A trip to my local Michael's craft store

UPDATE: You can now also shop for a smaller but very nice assortment of the Martha Stewart Craft Line at Walmart, as well as many independent craft stores. The tools are the same, but their handle colors are green at Walmart, as opposed to the white handles found at Michael's. I have added a few photos from the trip I went on to Walmart a few weeks ago to launch our new Celebrate line.

After my trip to the DMV last week, I decided to pop into the nearby Michael’s crafts store in Brewster, NY.  I wanted to see how the Martha Stewart Craft line was looking and to inquire how it was selling.  I certainly wasn’t disappointed.  The display was neat and tidy, as was the entire store and Jeanne, the Assistant Manager, informed me that sales were brisk.  My company launched this beautiful and functional line at Michael’s in May of 2007 and it is indeed, popular.  It includes all sorts of materials for use in paper crafting and scrap booking.  There are lovely paper designs, beautiful embellishments, and practically designed tools.  There are also binders and storage systems to help keep everything organized.  And I love the fun kits to help make your parties and other occasions memorable and festive.  I hope you can visit a Michael’s and check it out.

From Walmart

   

From Michael's

The entire aisle is very attractive. I love this display.

so many shades of shimmering glitter

beautiful labels in many shapes and sizes

This is Carmen, the lead sales associate in the general crafts department. She has a 10 year old daughter, who used this adorable Monkey Party in a Box for her last birthday. It was a hit!

all sorts of craft glues

many kinds of practical crafting tools

very cute alphabet flash cards

a vast palette of pens

party kits

archival boxes

ribbons galore

more useful 'occasions' kits

big and beautiful archival albums

rows and rows of useful tags, labels, and beautiful embellishments

Look at this gorgeous paper flower you can make from a kit, of course!

   

Russ & Daughters, one of my favorites!
Edible flowers in my garden
Sharkey had a little accident
A fun trip to the DMV
Haircut time for the donkeys!

Comments

[Vanessa]

Martha, funny you mention this, I always stop at the Brewster store when I go into the city from the Southeast train station. I was there recently, it would have been nice to see you in person!

Your attic crafts room inspired me to turn my own third floor attic area of my brownstone into a crafts room (when it's not also functioning as a guest retreat). Many trips to Michael's have occurred as a result ;)

[Linda]

Martha:
I don't live anywhere near a Michael's store. I live in Phila.. I love what I saw in the pictures. Can you start a line of craft products with A. C. Moore please? I live near an A. C. Moore. It's the only place I can go for craft supplies.

Linda
Phila., PA

[Cindy Bricker]

I had to chuckle!...I wondered if you'd find your products in your local Michael's store neat-n-tidy with everything in their places, especially if you just happened to "drop in" unannounced. Our local Michael's store MScrafts department is always in such disarray...I guess from everyone scrambling to get what they want. Then, (you'd be proud of me!) all I want to do is "straighten up" but realize they pay their employees to do that! (I'm a mess!) (an organized mess, though...) =^..^=

[Andrew Ritchie]

I have a set of the alphabet cards, because they were just too classic to pass up. I don't even have kids, but I love the cards! (But they were $16.99 in Canada, not the $9.99 I see on the label in your photo! Please talk to someone about that!)

I also have one of the large scrapbooks and only use CD labels and envelopes by Martha Stewart Crafts for labelling my CD projects.

It's a fine line of goods. And your packaging designers are top notch.

-Andrew

[Jasmine]

Your Michael's store looks amazing, and I agree with another commenter - the store must have had advanced notice that you were coming! The local store here in Chico, CA is always a disaster, including the Martha Stewart line which is only approximately an eight foot section. I wish I had the selection that your store offers as well. I've purchased a lot of what's available here and have made some incredible gifts for family & friends (like the family tree project in the shadow box frames that was featured on your show).

[e]

Martha and/or blog staff...you should see the abysmal display of your line of crafts in Alpharetta, GA @ North Pt. Parkway Michaels. Not like these photos here.

[Jenny B. in Sycamore, IL]

What fun for the Michael's employees to have you visit!! I too love your craft line. The kits are fantastic. The glue is the BEST and holds the wonderful glitter that is like pixie dust beautifully!

