Michaels

Oh, how I wish we could give 2.5 star ratings! Pretend there’s an extra half star up there.
This Michael’s is not as nice or large as the Bayers Lake location. Even though it is smaller, it was somehow more difficult to find the knitting supplies tucked away in a corner with no signage overhead (or I may have missed it; it wasn’t visible from the front of the store). Selection is scant. I was looking for crochet hooks and the shelves were practically bare. Perhaps they wait until there are literally no supplies left before reordering more stock. I was able to find the size I was looking for, but only as part of a three-​pack. I was desperate so decided to pay for all three just to have the one.
Fortunately the sales clerk was kind enough to give us the 40% discount they usually have on regular-​priced items each week (I never remember to clip the coupon from their flyers). Nothing makes me happier than saving money. :-D
One complaint: both locations have recently changed their cash setup so rather than standing in line at the cash of your choice, you now gather in a communal line for all cashes. This may be great for the «ten items or less» cashes at Walmart, but the wait feels twice as long now at these stores.

Crazy overpriced.
I went in to buy a pair of Sharpies. They wanted almost nine dollars. I stumbled to Staples in shock and found the exact same product for under four.
The same goes for other products, too. They advertise custom framing with an ever-​present 50% OFF! sticker on the counter. I asked for a quick price quote based off the non-​standard size of a print I’d like to frame (it’s 13“x18″). The price was $ 120 dollars. I asked if that included the discount, pointing to the 50% OFF! sticker. The answer was yes.
That might be a fine price for your diploma, but for the picture of a car that I ordered off the internet, a base price of over a hundred dollars is way out of town. This place has the highest prices for everything, and most of it can be found elsewhere for much less.

What can I say? I love these types of stores, I only wish I had a ton of money I could spend on craft supplies and decorations. I always get very inspired when visiting. I adore Halloween and Michael’s actually has a great selection of unique Halloween decorations right now. The prices are good and things are easy to find. It’s organized and comfortable to shop.

Arts Arts Arts — Michael’s is all about arts and crafts.
They have everything, I mean everything for anytype fo art or craft project anyone would need.
Paint supplies, yarn, frames, scrapbooking, it’s all here!
My wife is a pretty crafty person so she/​we delve in to the world of Michael’s fairly often for whatever she needs for her particular project and have never been let down!
Staff are crazy awesome, know there stuff and super friendly.
Prices are fantastic, I’ve never felt I was over paying for anything.
Check it out for your next crafty type project!

Allow me to start by saying this: I am not crafty. Not even a little bit.
I scrapbook though. And by scrapbook I mean I unceremoniously affix photos to a sheet of pretty paper and call it a day.
I can see how Michaels is a crafters dream. What with all its bits and bobs and pretty things.
This is totally not a place for those who are not crafty or artistic in some capacity.
And yet some how I still find myself in there from time to time.
I find their stuff is a) hard to find and b) expensive.
If you can catch one of their sales they often have some pretty great deals. But their regular priced stuff is a bit steep.
And I find it is often difficult to find what I’m looking for. Maybe its just me but some things don’t seem to be in the aisles you would expect them to be in. Oh, you’re looking for a cake decorating tool? Check artificial flowers. Ok, its not quite that extreme but some of the stuff is a little odd.

I’ve always tangently been into crafting since I was a kid. Paper sculptures, origami, beading, knitting, painting, scrapbooking. You name it, I’ve had a phase. Unfortunately, I’m the type of person that really gets into something to an obsessive point, and then my interest passes after a short time and I never look back. Blame it on me being a Leo.
Whatever current crafting fad I’m in to, though, I know that Michael’s will fuel my interest. They have a wide selection of crafting material, for bakers up to silk flower arrangers. The aisles are, for the most part, well laid out. However, I’m still scratching my head as to why the glue guns are in with the silk flowers and not, say, with the rest of the glue aisle. Still, they’re chock full of treasures, and well organized by craft type. The staff are usually pretty helpful, and I find most of them are obsessive crafters that work for the discount, so they know their stuff.
Michael’s often advertises sales on frames and custom frame jobs, but be wary. Their prices are marked up, so really, you’re just paying a comparable amount after the sale price. Still, they do have quite a selection of frames and mattes, so they will likely have what you need to beautify your pictures or artwork. I’ve got tupperware bins full of crafty bits and pieces from unfinished projects.

I recently bought a product at Michaels. The price on the box was 9.99. I flipped the box over and there was the US Price of 5.99. P L E A S E !!! The Canadian and US Dollar is practically at par and has been for 1 year!
This makes me wonder if all the other (great) products at Michaels are marked up so much?
NOT FAIR!

