Exhibit 23 Consent of Deloitte & Touche INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements listed below and in the related prospectuses of Michaels Stores, Inc. of our report dated March 4, 1994 (May 11, 1994 as to Note 11) on the audit of the financial statements of Leewards Creative Crafts, Inc. (the "Company") as of and for the years ended January 30, 1994 and January 31, 1993, which expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to the Agreement and Plan of Merger whereby the Company will become a subsidiary of Michaels Stores, Inc. FORM REGISTRATION NO. PERTAINING TO MICHAELS STORES, INC. S-8 2-92412 Stock Investment Plan S-8 2-97848 Key Employee Stock Compensation Program S-8 33-18476 Key Employee Stock Compensation Program S-8 33-11985 Employees 401(k) Plan S-3 33-21299 Registration of 802,000 shares of Common Stock S-3 33-9456 Post Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 for the registration of 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock S-8 33-26338 Key Employee Stock Compensation Program S-8 33-21573 Moskatel's, Inc. 401(k) Plan S-3 33-22532 Registration of 30,000 shares of Common Stock S-3 33-40673 Registration of 1,240,000 shares of Common Stock S-8 33-43039 Employee Stock Purchase Plan S-8 33-54726 Key Employee Stock Compensation Program S-3 33-52311 Registration of 280,000 shares of Common Stock S-3 33-67804 1992 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan Deloitte & Touche Chicago, Illinois May 23, 1994