Sharing: Traci's Fresh Beat Band jackets

Do you know a few fans of The Fresh Beat Band? (Check out their music video "Just Like A Rockstar" on nickjr.com). Traci shared a few of the jackets her little rock stars love to wear. She made the stars with Tulip Glitter Transfer Sheets!

Traci says: The stars were made with Tulip Glitter Transfer Sheets sold in-stores. This band is a hit with young kids and they are currently "on tour". Moms everywhere are making jackets for the concerts because they are not sold anywhere.

Thanks Traci! -Kim @ Jo-Ann

Sharing: Casie's Quilt

We asked our Facebook fans to share their latest projects with us. And they are amazing! Thank you to everyone who submitted! Casie machine embroidered every square of this amazing quilt! What are you sewing or crafting this weekend?

1. Your name: Casie Williams
2. What materials you used: All materials were purchased at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store in Yuma, AZ. All squares machine embroidered on white premium percale fabric. Rather than binding, I added white eyelet trim around the edges. Backing is pink cotton butterfly print fabric and I used Warm & Natural batting.
3. How long it took you to complete:  Approximately 55 hours to machine embroider all 35 squares. An additional 8 hours to put it together and quilt using stitch in the ditch method.
4. What frustrated you the most: Trying to decide placement for the squares to show off the colors and designs.
5. What part you enjoyed the most: Choosing the colors for the threads to provide the hand embroidered look. I washed it when I was done and just loved the soft, vintage look.

Thanks Casie! -Kim @ Jo-Ann

Become a Jo-Ann Instructor!

Remember that someone who taught you basic sewing or crafting skills? Now you can be the teacher!

Jo-Ann Instructors are savvy sewing enthusiasts and experienced crafters with proven skills who enjoy teaching others. Check out our current class catalog here.

And with new stores opening, we have new classrooms – and we need a lot of talented people to teach our classes, and get paid for it!

The stores below will be opening in March. Stop in to the stores listed below to meet our Education Coordinators. Please bring a few examples of your work.

1150 Meridian Dr Plover, Wisconsin
7504 W Broad St Richmond, Virginia  
2700 State St Bismarck, North Dakota
1205 SE 16th Ct Ankeny, Iowa
1153 E North Ave Belton, Missouri  
3310 Shoppers Dr McHenry, Illinois
87 Spiral Dr Florence, Kentucky
10545 S Mall Dr Baton Rouge, Louisiana
12779 Main St Hesperia, California
101 Twin City Mall Crystal City, Missouri 

Find out if your local store offers classes here.

Sharing: Rachel's Dress

We asked our Facebook fans to share their latest projects with us. And they are amazing! Thank you to everyone who submitted! Check out the dress Rachel made -- love the colors! What are you working on?

1. Your name: Rachel Foster (my daughter, MacKenzie, is modeling) 
2. What materials you used: I used a glittery calico print (in black, grey & pink) and webbed cording for the ties. 
3. How long it took you to complete: It took roughly 1 1/2 hours to cut out and sew together. 
4. What frustrated you the most: Attaching the pocket was the most frustrating! LOL 
5. What part you enjoyed the most: I enjoyed spending some quiet time with my sewing machine and an audio book! I also love choosing fabric for projects! 

Thanks, Rachel! (And great job modeling, MacKenzie!) -Kim

In the home: Donna's Crochet Helper

We asked our Facebook fans to share how they use everyday household items to help make crafting easier. From embossing with light bulbs to using binder clips to hold fabric pieces together, there were some amazing suggestions. Thank you to everyone who submitted! Check out Donna's idea -- using corks!

I'm not sure if you consider wine corks an every day item, but I couldn't crochet without it! Since I have arthritis in my hands, it makes it easier to hold the hooks. I can crochet for hours now!

-Donna Hyll

Thanks Donna! -Kim

Sharing: Connie's Quilt

We asked our Facebook fans to share their latest projects with us. And they are amazing! Thank you to everyone who submitted! Check out the quilt Connie is making for her children's schools. What are you working on?

Your name: My name is Connie Butner. I am currently making class quilts for both of my children's classrooms to be auctioned off at our school auction. The quilts will help to raise money that we need for things at our school.

What materials you used: I have used many different types of quilting fabric all from JoAnns(JoAnns has so many great fabrics!).
How long it took you to complete: So far it has taken me about 8 hours or so.
What frustrated you the most: The most frustrating thing is getting everything to line up and match evenly.

I have really enjoyed working with the students to create their own designs on the actual quilt blocks.

