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Halloween, Product Review, Uncategorized

2019 Halloween Merchandise Review: Joann

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As foretold in my previous post, I am back with another Halloween merchandise review. This one is for another craft store I’m quite fond of: Joann.

I give Michael’s the win over Joann in terms of cool indoor decor, but Joann does have some good items. They have a wide variety of craft and strangely-decorated pumpkins (I especially like the guy below with the teeth), and their animal skeleton game is on point. I mean, just look at the chicken! And the eel! I love them.

Now, if you’re looking for a reasonably priced skeleton, I would go somewhere else – probably Home Depot or Lowe’s – because their normal human skeleton is quite expensive. They go on sale frequently, though, so you can still probably get a good deal on one if you just have to get your skeletons there.

One place Joann definitely has an advantage over Michael’s is the fabric selection. Michael’s doesn’t carry fabric (at least the ones I’ve been to don’t), and Joann has a really great selection of costume fabric. I’m not the type to make my own costume, but if you are, check it out. They have everything from cutesy stuff to bloody, shredded fabric, so there should be something for everyone. You can also buy patterns for costumes there!

I’m also quite fond of the selection of food craft goodies Joann carries. They have a pretty big line of Wilton Halloween products -sprinkles, candy melts, cupcake holders, treat bags, candy molds – you name it. They also have that sweet Jack’o’lantern cake pan you can see in the pic above and a gingerbread haunted house kit. Super fun for kids.

While Michael’s might be more my thing in terms of decor, I do think Joann’s selection this year has some merits. They always have really fun pumpkins and new types of animal skeletons, and their fabric selection is pretty great. So what do I think are the best finds at Joann?

Favorite Finds at Joann

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  1. Foam Body Parts: I think this is the first year I’ve seen this. Joann usually has foam craft heads or busts, but this year they have a full skeleton! In pieces, of course, but it would be fun to get this and make it your own.
  2. Stone Skull Planter: I collect skulls. I love skulls. I anticipate this will be part of my collection. Just look at how cool it is!
  3. Vintage Framed Art: My husband and I actually said we liked this a lot at the same time, which doesn’t usually happen with Halloween stuff. I just like the cool vintage look to the print. It would look great on my wall (and probably will).
  4. Yoga Skeletons: These are a repeat from last year, but I freaking love them so much. In fact, I loved them so much last year that I dragged my sister around Fort Worth, TX to find them. They weren’t at my local store, and since we were going to be in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for a BTS concert (which was AMAZING, by the way), I had to stop on our way back to pick these cute little guys up.
  5. Roasted Pig Skeleton: I haven’t really seen many pig skeletons, and I love that this one has an apple in its mouth. Super cool.
  6. Rooster Skeleton: Like the pig, I think this is the first chicken skeleton I’ve seen. He might make his way into my collection, too.
  7. Bone Pumpkin: I love all the cool pumpkins that Joann has, and this was my fave. It’s just really unique and very my style.

All in all, I say at least take a trip to your local Joann and see what they have to offer. Who knows? You might luck out and get there when they have a really good sale.

So what do you think about Joann’s stuff this year? Hit or miss? Let me know if the comments!

Halloween, Product Review

2019 Halloween Merchandise Review: Michael’s

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It’s my favorite time of year again, and that means the Halloween merchandise is coming out at all my favorite stores. I’ll be posting a short rundown of the Halloween merchandise at each of the major stores I go to in the coming weeks.

First up: Michael’s.

If you don’t have a Michael’s near you, I definitely feel bad for you. The closest one to me is about an hour away, but fortunately, it’s close to family, so I get to go to it a few times a year. I’m a fan of both Hobby Lobby and Joann, as well, for my craft supplies, but Michael’s just seems better to me in a lot of ways. Maybe it’s just because I dont’ have one close.

Anyway, when Halloween comes around, I’m especially excited to get to take a trip to Michael’s because they really do have some cool Halloween stuff. And they seem to be the first store to really put their items on the shelves. Check it out.

One thing I’ve noticed so far this year during my Halloween shopping trips is the new types of skeletons being offered. We’ve had a huge variety of animals to choose from, and now it seems that the mermaid and unicorn crazes have leeched into the Halloween world. Dragons are also making some appearances. Yep, we’ve got magical skeletons now. We saw some last year, but they’re now widely available.

I never really caught on to the whole mermaid/unicorn thing, but I can appreciate the effort. Michael’s doesn’t have a unicorn, but you can catch a pic of a unicorn skeleton in my upcoming post about the merchandise at Big Lots.

One of my favorite things about the selection at Michael’s is they have the type of Halloween decor that is most likely to make it into my year-round decorating. I mean, check out these awesome pillows and skeleton ceramics. I freaking love them (not counting the selfie skeletons and the one on the toilet – not my cup of tea).

Favorite Finds at Michael’s

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  1. Halloween Miniatures: If you’ve seen my dollhouse posts (start here), you know I love miniatures. So Halloween miniatures are, of course, going to be a big deal to me. Michael’s had a really good selection when I first arrived, but it looks like everyone else thought so, too, because most of them were gone when I went back. Sadness.
  2. Skull Moon & Raven: I just thought this guy looked really cool. They had a few moon-themed items, and this was probably my favorite.
  3. Vintage Decor: I don’t know what it is, but vintage Halloween stuff has really started to jump out at me when I see it. It just looks cool. Cute, but not too cute.
  4. Rubber Boa Constrictor: Who doesn’t love a huge fake snake?
  5. Rubber Spider: I almost got him, but I didn’t because I’m looking for a spider that spins a web. I go for realism when possible. Now, I regret not going ahead and buying him.
  6. Animated Witch: She was the only big animated prop at Michael’s, and I thought she was really cool.
  7. Skulls: I love the variety of skulls Michael’s has to offer. Giant ones, little ones, normal ones – just great.
  8. Yoga Skeleton Pillow: I love the yoga skeleton thing, and I really want to get this pillow for my living room.

If you have a chance to go to Michael’s, I highly recommend it. The prices are pretty reasonable, and if you can catch a sale or use a coupon, you can get a really great deal. They also have a fun variety of animal props. I bought a zombie squirrel here last year and a huge frog the year before that.

Have you had a chance to go to Michael’s this season and take a look at their Halloween merchandise? Let me know about your favorite find in the comments.