[Lori]

What a beautiful store with your craft line! My Michael's store in Lynnwood Wa looks nothing like this. Supplies are always low & it's hard to get what I want. It took me weeks to get fall colors to decorate pumpkins last year. So..looking at your store makes me wish ours looked like that! :>)

[A Farmer's Wife]

How do you do it all??? You are AMAZING!!! I LOVE the new craft line!

[Raven Klausen]

Martha, I do love the high quality of your products and know that when I see anything with your name on it I have found the best for my dollar. Thank you!

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, What a beautiful display of your fantastic craft line at that Michael's store. I have to agree with many of your other commenters that the Brewster store display is more beautiful than our stores south of Seattle. I'm watching your segment on the Amish Friendship Bread. A friend of mine makes this every year and gives me some. It is delicious! I'll get her recipe and compare it to yours and let you know if it is the same. I love your blog, your show and everything you do for us. Thanks!!!!!!! Jan

[ChrisK in NZ]

Idea for you: It would be great if your beautiful 12x12 storage box could have the front bit come down somehow (velcro?) so when you're working you're able to drop that down and see the colored paper in your box without digging around inside. I have your items shipped to me in Auckland from my family in Missouri!

[Nan Ashby]

I'm so glad that now I can get some of your craft line at Walmart. That's a good thing!!!!Nan

[Stephanie]

Hello! I was in Walmart last week, they must have just put out your products, everything was fully stocked and looked untouched. I was so excited, I came home and blogged about it. Here's the link if you'd like to check it out. There's also a photo.

http://brionesandco.blogspot.com/2008/07/martha-stewart-create.html

I love all of your products. Thank you for making amazing things for us.

Stephanie

[sita]

Your craft line is FAB! I love the glitter especially, I usually have to order my glitter special for my creations but yours is super fine and love all the color choices, thanks for offering up quality materials. Can't wait to see additions to the line.
Sita
www.silverspoonscraps.com

[Amy]

I concur with some of the sentiments here that my Micheal's is not that well stocked and frequently disorganized. I will, however, be stalking Wal-Mart for your craft line, since Wal-Mart was nice enough to discontinue their fabric departments. I knwo Wal-Mart is strict on neatness--at least, mine seems to be. And heck, I do like the green stuff better, like the citrus juicer from Macy's.

Amy in Houston

[Amy G]

Even the bottles and packages are pretty! I love your crafts line. I've always loved your ideas, and now it's nice to have a handy source for the materials, too!

I promise you it's popular gear down here in North Carolina....our Michael's store often has nearly-bare shelves in the Martha section with a "more coming soon!" sign!

[Norbie K. of Las Vegas, NV]

Hoping in the car right now before it closes.

I CANT WAIT!!!!!

[Tiff@Three Peas]

WOW I have to say If I wassbn't on a budget at the moment (spending too much money on fabric) I would go shopping. Your line looks so crisp and clean! And so affordable!

[Kerry in AU]

OH PLEASE make sure these supplies make it to the stores in Australia. They are gorgeous!!!!

[Emily]

Hi Martha,

Thanks for the information! :) I think we love home decor about just as much as you do!! So glad I found your blog

Emily
www.materialgirlsblog.com

[patricia]

I've been a big fan of your craft line since it came out. I'm particularly fond of the color choices for the card stock. Beautiful!

[Cindy from Williamson Georgia]

I am so delighted to know that your craft products will be displayed at Wal-mart. I do have to agree, for the most part, Wal-Mart really keeps their stores well stocked and neat, unlike K-Mart. I always loved your line at K-Mart - but half of your beautiful items were always on the floor, or they were out of stock and poorly displayed. The Michaels I went to was always a mess, and did not present your items well at all. I hope that more of your wonderful products become available at Wal-Mart. I absolutely love how you have brought back vintage items (such as refrigerator jars), and put a modern twist on them. Good for you Martha! You are a inspiration to all of us! Thank-you for providing a class act in the discount world! You set the standard - inexpensive doesn't have to be "cheap"

[Anna]

Just wanted to let you know that the Winston Salem, NC Michael's has a display of your line and it's equally impressive. It's right at the front of the store and gets your attention immediately. It beats everything around it and not nothing compares.

[Jessie]

I absolutely love your line of craft supplies at Michael's. I'm a regular Michael's customer, and the quality of your items versus others in the store is unsurpassed (the display was quite tidy in my local store as well). I especially adore your shimmering glitter. I can't tell you how many beautiful household decorations and gifts I've made using them.