Thanks Connie! 

Celebrating Nine New Stores

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores is celebrating nine grand openings on February 16! Sewing enthusiasts and crafters in these communities now have brand new locations where they can shop, discover and save with a wide selection of merchandise and inspiration. From scrapbooking, sewing and knitting, to jewelry making, cake decorating and more, these stores offer a vast assortment of crafting, floral and seasonal accessories, an extensive selection of fabrics for apparel, crafting, quilting, and home decorating, as well as home-décor items.

Join the celebration February 16 through 18 at the following locations:
FORT COLLINS, CO | Mid Town Commons, 2701 South College Avenue
WARRENTON, OR | 180 South East Neptune Drive
BRUNSWICK, GA | 137 Golden Isles Plaza
SAN ANTONIO, TX | Bandera Pointe, 11655 Bandera Road
HANOVER, PA | North Point Plaza, 1150 Carlisle Street
ENFIELD, CT | Freshwater Plaza, 136 Elm St
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | Rockwell Plaza, 8345 N Rockwell Ave
JACKSON, MS | The Junction, 6351 I-55 North
COMSTOCK, MI | 3900 Alpine Avenue North West

Grand opening festivities will begin Thursday, February 16 and run through Saturday, February 18, with doors opening at 9 a.m. each day.

Among the exciting activities at each of these stores during the three-day grand opening celebration:

• Enter to Win – Three $100 Jo-Ann gift cards will be awarded each day*
• Great Giveaways – The first 50 guests each day will receive a $10 Jo-Ann gift card
• Hot Offers – Special grand opening sales and offers throughout the store
• Free Reusable Tote Bag – Customers who spend $25 or more each day will receive a free tote bag (while supplies last)
• Teacher Appreciation Day – All day Saturday; teachers receive 20% off their total purchase with current teacher ID
• Free Jo-Ann Creative Demonstrations – Each day starting at 11 a.m.**
• Learn with Jo-Ann – Class open house on Saturday from 1 - 3 p.m.; save 50% on select classes**
• Make It-Take It – Kids can make their own craft to take home, Saturday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. (while supplies last)

*Contest open to legal U.S. residents who have reached age of majority. No purchase necessary. See store for complete details and rules.
**Except Enfield, CT location.

Please contact public.relations@joann.com with press inquiries.

Valentine's Day: Card, Candy, Container

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Are you ready for Valentine's Day? Send your sweetheart, friends, and family some love with our Button Embellished Card, and a a little bit of candy with our Personalized Valentine Cello-Bags. Then, keep your Valentine cards in a Valentine Card Box :) Read more to see the tutorials...

Sharing: Nina's Heart Boxes

We asked our Facebook fans to share their latest projects with us. And they are amazing! Thank you to everyone who submitted -- we hope to get a few more up next week! Nina is ready for Valentine's Day -- loving these little boxes -- perfect for a gift card or maybe a few chocolate kisses (or more paper hearts!). Find a template on her blog, too!

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1. Your name: Nina Yang
2. What materials you used: Paper, pearls, ribbon, dies, tapes, templates (on my blog here)
3. How long it took you to complete: Spent about a whole day drawing and fine tuning the box templates. Then, 5-10 minutes to make one:)
4. What frustrated you the most: Cannot think of any… Loved every minute of it!
5. What part you enjoyed the most: Choosing patterned paper and decorating the boxes!

Thanks Nina! -Kim 

Sharing: Stacey's Puppy Print Tote

We asked our Facebook fans to share their latest projects with us. And they are amazing! Thank you to everyone who submitted -- we hope to get a few more up this week! Stacey made this adorable tote (below) -- her very first! Does the first scarf or painting or quilt or skirt you made have a special place in your thoughts?

Photo courtesy of Stacey Schroeder

On 2/6, I made this cute little tote!  (My first tote bag…but surely not my last!!)

1. Your name: Stacey Schroeder
2. What materials you used: 1 yd main fabric and 1 yd contrast – coordinating thread and 2 buttons, a modifications of McCalls pattern M5407
3. How long it took you to complete: It probably took about 4 hours (I’m not very fast!)
4. What frustrated you the most: The most frustrating was figuring out what side was the inside/outside for the attaching the lining to the bag. – Oh – and button holes (I’m a novice) – although I considered just sewing the straps on.  I think that would work just as well!
5. What part you enjoyed the most: OBVIOUSLY the final product – although I’m going to give this to a friend that I volunteer with in the Richardson Humane Society – She likes dachsunds! So – seeing her happy face will be the best!  I love the paw print  J  Puppy love  <3

Thanks Stacey! -Kim @ Jo-Ann

Your Rewards Questions

Tuesday, we asked you on our Facebook page what you wanted to know about our Rewards Programs. Audrie @ Jo-Ann picked five topics, and answers your questions below.


