Blogging From A to Z – 2018 – Z is for

Posted on April 30, 2018 by scr4pl80

Welcome to the letter Z in the A to Z Challenge for 2018.  This year I am making my way through the alphabet as seen in Michaels Arts and Crafts store.  We have reached the end of the road today with the letter Z.  It was one of the first letters that I looked around the store to find something to feature since I figured that if I could get a “Z” I’d have the alphabet licked.

Thank goodness for Zentangle!  The cover says “Drawing your way to increased creativity, focus and well-being.”  I call it doodling and it totally would have fit in with my letter D for drawing, but I needed a Z so there you go.

Fortunately for me, they make Zentangle tool sets so I had some additional information.

I didn’t research too much but there are apparently different types of tool sets.  The Apprentice set is for children.  

The Renaissance set is for drawing on old-looking papers.  The colors are more browns and tans.  

This is what is in the Renaissance set.  

They even make special “artist tiles” which are pieces of paper cut to a square.  These are 6 x 6 and the paper is black.

I have never tried Zentangle and oddly enough, I don’t really doodle much.  You would think I’d be all over doodles but no.  Intimidated maybe?  I color great if someone else draws the thing. 
This one almost made it into the X-tras Friday but I decided to keep it here.  Michaels has zippers.  Not many, but you can get some.  

During my last round of picture taking for this A to Z as I was in the scrapbooking section taking a picture of the X-ron machine, I saw the Zips and Zots and had to add them.  
Zips and zots are small round bits of adhesive that you can use to hold your embellishments down.  I use them a lot when I am adding flowers to a project because the round shape is perfect to hold the middle of the flower down but leave the petals loose.  Sometimes they are raised a bit because the Zot is thick.  Even more dimension.  
The flowers on the front of this card 

and this Easter Mini-album are held on with Zots.  

You can see the dimension it adds and the petals are loose but the flower won’t come off because the Zots are very strong.  

Well, I made it!  Last year I finished the A to Z but not on time as there were some of the entries I had to add in after the fact.  This year was much easier and once again I have to give a shout out to Jacqui Murray at Word Dreams for giving me the idea to base my A to Z on the things you could find at Michaels.  
As you exit the store, and my A to Z posts, I’ll leave you with this:

I hope that you have enjoyed the journey through the store with me.  I found some interesting things during the six months I worked there (September 2017 through March 2018) both in the store and in the people I interacted with.  It was definitely a learning experience.  
Now I have to think about what to write for next year’s A to Z.  Got any suggestions?  Did you like my Michaels series?  Learn anything?  Do you Zentangle?  Love to hear about it.   
(Note:  I decided I should add a disclaimer to these posts because I certainly don’t want to give the idea that I am being paid by Michaels to do this or that they are furnishing me with material.  All pictures used in this blog series were taken by me at local Michaels stores, or are my personal pictures and every Michaels store may not have everything shown.)

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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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30 Responses to Blogging From A to Z – 2018 – Z is for

  1. JEN Garrett says:
    July 19, 2018 at 8:54 pm

    I never Zentangle, but I have been known to enjoy a zot or two (they really are convenient, aren’t they?) for my paper projects.

    Like

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  3. Cathy Kennedy says:
    May 1, 2018 at 3:13 am

    Janet,

    I think I would at the very least like to try Zentangle. I really like this word and it certainly inspires me for next year’s ‘Z’ prompt. So, thanks for the info! 😀 Zots I’ve seen. I’ve used adhesive dots before but I’m not sure what brand but what it’s a cool way to add dimension to your projects with embellishments like you mentioned. I don’t do a lot of that when I make cards but when I do this is an excellent way to do it.

    Congratulations, for finishing the A2Z event! It was a lot of fun learning about Michael’s craft supply diversity. I knew they had a lot of wonderful stuff but you reminded me of things I had forgotten and will make me think of them when making future purchases. I sure hope Michael’s sends you a big fat check for all of this free PR you gave them in April. 🙂

    ~Curious as a Cathy
    A2Z iPad Art Sketch ‘Z’ for Zinnias

    Liked by 1 person

    • scr4pl80 says:
      May 1, 2018 at 8:55 am

      LOL, I’ve been posting some of the letters on their Facebook page and have been in touch with corporate PR but haven’t heard anything back. I’m going to try again with the recap post since it will have a link to all the letters. I’m pretty sure there will be no monetary compensation but even if a few of their people look and like, it might get more traffic to my site and that can’t hurt. Zentangle would be a good drawing for you, I’ll look forward to seeing it next year!

