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I know this has been discussed before, but it seems Michael's is discontinuing so much for stamping. I recently received a gift certificate for Michael's, so this week I went to two local stores and could not find anything that was on my list. I finally looked online. When I couldn't find the items, I decided to just buy inks. I couldn't believe the very few they have! So sad!
I have two Michael's within 5 miles of me. One is terrible. Their papercrafting section is tiny and totally disorganized. They never rotate product or restock and never have anything on my list. The other one is wonderful! HUGE papercrafting section, all the latest goodies. I'd say at least 1/4 of the store is devoted to papercrafting. Guess which one I always go to? ;)
It's funny how much Michael's varies from store to store. The ones near me have good selections of paper crafting stuff, which is good because all but one of my LSS have closed.
I visited four different M's to find black rainbow loom bands for my daughter. I can always find something to buy with a gift card, even basic stuff like tape runner refills. I'm making a list of dies for my next spree with a gift card!
Mary Beth
I'd given up on their stamp department long ago. The selection of brands and quality s terrible. Would turn any new crafter off stamping all together.
Now I only buy my stamps from independent companies either online or stamp shows
I tend to go to Michael's, Hobby Lobby, and Joann's for general crafting items (embroidery floss, yarn, kraft gift bags, etc.). Every once in a while I will get some specialized paper (shimmer, glitter, cork, etc.).
I am so deep into this hobby that I want very specific items I can only find online from specific sites like Papertrey/Stampin Up or Ellen Hutson/Simon Says Stamps, which sell a variety.
The one exception I have found is that Joann.com carries Distress Inks, Avery Elle, and Paper Smooches at a huge discount....50% today I see.
If the papercrafting area is small, try some of the other departments. I have found great markers, paints and stencils in the kids crafts and art supply departments. Now is the time to pick up great Christmas embellishments in the seasonal area.
__________________ Debbie "Make it work, people." - Tim Gunn My Gallery
Debbie's right - other departments are better options a lot of the time! I do like their 110 lb cardstock and I buy seasonal stamps there (sometimes) when they are on sale, but that's about it. I almost never even walk in...
Debbie's right - other departments are better options a lot of the time! I do like their 110 lb cardstock and I buy seasonal stamps there (sometimes) when they are on sale, but that's about it. I almost never even walk in...
I agree about their 110 lb. cardstock, Sue. I've bought a ream of each of the colors availabe -- white, cream, black. It's wonderful! It's almost time to buy another white pack.
A new Michaels opened in Merritt Island last weekend. I didn't go for the grand opening, but rather waited until the next day because it wouldn't be so crowded.
It was a huge disappointment. The store was nice, but the papercrafting section was small. Very little stock of anything! I did find some nice glittered specialty papers, though, that I am using on Christmas cards.
Literally half of the store is for Christmas decorations, etc.
I was in another town today about 20 miles away and visited their Michaels. It was a large nice store, but a very sparse paper crafting section. I did pick up 65lb layering paper because it is on sale. I do like their 110 lb paper, too. Most of the Christmas stamps were nearly sold out. I try to shop locally instead of online, but I guess there's not much choice anymore.
We have one of the first re-vamped Michaels (from a couple of years ago) and our stamping/scrapbooking section is nice (considering that it's Michaels). I was in our store yesterday and I don't see any signs of them removing any of the paper crafting items. Also, one of my customers works at Michaels and she didn't say anything about any changes and she usually will say something.
I always find Michaels goes into Holiday overdrive this time of year.
Our Michael's isn't brilliant but tbh they have had some really fun things (not a lot) but they have AI stamps, Hampton Arts, Heidi Swapp, Tim Holtz. And they had some really fun own brand Halloween cardstock that I had to get because orange,brown and black are my eldest's school colors!
Sometimes I go in and walk back out and other times there are some great finds. This is the same Michael's from week to week.
About a month ago they had some larege special starter pack of Cricut cartridges 70% off for about 10/15 cartridges that I had never seen the pack before and I went back to look again and they were gone.
I find them a good source but if I only looked in papercrafting I would have grown bored a long time ago though they rotate stock, I either have quite a bit or it isn't quite what I am looking for.
lately, the only thing I've been buying at Michaels is yarn! The papercrafting stock is pretty stagnant at the one's in my area, so I just use what I have at home...
