, it becomes a useful catch all stop for practical shopping with a side of creative temptation.
For people who like broad selection, frequent project variety, and enough inventory to support everything from school posters to holiday centerpieces, Hobby Lobby in Ames is undeniably useful.
6. Hobby Lobby – Sioux City
In Sioux City, Hobby Lobby is the kind of place where your supply list enters politely and exits with several unplanned companions.
Set within a major retail area in Sioux City, this location gives western Iowa shoppers access to a broad craft inventory without needing a long drive for the basics.
Paint, drawing tools, frames, floral supplies, fabric, beads, seasonal decorations, and general hobby materials all share the spotlight, making it easy to bounce between practical needs and wildly optimistic new plans.
What works best here is the one stop nature of the store, because it supports home crafters, church projects, classrooms, and hobby dabblers with equal enthusiasm.
Its physical Sioux City location also matters for convenience, especially for shoppers who want in person browsing before buying something like canvas size, frame style, or the exact fake greenery that somehow looks surprisingly convincing.
When you are after scale, accessibility, and enough variety to keep several kinds of creativity fed at once, Hobby Lobby in Sioux City is a reliable option.
7. The Create Exchange – Cedar Rapids
Treasure hunt energy fills The Create Exchange in Cedar Rapids, and that is exactly why it feels so refreshing.
Located in Cedar Rapids, this creative reuse style shop offers a different kind of supply run, one where donated materials, craft leftovers, and wonderfully unexpected finds can spark ideas you never saw coming.
Instead of endless identical stock, you get personality, affordability, and the thrill of discovering paper, fabric, embellishments, tools, and oddball supplies that practically beg for a second life.
The charm here comes from surprise, because one visit might uncover classroom materials and collage gold, while the next turns up perfect pieces for party decor or mixed media experiments.
Its physical location in Cedar Rapids makes it especially valuable for teachers, parents, artists, and budget minded makers who love sustainability almost as much as they love a good bargain bin.
If you enjoy creative problem solving, unexpected materials, and stores where imagination gets to do a little extra cardio, The Create Exchange is a genuinely fun stop.
8. The Blok DSM – West Des Moines
Not every creative space fits the old school art store mold, and The Blok DSM in West Des Moines is proof.
Located in West Des Moines, this modern maker focused destination blends retail, workshops, and community energy in a way that feels current, social, and far more dynamic than a simple shelf of glue sticks.
Depending on the day, you may find curated craft materials, project based supplies, and inspiration built around hands on experiences that welcome both beginners and confidently crafty regulars.
What makes The Blok DSM memorable is the atmosphere, because it leans into creativity as something you do, share, and enjoy instead of just something you purchase and postpone.
Its physical location in West Des Moines gives metro area visitors an accessible place to explore fresh ideas, attend classes, and leave with materials that already feel connected to a real project.
When your ideal supply stop includes a little community, a little style, and a lot of motivation to actually make the thing, this spot deserves attention.
9. Artfull – Art & Craft Playground – Johnston
Joy hits fast at Artfull – Art & Craft Playground in Johnston, where creativity feels less like an assignment and more like recess with better supplies.
Located in Johnston, this playful space mixes art retail and hands on experiences in a way that appeals strongly to kids, families, and adults who still appreciate a good glitter based plot twist.
You can expect approachable materials, colorful project options, and an environment designed to make making things feel welcoming rather than intimidating, which is harder to pull off than it looks.
The big win here is accessibility, because the store’s physical Johnston location gives metro families a fun destination for artful outings, birthday activities, or spontaneous weekend creativity.
Its personality also sets it apart from more conventional supply stores, offering a lively atmosphere that encourages experimentation, mess friendly fun, and the radical idea that art should be enjoyable before it becomes impressive.
If you want a place that lowers the pressure and raises the playful energy, Artfull earns its spot with charm, color, and real creative momentum.
10. The Hobby Corner – Iowa City
Some shops know exactly who they are, and The Hobby Corner in Iowa City wears its niche appeal proudly.
Located in Iowa City, this store serves hobby lovers who need more than generic craft basics, especially when models, specialty tools, paints, and detail driven projects are part of the plan.
The atmosphere feels personal and enthusiast friendly, which is great news if you prefer browsing with purpose instead of being swallowed by a giant store that thinks every hobby starts with mason jars.
Its physical location in Iowa City gives local makers and collectors a practical stop for materials that support focused interests, from model building to other precision heavy creative pursuits.
That specialization can be a real advantage, because the inventory and conversations tend to speak the language of dedicated hobbyists rather than occasional seasonal shoppers.
When your idea of creativity involves patience, tiny parts, carefully chosen paints, and the deeply satisfying moment when everything clicks into place, The Hobby Corner is absolutely worth seeking out.
11. Scrapmania – Cedar Rapids
Paper lovers, prepare to lose all sense of restraint at Scrapmania in Cedar Rapids.
Located in Cedar Rapids, this specialty shop focuses on scrapbooking and papercrafting, giving memory keepers, card makers, and journal enthusiasts a place where patterned paper is treated with the respect it clearly deserves.
The selection often includes albums, embellishments, stamps, stickers, cutting tools, and page building essentials that help turn photos and keepsakes into something far more meaningful than a folder on your phone.
What makes Scrapmania shine is its clear sense of purpose, because every corner supports storytelling through paper, texture, color, and those tiny decorative details that somehow become completely necessary.
Its physical Cedar Rapids location is especially helpful for local crafters who want to see products in person, coordinate themes, or grab supplies before a crop session or gift making marathon.
If scrapbooking is your happy place or you are ready to turn ordinary memories into pages with real personality, Scrapmania offers focused inspiration and plenty of creative fuel.
12. Memory Bound Papercraft Store – Ankeny
There is something delightfully dangerous about a store named Memory Bound, because your wallet already knows what is about to happen.
Located in Ankeny, this beloved papercraft destination has built a strong reputation for scrapbooking, card making, and paper based creativity that goes far beyond the basics.
Shoppers can browse cardstock, albums, stamps, dies, tools, embellishments, adhesives, and beautifully coordinated supplies that make it much easier to create polished projects without scavenging five different stores.
The store’s physical Ankeny location makes it a key stop for central Iowa crafters, especially those who appreciate classes, community, and browsing with people who understand why paper weight is a perfectly normal conversation topic.
Its strength is focus, because the inventory feels intentionally chosen for makers who care about preserving memories, celebrating milestones, and adding real design flair to handmade pieces.
For those who love papercrafting with structure, inspiration, and just enough temptation to leave with twice your original list, Memory Bound is one of Iowa’s most rewarding creative stops.