joann.com

Pros:  This is a crafters paradise. Good for all skill levels.

Cons:  They don't carry cake decorating supplies.

The Bottom Line:  If you like to decorate or make crafts, then JoAnn is an excellent site to bookmark.

Full review
Wal Mart does not CUT IT as the local fabric and craft store. Unfortunately, Wal Mart did pick up enough business to put both local independent fabric stores under in this area. Now I can go to Wal Mart and buy very generic crafting items and hope for the best or I can shop online at JoAnn.com.

If you sew or enjoy crafting, then JoAnn is the net site to check out. It’s basically the one-stop shop for women, men, and kids who enjoy making craft projects. They carry a wide range of typical craft supplies as well as hard-to-find items like some of the quilting tools my Granny would ask for at Christmastime. Granny could always write up a list that would turn into a family scavenger hunt. They even have the old style stamped pillowcases my Grandma enjoys embroidering on.

The different craft sections at JoAnn include sewing, quilting, needle arts, rubber-stamping, knit/crochet and scrap booking. Then they have other categories like fabric, kid crafts, and holidays. They also have a great selection of craft books. There is a search bar too in case you’re not sure which section to check. For example, I didn’t have a clue where to start looking for candle making supplies. I put “candle making” in search, and I went right to those supplies.

The only craftie type category I can’t find at JoAnn’s is cake decorating. To my way of thinking, decorating cakes falls under crafts, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. I went to a brick and mortar JoAnn store, and they said that they usually don’t carry cake-decorating supplies. Wal Mart did not have much in cake decorating, but Wilton.com does as well as Ebay.

If you are like me, then you end up scratching your head in the craft sections. It’s kind of like those Tupperware gadgets. They look neat, but you don’t have a clue what to do with them. Some of Granny’s quilter tools look like something I might use to remodel the bathroom. As you might guess, I go to see the Lowe’s man when I decided to remodel. He helps me figure out what to get for that kind of projects.

Confusion is not a problem at JoAnn’s. While you can buy the hard-core crafter supplies, you can also purchase kits with everything you need and the directions. That’s especially nice in the kid’s section. I know it’s more cost effective to buy the base supplies, but I hate to invest in supplies until I’m sure we’ve hit on a craft we’ll enjoy doing. One soap making kit for Eli was enough to convince me that Zest is the way to go. I was glad I had not purchased molds and scent vials.

If you’re feeling brave, then JoAnn has a great range of projects listed and archived. Some are pretty complex like the Internet quilt, but others like the spider cupcakes are simple enough to make with the kids. You can find a project you like, print out the directions, and buy the supplies right at JoAnn.com. It’s almost as nice as having the local fabric lady give you ideas and help you find the stuff.

The community bulletin board is another great feature. They divide that by categories so that you’re not asking about crochet patterns around the wreath makers. They even have a kid’s section, which includes members asking about projects to make for and with kids. Kids also click in to ask how to make different crafts. With so many great crafters buying at JoAnn, an expert is always standing by to help out.

If you decide to shop JoAnn, be sure to sign up for the newsletter. They send you specials. You can sign up at a brick and mortar store also. They have a blank for your email. You’ll often get deals like 10 percent off your order. They’ll let you know when they have holiday specials and such.

Shopping is easy. You just put your items in the shopping cart and then go to check out. They add on the shipping, which is reasonable especially if you would have to drive an hour or more to find the items they have online. They do knock off shipping for large orders. Right now, that’s $250. I never buy that much at once, but if you do a lot of crafts, you might want to make the jumbo order every once in a while. JoAnn has a secure server where you put in your credit card information, and I’ve never had any problems with JoAnn on my credit card.

JoAnn has been voted the best of the craft online stores, and it’s easy to see why. They have the things you need and want at fair prices, offer advice and help, and stand behind what they sell. They’ve been around since 1943 as a very popular craft supplier, and they made the leap to online with a top notch site.

You can always visit JoAnn.com and look around for ideas and crafting help without signing in or signing up. If you are thinking about shopping but still have questions, you can contact them at 1-800-525-4951 Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. They also have live online help under the Contact Us section.