Blogging From A to Z – 2018 – E is for

Posted on April 5, 2018 by scr4pl80

Welcome to the letter E in the A to Z Challenge for 2018.  During the month of April I am using the alphabet to work my way through Michaels Arts and Crafts store.

Today we are looking at Events and Classes.  Every month there is a different schedule of events, usually themed around the next holiday.  This month it was all about Spring and Easter.  You can find the details and schedule right at the front of the store with some examples of the projects you can make. 

This is the book of events and some of the classes for March and April.
Each Saturday during March there were Kids Club events.  The classes cost between $2 or $5 depending on the age of your child and the difficulty of the event.  Each session lasts about 30 minutes and there may be 4 sessions per Saturday.

There are also projects the whole family can do, like these decorated clay pots, spring wreath and egg decorating.  You just need to buy the pots and wreath and Michaels supplies the decorations to add. 

Then there is the ever popular slime!  (In case you don’t have little kids around, slime is a concoction made with glue, water, saline solution and sometimes shaving cream, depending on the consistency you want.  It’s kind of like silly putty but not).  You can add food color and glitter and all kinds of things.  One of the first weekends I worked I helped with a Halloween slime event.  The slime was pre-made and tinted orange by one of the Michaels staff.  A sandwich size baggie was given to each child and there were different kinds of decorations like glitter and tiny sparkles that they could use to decorate it.  This was a free event and the kids got to take home the slime when they were done.  I tell you, the amount of glue alone that gets sold in the making of slime is ridiculous.  Elmers has something going with this one because glue is expensive!  We sell gallons of them for $30 and they are “Everyday Value” items so the coupons don’t work on them.  Many a parent has come to the register with their 40% off coupon only to be dismayed that it cannot be applied to the glue.  Some very interesting discussions between parent and child at this point – LOL.   

There are also advanced classes like knitting and crocheting, painting and drawing and sometimes cake decorating.  Those classes cost $15 to $20 and are usually two hours or so. 

Here is my friend, Emma, with Bill, the instructor at one of the art classes.  They are painting horses running through a canyon.  I saw Emma’s finished one and it turned out really cool.  
During Spring break there is going to be a Make Camp for the kids from 10 AM to 12 PM.  Parents must stay on the premises but not necessarily in the classroom if the kids are old enough to be left so mom can shop in peace while the kids are busy crafting.  Sounds good, right?

Michaels also has classrooms that you can rent for birthday parties for children aged 8 and up.  You can get the deluxe version of the party that comes with invitations and thank you notes, craft supplies for eight guests in one of several themes like princess, dinosaur or superhero for $120 and $10 for each additional guest, or you can pay $50 and bring your own craft supplies.  One of the Michaels’ staff members is on hand to assist during the party.  For older kids they have some pretty cool themes like Mad Scientist, cooking school, fairies and woodland creatures and for even older kids there are jewelry making and painting themes.    

The classrooms can be rented for other types of things too, like Girl or Boy Scouts meetings and things like that.  I’m thinking of renting one for a scrapbooking event.

Did you know Michaels held events like this?  Would you take a class?  Leave the kids while you shop?

Make sure to stop by some of the other A to Z participants, and come back here tomorrow for the letter F!

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About scr4pl80

I'm a 60-ish, married, mom to 3, creative soul looking to make the world a better place one smile at a time.
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21 Responses to Blogging From A to Z – 2018 – E is for

  1. Josie Two Shoes says:
    April 7, 2018 at 12:07 pm

    That sounds like a really fun and convenient way to hold a child’s party and everyone would surely have fun making something! I have seen the advertisements for classes but haven’t ever attended one, it would be fun to go with a friend!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Cathy Kennedy says:
    April 6, 2018 at 4:14 am

    Janet,

    I like the idea of having a craft birthday party for children. That’s good to know that Michael’s offers this service. Your friend did a great job painting the horses. Maybe, I can paint like that someday. 🙂

    A2Z iPad Art Sketch ‘Eyes’

    Liked by 1 person

    • scr4pl80 says:
      April 6, 2018 at 8:35 am

      She has done some amazing paintings. I’ve told her to sell them but she doesn’t want to yet. The classrooms are booked almost every weekend with parties!

      Like

  3. Weekends in Maine says:
    April 5, 2018 at 8:51 pm

    My girls went to a few birthday parties at Michaels. I love that they offer so many class options. Weekends In Maine

    Liked by 1 person

  4. joey says:
    April 5, 2018 at 1:42 pm

    I’m with Ally, ours aren’t this big! I do know they offer classes from time to time, but there aren’t actual classrooms.
    I remember about two years ago, we went out to get Elmer’s glue to make slime and couldn’t find it anywhere! The slime craze was creating a hefty profit for Elmer’s! lol I ended up ordering it online.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. ghostmmnc says:
    April 5, 2018 at 11:06 am

    My grand daughter loves slime! I didn’t know you could make some at home. Good idea. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Scarlett79 says:
    April 5, 2018 at 9:58 am

    Oh I totally forgot about the classes. I think I might have to go check it out. Thanks for the reminder. Great job on your AtoZChallenge ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Jill Weatherholt says:
    April 5, 2018 at 8:48 am

    Much like my pitiful stick figure drawings, crafting isn’t in my genetic makeup either. I’m really enjoying your challenge, Janet!

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Jacqui Murray says:
    April 5, 2018 at 8:48 am

    I’d completely forgotten about these classes. I took a few when I was a new mother and then moved on. Great offering.

    Liked by 1 person

    • scr4pl80 says:
      April 5, 2018 at 9:09 am

      Thanks Jacqui. I didn’t know about them when my kids were little or I would have taken advantage. Now I’m thinking of the crocheting ones for myself.

      Like

  10. Ally Bean says:
    April 5, 2018 at 8:41 am

    I think your Micheal’s must be much larger than ours. There’s not much extra square footage in ours for events like these. Not that I’d go to any of them. I’m not into crafts, but they sound like they’d be great for anyone who likes to learn new skills.

    Liked by 2 people

    • scr4pl80 says:
      April 5, 2018 at 9:11 am

      Not all classes are offered by all Michaels. It depends on if they have someone to teach them and how much interest there is in the class because you have to sign up in advance. I know that most of the time it is just the kids classes that are going on in our store. We have two rooms to use but ours is a relatively new store.

      Liked by 1 person

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