It's interesting to me that some of you are disappointed about M's "scaling back" their papercrafting section-- I never thought it was all that impressive to begin with.
Our Store previously had a pretty good supply. It is disappointing because basics like ink, tools, and even stamps could be found there. Now it's pretty much just paper.
I stopped there last night for a Stabilo All marker, which they did not have. No surprise. Tim Holtz was on sale, but there was virtually nothing in stock.
__________________ Debbie "Make it work, people." - Tim Gunn My Gallery
I've always thought that our M's had a "fair" selection...but I had nothing to compare.
One aisle of paper, one aisle of stickers, one side of one with MS stuff, one side of one with embellishments, one side of one with albums.
Then in another place...one aisle containing the stamping stuff.
Thought their arrangement was weird, and I don't usually find anything interesting.
So, tell me, is that a lot? Or is it scanty?
Pitiful We have:
Note: all are 1/2 aisles)
7 aisles of paper
2 aisles of scrapbook
1 aisle for seasonal & stamp pads
1 aisle of stamps
1 aisle of Tim Holt & glitter
1 aisle of Hedi Swap & Fiskers
1 aisle of punches
1 aisle of Cuttlebug, Sizzex, & Spellbinders
12 aisles of stickers, embellishment, jewels, etc.
1 aisle of paper flowers
3 aisles of storage
2 aisles of Martha Stewart
1 aisle of misc. scrapbooking
Whew - that doesn't count the fine art section, acrylic paints, stencils ...
I agree about their 110 lb. cardstock, Sue. I've bought a ream of each of the colors availabe -- white, cream, black. It's wonderful! It's almost time to buy another white pack.
I also love the weight and finish of their 110 lb cardstock and have the white and cream.
But I have always been tempted to buy the black - and I really dont know what I would do with it.
Its such a nice heavy cardstock that I use it as a base. But the black seems like it would be too heavy to use for layering - and Im not sure how to pull off a black card base without it somehow looking rather macabre and somber.
The froont and insides could be dealt with using a light or patterned paper, but what to do with a black card back???
How do you use your 110lb black cardstock?
__________________ A good dog, a sewing machine, and an old guitar......
I don't make too many black cards. I've made some for Halloween, and remember thinking the black cardstock I had on hand seemed flimsy. I wouldn't mind a pack in a smaller quantity.
I love their white cardstock. I wish the cream were a bit lighter color.
I also love the weight and finish of their 110 lb cardstock and have the white and cream.
But I have always been tempted to buy the black - and I really dont know what I would do with it.
Its such a nice heavy cardstock that I use it as a base. But the black seems like it would be too heavy to use for layering - and Im not sure how to pull off a black card base without it somehow looking rather macabre and somber.
The froont and insides could be dealt with using a light or patterned paper, but what to do with a black card back???
How do you use your 110lb black cardstock?
Black for a card base is not that difficult if you pair it with complimenting color.
__________________ The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable. Practice safe eating always use condiments
I went to two different M's yesterday for the Christmas paper pack (4/$10) in their ad. First one of the sales associates swore they had it and then, when she couldn't find it, told me they never got any in. Don't know whether or not to believe her. Is the 110lb. cardstock with the other paper packs?
I use black for card bases a lot. Just a little bit showing around the next layer. I bought a red, green and black plaid Christmas paper at HL. I can't tell you how much I love this paper. I am hosting a stampathon on Monday for 7 stampers. I am planning on having them make 15 cards (we'll see - it is an all day event). 6 of the cards are done with that plaid paper. Some have black card bases, some have green. I love them all - did I mention that I LOVE plaid??? I also have a gift card from Michael's. I may use it for a bookmark. They did a renovation in all 3 stores here. The papercrafting section is miniscule. I never bought stamps there except for the $1 stamps, but I am not fond of the new craft smart stamps. I didn't see anything in the Christmas stamps that I wanted. I use to love their 12x12 scrapbook paper and bought a LOT of it. Now, there is very little, and I don't care for any of it. Guess it is a good thing I have enough for life. Most stamps I buy is on line. I do get some goodies from HL, with a coupon. And, I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Michael's 110# paper. That is the only paper I now use for bases, and Copic coloring. I guess M, JA, and ACM weren't making enough money on papercrafting. Happy Stamping...B.
