If your kids are anything like ours, they love to make crafts. And us parents, love FREE crafts! Be sure to participate in the crafts that send them back to school with personality! There are so many opportunities for your kids to make FREE crafts this month. Just take a look at what’s going on!
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Kids … Dillydally with Dali
Time: Weekdays, 10 a.m.-5:30 pm; Saturdays, 11:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Sundays, 12:30-4 p.m.
Date: Daily
Location: The Dali Museum
Cost: FREE for these activities in the classroom; Regular admission applies if you want to explore the museum
Info: Website
What’s Doing?
Children can discover the creative world of Dali every day in the Education Classroom through stories, puzzles and activities that educate and encourage family interaction. There will be a story hour every Tuesday through Thursday at 11:15 a.m., featuring selected books from the Dali Museum Library and Store. Activities and puzzles are available through 5:30 p.m. weekdays. And on Saturdays, Dillydally with Dali features fun games, puzzles and unique arts and crafts activities.
Address:
The Dali Museum
One Dali Boulevard
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Click here for more information on the museum.
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Kids Workshop at Home Depot
Time: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Date: Saturday, August 4, 2012
(This event takes place on the first Saturday of every month)
Location: Home Depot Stores
Cost: FREE
Info: Website
What’s Doing?
If it’s your child’s first time at a Home Depot Kid’s Workshop, they will receive a FREE orange Home Depot apron to wear, keep and bring back each time they attend. Upon completing the project, they will receive an achievement pin to add to their apron and a certificate of completion. (NOTE: Home Depot crafts are unfinished when you complete them at the store, so they will not look like the picture until you add your own paint. Some Home Depot stores are offering paint at the location to paint your project on the spot. Paint is optional.)
Even Better for the month of August: The Home Depot has teamed up with the EPA’s ENERGY STAR® and Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax movie. Each Kids Workshop will provide kids with Lorax activity sheets, Lorax create-your-own mustache kits, and Lorax sticker sheets. 
Each store will have one life-sized Lorax poster to affix to a wall so kids can have their picture taken with The Lorax. Don’t forget your cameras!
— Saturday, August 4: Build a cork bulletin board
Address:
Locate a Home Depot store near you.
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Saturdays @ the Morean
Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Date: Every Saturday
Location: Morean Arts Center
Cost: FREE
Info: Website
What’s Doing?
Each Saturday, the Morean Arts Center will have FREE art experiences specially geared for families with children ages 5–10. The center will be open for FREE art exploration with open art stations and take-home projects with instructors on hand to assist. The projects are held in the Bank of America Children’s Learning Center.
Address:
Morean Arts Center
719 Central Avenue
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Click here for more information on the center.
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The Art Spot
Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Date: Every Saturday
Location: Tampa Museum of Art
Cost: Admission to the activity is FREE; Regular admission costs apply to view the galleries (NO registration required)
Info: Website
What’s Doing?
Every Saturday morning, the Museum is offers a drop-in art program where you can let your children explore their creativity. The projects, which take place in the Golding-Scher classroom, are self-guided, and the gallery-related monthly themes offer a different art activity each week.
** Participants enter the classroom from the exterior entrance until the museum is open. **
Address:
Tampa Museum of Art
120 West Gasparilla Plaza
Tampa, FL 33602
Click here for more information on the museum.
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Lakeshore Learning Center In-Store Crafts
Time: 11 a.m.-3 p.m
Date: Every Saturday
Location: Lakeshore Learning Store
Cost: FREE
Info: (813) 207-0468; Website
What’s Doing?
Every Saturday, Lakeshore Learning Store has FREE crafts for kids to make that go along with the month or season. Here’s what’s planned for August:
— Saturday, August 4: Friendship Day trophy
— Saturday, August 11: Garden collage
— Saturday, August 18: Crawly caterpillar
— Saturday, August 25: Fun-to-make bookmark
Address:
Lakeshore Learning Store
4501 West Kennedy Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33609
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Krafts For Kidz 2012 at LaFrance
Time: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Date: Every Saturday
Location: LaFrance (outside the store)
Cost: FREE
Info: (813) 248-1381
What’s Doing?
Every Saturday morning, kids of all ages can stop, create, and recycle something in keeping with the theme of the week. The crafts take place outside the store. Be sure to stop by and pick up a bookmark with the craft themes for August.
Address:
LaFrance
1612 East 7th Avenue
Ybor City, FL 33605
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Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinics
Time: Saturday 10-11 a.m.; Sunday 2-3 p.m.
Date: Saturday, August 11 & 25; Sunday, August 12 & 26, 2012
Location: All Lowe’s Stores
Cost: FREE, but registration is required
Info: Website
What’s Doing?
Lowe’s is offering a second chance to attend its summer workshops — the Sunday following the Saturday clinic will give children a chance to make Saturday’s project! If it’s your child’s first time at a Lowe’s Build and Grow Workshop, they will receive a FREE Lowe’s apron and goggles to wear, keep and bring back for each time they attend. Upon completing the project, the child participating will receive a certificate and embroidered patch to add to their apron. Lowe’s projects are typically plain with the Lowe’s emblem printed on them somewhere. Some even come with stickers for the kids to decorate the masterpiece!
