BARGAINS : SAVINGS PART OF THE CRAFT.

Byline: Trisha King & Deborah Newmark

For one-of-a-kind items, you may want to take a look at the creative and, for the most part, low-priced gifts found at Crafters Boutique.

For instance, the currently popular ``shy'' dolls (the standing dolls are displayed facing a wall) that wholesale for $40 ($80 and up retail) run $39.95 to $44.95 here. If your daughter has Barbie dolls, they have unique ball gowns in a variety of fabrics and laces for $7.99 to $14.99 (the same price retail for everyday ensembles at toy stores). Crafters Boutique has about 150 display spaces rented by more than 90 talented local people - individuals, husbands and wives, mothers and daughters, and even a mother and her two children who offer beaded bracelets (great for party favors) for $1. If the name of the store rings a bell, Crafters Boutique was located in West Hills for five years, and recently relocated to Woodland Hills.

Some of the more unique items we spotted at Crafters Boutique were bowls and covered containers made from gourds in the $30 price range (similar pieces at craft fairs run double and triple these prices). Also, handmade dolls - such as one called Granny, with eyeglasses, gray yarn hair, false eyelashes, a long string of pearls and earrings - were about $40.

Vendors set their own prices, so be sure to shop the store before making a purchase. For example, one booth had wooden incense burners for $1.25 and another had them priced at $2.50.

Our favorite items were prewrapped and ribboned gift boxes for $3. The boxes come in handy if you're in a hurry or if you don't have the patience to wrap a gift yourself. Also, because there's no need to seal the boxes with tape, they can be reused to store any number of things.

Parking is at a premium around noon because of several popular eateries in the shopping center.

Crafters Boutique is at 19905 Ventura Blvd. (in Winnetka Square between Corbin and Winnetka), Woodland Hills; [phone]. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. American Express, Discover, Mastercard and Visa are accepted.

Inside info:

Save 30 percent to 60 percent off retail prices when you purchase generic-brand copier toners from Inkjets & More. For example, toner for the Xerox copier model 1025 is $25 (brand name toner is $60) or for the Xerox copier model 5018, $61.68 for two bottles toner (brand name $75 for one bottle). Minimum purchase is $50. Inkjets & More mail-order company is at 9620 Topanga Canyon Place, Unit E, Chatsworth, Calif. 91311; [phone]. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Have some fun with a new pool table from Breaktime Billards. Prices are 10 percent to 50 percent off retail. For example, you'll find an 8-foot oak with double arch and 1-inch slate pool table for $2,500 (retail $6,000), or a contemporary 7-foot pool table for $1,200 (retail $1,900). Prices include a starter kit featuring balls, four cues, triangle, nine-ball rack, bridge stick, cover, brush, chalk and free delivery within 75 miles. The store also carries pinball and arcade game machines, air hockey, poker tables and more. Breaktime Billards is at 17524 Chatsworth St., Granada Hills; [phone]. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

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Photo: Handmade dolls are among the low-priced items found at Crafters Boutique in Woodland Hills.

John McCoy/Daily News