7 aisles of paper
2 aisles of scrapbook
1 aisle for seasonal & stamp pads
1 aisle of stamps
1 aisle of Tim Holt & glitter
1 aisle of Hedi Swap & Fiskers
1 aisle of punches
1 aisle of Cuttlebug, Sizzex, & Spellbinders
12 aisles of stickers, embellishment, jewels, etc.
1 aisle of paper flowers
3 aisles of storage
2 aisles of Martha Stewart
1 aisle of misc. scrapbooking
Whew - that doesn't count the fine art section, acrylic paints, stencils ...
It's a nice store but then it's "My Michaels"
Well, at least I know that it's pitiful!
I looked for any 110 pound papers there a couple of weeks ago...absolutely none. I guess that should have given me a hint...
I agree Michaels varies from store to store. I also agree that their stamp selection is one of the worst. I do tend to buy online when it comes to stamps. I do get a better selection from Joann's, but only online. Anyway, I like to go look around in hopes for inspiration. Heck, I don't even buy paper there anymore.
I shop Hobby Lobby clearance for art supplies for my granddaughter and possible dies, glitters, stuff like that. Michaels, I check on what they have on clearance as well, but I've been finding less and less lately.
I did go to both of my Michael's recently because there was a 50% off coupon. I got a set of Gelatos at each using the coups. It's just hard to find anything unique there anymore. Please don't get me wrong. I LOVE Michaels, I've just been really disappointed in their stock. I'm also overstocked myself, so there's nothing that I really need. I'm really overstocked.
I went to Michael's today. There was a woman in front of us who kept complaining that the customer at the register was too slow. Really nasty. Then she gets up there with her one item (a plastic storage bin) and immediately snaps at the poor cashier. Then she starts arguing because she couldn't use both the 25% off entire purchase and 40% off one item coupons she had. Her total was a whopping $2.70 and she was screaming about wanting both coupons applied. When we finished checking out she was still there screaming. I felt so bad for the poor cashier.
We have 2 Michaels here. One of them has the 110lb paper on the lower shelves. I had a hard time finding it. The other Michaels keeps it with the smaller packs of 65lb paper. I have white, black and the cream. There was also a large 100 pack of white shimmer paper and a pack of champagne and silver paper, 50 each color. I'll probably pick those up as well. I don't remember if it listed the weight on the shimmer papers.
__________________ Denise
"If a person who indulges in gluttony is a glutton, and a person who commits a felony is a felon, then God is an iron.�
― Spider Robinson
I noticed that our small M's didn't have the $1/$1.50 stamps near the checkouts this year. If they were elsewhere I never found them.The store seems to be stocking more of their Recolllections brand and dropping others. Last thing I bought there months ago was the 110 lb white cs. I've read they're in some financial trouble and I think the smaller, less profitable stores are taking the worse hits.
Even though our store is probably nicer than others I don't buy that much from Michaels. Everything is pretty generic or not to my tastes so I tend to shop online. We have 2 local stamp stores and 1 scrapbook stores but again, not to my tastes. I still miss some of the scrapbook stores that closed during the recession.
I gave up on Michaels ages ago. In my area they have a small selection for papercrafting, and what they do have is overpriced to the point that I consider
it price gouging. The paper is not a good quality, yet priced at $1.39, I buy better
quality for .75 online. I find this with everything, so I just do not go at all.
I always find Michaels goes into Holiday overdrive this time of year.
Agreed on the holiday overdrive, big dislike!!! Mostly because the clearance aisle disappears and is limited to small random spots in my store.
I haven't given up on them altogether, but I only shop the sales or go to buy a specific item with a coupon. Two years ago during their after-Christmas sale, what we call Boxing Day sale (or Boxing Week nowadays) in Canada, they had a 90% off all red tag clearance items in the entire store. I spent hours there, and walked out with just under $900.00 worth of stuff for a whopping $33!!! Granted, we all know Michaels is grossly overpriced, but that's still a darned good haul. I was so sad when they didn't do the same sale last year. Really crossing my fingers for this year!!!
I was looking for Christmas scrapbook paper & embellishments at Michael's & Joann's for the past month & could only find it at Hobby Lobby. Even last week they didn't have anything Christmas in the paper crafting section. I asked them what people were supposed to do that needed supplies for craft shows. They just looked at me & shrugged, lol!
Michaels