      Like

  4. Weekends in Maine says:
    April 30, 2018 at 3:54 pm

    I love zots and use them a lot in my scrapbooking. Thanks for reminding me of all the wonderful things Michael’s carries. It’s a crafters paradise. Weekends In Maine

    Liked by 1 person

    • scr4pl80 says:
      April 30, 2018 at 6:23 pm

      I wasn’t even aware of half the things they carried until I started working there. I was amazed at some of the things customers would bring up to buy! Thanks for coming along with me.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Donna B. McNicol [@dbmcnicol] says:
    April 30, 2018 at 12:52 pm

    This has been so much fun and I enjoyed meeting you along the way. I’ll be hanging around for a while, too. 😉 Congrats on finishing the A-Z challenge!

    Donna B McNicol, author & traveler
    Romance & Mystery…writing my life
    A-Z Flash Fiction Tales: http://dbmcnicol.blogspot.com
    A-Z of Goldendoodles: http://ourprimeyears.blogspot.com

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Ally Bean says:
    April 30, 2018 at 12:51 pm

    Congrats on finishing the challenge on time. Your knowledge of Micheal’s is encyclopedic– and lots of fun.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. James J. Cudney IV says:
    April 30, 2018 at 12:46 pm

    Congratulations on 26 fun days! Very proud of you… can’t imagine what creativity will come next!!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  8. ghostmmnc says:
    April 30, 2018 at 9:43 am

    This was so fun going through the Michael’s store with you! Great posts, and lots of photos of the items were wonderful to browse around through. Congratulations on finding some things for all the alphabet! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  9. randombitsoftrialanderror says:
    April 30, 2018 at 8:31 am

    This was a great series! I hadn’t heard of Zentangle before, but it might be a good activity to try when traveling. I’ve loved you A-Z challenge and have found many new things to make their way into my cart next time I visit Michaels. You did it, Janet–a superb job on the A-Z challenge (as always). Hugs, Dawn P.S. This may be a duplicate comment–I sent one earlier, but didn’t see it.

    Liked by 1 person

    • scr4pl80 says:
      April 30, 2018 at 6:32 pm

      Yes, Zentangle would be good when traveling since you don’t need a lot of stuff, paper and pen/cil only. Your comment got put in my pending file. I’m not sure why WP doesn’t know we are friends yet! Thanks, Dawn, for your continued support!

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Deborah Weber says:
    April 30, 2018 at 8:11 am

    I’m definitely a doodler, but not a Zentangler. Congratulations on completing the challenge Janet – nice job indeed!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. RetirementallyChallenged.com says:
    April 30, 2018 at 7:49 am

    Great series! I think that Michaels should pay you a marketing fee for all the advertising you gave them. I learned about quite a few products – like Zots – that I had never heard of.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Jill Weatherholt says:
    April 30, 2018 at 7:39 am

    I’m not much of a doodler either, Janet. Congratulations on meeting the challenge!😉

    Liked by 1 person

  13. randombitsoftrialanderror says:
    April 30, 2018 at 7:27 am

    I have never heard of the Zentangle thingee. I might have to give it a whirl on travel days. As for Zots–I do use them, lots. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed your A-Z challenge and have learned of many new items to find their way into my cart at Michaels. You’ve done a wonderful job (as always)! YOU DID IT! Hugs! Dawn

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Tamara Kulish says:
    April 30, 2018 at 7:26 am

    Well done! You did it! I love Michaels ! I didn’t know they had some of the products they do! Good job! Maybe you should add hashtags to your different products on different pages so if people are searching, the internet will suggest your pages? It’s a thought!

    Peace, Tamara
    http://Www.tamarakulish.com

    Liked by 1 person

    • scr4pl80 says:
      April 30, 2018 at 7:28 am

      Thanks, Tamara! I am new to the hashtag influence so I don’t know how they work other than on Instagram. I’ll do that as I go through for the reflection post!

      Like

  15. joey says:
    April 30, 2018 at 7:22 am

    I can’t Zentangle worth a darn, but I can Zot myself to bliss! I love Zots! They are THE BEST.

    Liked by 2 people

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