I have a craft room full of supplies going back 30 years, and half finished projects going back equally as far, much of it pre-​Michaels. I think my crafting hobbies started with macaroni crafts made in Brownies and evolved with the times. Everything from macramé, to crocheting, sewing to polymer clay sculpting, cross stitch, beaded jewellery and currently, card making.
When I entered Michaels for the first time, I thought I’d reached Martha Stewart heaven. So many crafts, so little time… and money.
If there is one thing I’ve learned about Michaels, never pay full price. Sign up for emails and receive coupons weekly, make your own sale for 40 to 50% off any one item, coupons of 15% off everything you purchase including sale items. I swear there has been half off custom framing orders since they opened, I don’t know why they don’t just cut their prices in half and be done with it.
When I was getting married, I decieded to DIY for most everything from invitations to decorations and favours. Michaels was my go to place. I had to watch the flyers and emails waiting for the best deals and sometimes made weekly visits but I managed to do it all for a reasonable price. They were even really good about returning things I didn’t end up using.
As far as staff, it can be hit or miss, some are very helpful and go out of their way, a few seem to be just putting in hours.
Now I’m thinking they have some pretty neat cake decorating kits… I could do that!

If you think Michael’s is just for those who go ga-​ga for creating crafts, you’re wrong. Yes, that is the point of the store but really, you don’t have to be a pro at crafting.. . all you need is a dash of creativity.
The store is ideal for aspiring bakers, planners of unique parties or even those who are interested in redecorating their home. The possibilities are somewhat endless. It’s a large selection of just about everything a «crafter» needs; isles and isles to look through. Each isle has it’s own particular theme (Scrap-​booking, T-​Shirt decorating, Baskets, Baking, Jewelery etc) so if your hands on hobby isn’t at Michaels I’m not sure where you’re going to find it.
Overall, I enjoy going to Michaels but the prices take away from the experience. That’s the only thing. Lower the prices and the store will be jam-​packed with customers.

I have spent way too much time and way to much money at this Michael’s location.
I have recently taken up a love of crafting with polymer clay and completely stocked up at this Michael’s.
I find this location to have a little bit of everything for all your crafting needs which in my books makes it a bit better than it’s sister and first HRM location, Bayer’s Lake.
I do admit to being crafty, i however have two sweet clues when it comes to a lot of the crafting items in Michael’s. I have never done scrap-​booking or card making. Never really sewed anything in my life other than the hem of my black dress pants for work. It’s been years since I sketched and who knew you could do that with cakes?!
All in all, I’ve ventured out of my comfort zone with crafting this year starting with polymer clay. Starting this new hobby has brought me into new sections of the store and I can honestly say there was one day I spent 2 & ½ hours just combing through the aisles trying to take it all in. I know what you’re thinking… really? 2 & ½ hours in a craft store??? Who has that time? Who would want to spend that much time in a craft store?! Well friends, this 2 & ½ hour tour of Michale’s gave me some insight and I can honestly say that I now can run in and grab what I need, browse a couple aisles and grab what I don’t need and not waste too much time.
All in all, I choose this location over Bayer’s Lake. It’s easier to navigate and has a little bit more of well, everything!

Michael’s is pretty close to my personal hell on earth.
First off, I don’t like crafting. I find it an exercise in frustration and failure. Second, I don’t have the patience for confusing big box stores where everything is tremendously difficult to find. Third, I don’t like being surrounded by other shoppers who so clearly do not have the same issues as I do as mentioned in points one and two.
Simply put, Michael’s is not for me and I have no business reviewing its products, service or experience. Still, I will for the sake of prepping non-​crafters like myself for what they should expect when dragged here by handy friends, or accidentally coming to in aisle four after some strange Hangover-​style bender.
What you need to know is that for crafters, everything about Michael’s makes sense which is probably why you’re so confused and disoriented. It’s not SUPPOSED to make sense to mere mortals like you and I. Just go with it, ask for help, and get out rather than try to figure it out on your own and lose three hours of your life. Don’t be a hero.
You should probably also know that there’s always some cray-​cray sale going on that again will not make any sense to you. But don’t worry, just buy what you went in for and the helpful staff at the cash will find ways to save you money so you don’t have to. This should also be a note to not even bother trying to figure out how much money you’re about to spend before you go up to the cash.
Lastly, they have more things than you will ever need or even begin to understand. Remember above all else, keep your eye on the prize, know what you’re looking for, and commit to your plan of craftification before you enter. Otherwise you’re going to end up thinking that your bristol board and cut-​outs project should actually be a paint, canvas and pottery ordeal from which you will never recover.

Wow you can spend hours in Michael’s just looking at all the arts and crafts that they have. Depending on what you are looking for you should be able to find it here. Searching for a gift for my BF daughter I knew what I wanted to get her. Where she likes crafts I went and searches for an outdoor patio stone so that she could make. Many to chose from I like the flower on which came into a pre packages kit ready to go for $ 29.99.
There are isles and isle of stuff half of which I have no idea what to do with it. Picture frames, beads for making jewelry and very nicely laid out. The staff are very helpful and will take the time to explain to you what the product requires.
Oh and they as well have Birthday Parties at Michael’s which is a fantastic idea.