This summer, kids will be building DreamWorks movie-themed crafts. August’s theme is Shrek!
— Saturday, August 11 & Sunday, August 12: Shrek Dragon Ride
— Saturday, August 25 & Sunday, August 26: Shrek Onion Carriage
Address:
Locate a Lowe’s store near you.
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Glazer Children’s Museum Theme Weeks
Time: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Date: Themes change weekly
Location: Glazer Children’s Museum
Cost: FREE for Museum members, or included with regular admission
Info: Website
What’s Doing?
Each week Glazer Children’s Museum features a fun new theme featuring theme-related story times, crafts and more for families to enjoy throughout their visit.
Address:
Glazer Children’s Museum
110 West Gasparilla Plaza
Tampa, FL 33602
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Michael’s In-Store Craft Events
Time: 1-3 p.m.
Date: (See schedule below)
Location: Michael’s stores
Cost: Some crafts are FREE, while others will require the purchase of a single item
Info: Website
What’s Doing?
Drop by Michael’s with the kids for a fun craft. Here’s their August craft schedule:
— Sunday, August 12: Scrapbook (Age 14+)
— Saturday, August 18: Canvas Sketchbook (Age 14+)
— Sunday, August 19 Lap Desk (age 3+)
— Saturday, August 25: Locker Décor (Age 14+)
— Sunday, August 26: Clay Pot (Age 3+)
Address:
Locate a Michael’s store near you.
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Family Fun Day for Little Kids
Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Date:Thursday, August 16, 2012
Location: Westfield Countryside Mall (Lower level near JCPenney and Play Space)
Cost: FREE
Info: Facebook Event Page
What’s Doing?
Westfield Countryside invites families to join in the fun on the 3rd Thursday of every month for FREE activities, crafts, entertainment, snacks and more!
Address:
Westfield Countryside
27001 US Highway 19 North
Clearwater, FL 33761
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WFamily Fun Days
Time: 4-5 p.m.
Date: Thursday, August 16, 2012
Location: Westfield Brandon Mall (in the kids department inside Sears)
Cost: FREE; All activities are FREE for Westfield Family members. (Not a member? Visit the Mall Information Kiosk to get your FREE membership card, or sign up at the event)
Info: (813) 661-5100; Facebook Event Page; Events
What’s Doing?
WFamily will have an End-of-Summer Fun story time, craft activity where they will create their own stylish pencil case, treats and more in the kids department inside Sears. Kids and parents can venture throughout the mall afterwards on an “End-of-Summer Scavenger Hunt”, for a chance to win special prizes.
Even Better! The first 70 kids will receive a FREE $10 Sears gift card and parents will receive a special store discount.
Address:
Westfield Brandon Mall
459 Brandon Town Center
Brandon, FL 33511
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WFamily Fun Days
Time: 4-5:30 p.m.
Date: Thursday, August 16, 2012
Location: Westfield Citrus Park Mall (Macy’s Court)
Cost: FREE; All activities are FREE for Westfield Family members. (Not a member? Visit the Mall Information Kiosk to get your FREE membership card, or sign up at the event.)
Info: (813) 926-4644; Facebook Event Page
What’s Doing?
Westfield Family Fun Days are always FREE and feature a different story, snack and craft every month.
August’s Theme: End of Summer Fun!
Stories include Chrysanthemum and Jessica. Afterward, kids will personalize a pencil case and receive a Westfield #2 pencil.
Address:
Westfield Citrus Park Mall
8021 Citrus Park Town Center
Tampa, FL 33625
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In case you are wondering, IKEA Tampa Kids’ Academy will start back up on Labor Day, offering a FREE meal and a craft for kids on their days off from school during the 2012-2013 school year. Mark you calendar to join IKEA staff on September 3, 2012; Kids can personalize a GLIS box for storing their school supplies. Activities begin at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7 p.m. in the Exit Lobby. The Kids’ Academy is FREE for children under 12, and all participants enjoy a FREE activity, FREE IKEA Tampa Kids’ Academy T-shirt, and a FREE kids meal in the Restaurant. Future dates will be November 12, 19, 20, 21 and 23, and December 23, 26-28. Click Here for a complete list of crafts.
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Crafts @ Your Library
Your public Library offers tons of fun, FREE family programs every month, many of which include crafts. Find out what activities you and your kids can enjoy by visiting your local library’s online program calendar. We’ve provided the links for you:
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
Visit the Hillsborough County Public Library online event calendar to see all the events planned at all HCPLC locations.
PASCO COUNTY
The Pasco County Library System’s online events calendar has a list of events happening at every library location in the county.
PINELLAS COUNTY
Visit the various Pinellas County Libraries online to find out what’s doing this month:
Pinellas County Library Cooperative: PPLC online events calendar
Clearwater Public Library System
Gulf Beaches Library
Oldsmar Public Library
St. Pete Beach Library
Dunedin Public Library
Gulfport Public Library
Largo Public Library
Palm Harbor Library
Safety Harbor Library
Seminole Community Library
East Lake Community Library
St. Petersburg Public Library System (From this link you can download a schedule that includes programs taking place at the Main Library, Johnson Branch, North Branch, South Branch and West Community Library)
Tarpon Springs Library
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Image: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Time: 8:15 p.m.