What a great group of questions everyone asked! I am grateful to so many of you which took the time to respond and I appreciate all of your feedback. Whether it was questions, thoughts on how to improve a program or suggesting a new program, we appreciate them all and thank you. 

I have answered five of your questions below, if you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact us! -Audrie @ Jo-Ann

Sharing: Calista's Flower Burst Canvas

Yesterday, we asked our Facebook fans to share their latest projects with us. And they are amazing! Thank you to everyone who submitted -- we hope to get a few more up this week! Loving the artwork Calista made for her sister's birthday (below). She was inspired by her sister's Pinterest boards -- don't you love it when you get so inspired by something and you just have to make it? (Me, too! -Kim)

Photos courtesy of Calista Mejia

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I made this piece of 'artwork' for my sister's birthday, who just moved into her personal studio (yay, no more roommates!). Thank goodness for Pinterest, because I was able to check out my sister's boards and find some things she liked along with color schemes. When I saw a picture of canvas art she'd pinned, I immediately thought to myself "Hey, I can totally DO that!!"

1. Name: Calista Mejia (Mejia Mamma is my blog alias)
2. Materials used: 1 medium-sized canvas, 7 different colors/patterns of scrapbook paper, clear tracing plastic (for the different sized petals), a foam brush and LOTS of Mod Podge! 
3. Time to Complete: About 3 or 4 hours ... not sure exactly, spread it out over 2 evenings
4. Frustrations: I traced out entirely too many 'petals' on each of the different colored scrapbook papers, which was extrememly time-consuming! Also, while gluing/placing the petals, the Mod Podge would dry on my fingers rather quickly, so after a bit, the dried parts of glue would flake off onto the canvas, which was no good - so I found myself washing my hands about 20 times throughout the entire gluing process... But it was well worth it!
5. Parts I Enjoyed: The end result of course...looking at it and thinking "I want to make myself one now!" and the joy in my sister's face when she pulled it out of the gift bag! My mom was shocked that I'd made it... she thought it was store-bought at first!

I was so proud & excited to give her this special housewarming/birthday gift...and she loved it even MORE than the one she'd originally 'pinned' on her Pinterest board. YAY!

Here's my blog post about this craft as well: Flower Burst Canvas.

Thanks Calista! Check out the Jo-Ann Pinterest boards, too! -Kim

Sharing: Brigid's Valentine Wreath

Yesterday, we asked our Facebook fans to share their latest projects with us. And they are amazing! Thank you to everyone who submitted -- we hope to get a few more up this week! Check out Brigid's quick, and cute Valentine's wreath, below.

Valentine's Day wreath, courtesy of Brigid Risko

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Name: Brigid Risko


Project: A Valentine's Day wreath

Materials: A wooden decorative heart, 10 inch macrame ring, 3 different Valentine's Day fabrics (1/2 yard of each), and scissors to cut the fabric.

You cut the fabric into strips about a 1.5 inches wide and about 7.5 inches long and then you tie the strips to the ring alternating the different fabrics. You tie and smoosh... tie and smoosh... Then you hang the wooden heart (or whatever cute thing you can find at Jo-Ann's) from the hoop and let it hang in the middle.

How long did it take you? It took me about an hour to complete this project.

What frustrated you about the project? Nothing really frustrated me during the project, but if I had to say what part was the most tedious...it would have to be cutting all the strips of fabric. 

What did you love the most? I loved tying all the pieces of fabric to the ring and watching it come together.


Thanks Brigid! -Kim

Congratulations to Husqvarna Viking Winner Sona Torosian!

Congratulations to Sona Torosian of Solon, Ohio! Torosian (above, left) entered the national Husqvarna Viking contest, winning a Designer Diamond deLuxe model, valued at $10,000. Sona was presented her machine this week at our Hudson, Ohio store! Find out more about the Diamond deLuxe here.

Torosian was hoping an embroidery machine in the future, and has taken sewing classes in the past. She's looking forward to learning how to quilt.

There are four drawings each year to win a Husqvarna Viking machine. In order to enter, attend a demo at a participating Jo-Ann store and fill out an entry form.