If your kids are anything like ours, they love to make crafts. And us parents, love FREE crafts … or at least really inexpensive ones! There are so many opportunities for your kids to make crafts each month. Just take a look at what’s going on in December.
**********************************************************************************
Kids Workshop at Home Depot
Time: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Date: Saturday, December 1, 2012
(This event takes place on the first Saturday of every month)
Location: Home Depot Stores
Cost: FREE
Info: Home Depot Kids Workshop 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.)
— Saturday, December 1:
Build a Picture Frame (picture is of finished product)
Address:
Locate a Home Depot store near you.
**********************************************************************************
Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinics
Time: 10-11 a.m.
Date: Saturday, December 1 & 8, 2012
Location: All Lowe’s Stores
Cost: FREE, but registration is required
Info: Lowe’s Build-and-Grow Website
What’s Doing?
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 their masterpiece!
— Saturday, December 1: Sandman’s Plane — Bring the kids to Lowe’s to build another Character’s transportation from DreamWorks Animation’s new movie Rise of the Guardians.
— Saturday, December 8: Gingerbread House — In the spirit of the holidays, kids can make a Gingerbread House that will outlast the New Year.
Address:
Locate a Lowe’s store near you.
**********************************************************************************
Saturdays @ the Morean
Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Date: Every Saturday
Location: Morean Arts Center
Cost: FREE
Info: Morean Arts Center 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
**********************************************************************************
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: Tampa Museum of Art 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
**********************************************************************************
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; Lakeshore Learning Store Website
What’s Doing?
Every Saturday, Lakeshore Learning Store has FREE crafts for kids to make that go along with the month or season. Every time you complete a craft, you receive a paper dollar. Once you collect 3, you can turn them in for a prize from the treasure chest! Here’s what’s planned for December:
— Saturday, December 1: Rain or Shine Mobile
— Saturday, December 8: Snowy Days Sled
— Saturday, December 15: Polar Bear Pencil Holder
— Saturday, December 22: Wintertime Napkin Ring
— Saturday, December 29: New Year’s Party Mask
Address:
Lakeshore Learning Store
4501 West Kennedy Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33609
**********************************************************************************
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 December.
Address:
LaFrance
1612 East 7th Avenue
Ybor City, FL 33605
**********************************************************************************
Kids … Dillydally with Dali
Time: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (Mon.-Fri.); 11:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Sat.); 12:30-4 p.m. (Sun.)
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: The Dali Museum 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.
**********************************************************************************
Sunday Funday!
Time: 12-4 p.m.
Date: Sunday, December 2, 2012
Location: Pinkberry in Citrus Park
Cost: Activities are FREE, you pay only for your frozen yogurt treats
Info: (813) 792-1349; PinkBerry Tampa Website
What’s Doing?
Stop by with the family for FREE arts and crafts kids and parents can enjoy making together for a fun Sunday. If you go, be sure to let them know What’s Doing Tampa Bay sent you!
Address:
Pinkberry
(Next to Chipotle on the corner of Westfield Citrus Park Dr. and Gunn Hwy.)
7002 Gunn Highway
Tampa, FL 33624
PinkBerry Logo and Yogurt Images © 2012 PinkBerry
**********************************************************************************
Michael’s In-Store Craft Events
Time: See Schedule Below
Date: See Schedule Below
Location: Participating Michael’s stores
Cost: Varies by craft … some are FREE, while others require a purchase to participate
Info: Michael’s Store Website (We strongly advise that you call ahead to your store to be certain they are participating before heading out with the kids.)
What’s Doing?
Michael’s will be putting on demonstrations for the month of December. Here is the line-up:
— Sunday, December 2 (1-2 p.m.): Cricut® Demo (FREE; All ages welcome)
— Saturday, December 8 (11 a.m.-12 p.m.): Holiday Clay Pot Demo (FREE; All ages welcome)
— Sunday, December 9 (1-2 p.m.): MiDesign@Michaels™ Demo (FREE; All ages welcome)
— Saturday, December 15 (11 a.m.-12 p.m.): Glass Paint Demo (FREE; All ages welcome)
Address:
Locate a Michael’s store near you.
**********************************************************************************
Holiday Storytime at Pottery Barn Kids
Time: 11 a.m.
Date: Tuesday, December 4, 11 & 18, 2012
Location: Pottery Barn Kids
Cost: FREE
Info: (813) 253-0964; Pottery Barn Kids Website
What’s Doing?
At Pottery Barn Kids, you can celebrate all the winter holidays during a special storytime event.
Address:
Locate a Pottery Barn Kids store near you.
Pottery Barn Kids
Hyde Park Village
804 South Village Circle
Tampa, FL 33606
**********************************************************************************
Finger Paint Fridays
Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Date: Every Friday
Location: Learning Express Toys at Hyde Park Village
Cost: FREE
Info: (813) 250-6200; Learning Express Toys Hyde Park Village on Facebook
What’s Doing?
Head to Learning Express in Hyde Park Village for Finger Paint Fridays. Display art for votes for a chance to win a $10 gift card.
Address:
Learning Express Toys
Hyde Park Village
800 South Village Circle
Tampa, FL 33606
**********************************************************************************
WFamily Fun Days
Time: 2-3 p.m.
Date: Sunday, December 9, 2012
Location: Westfield Brandon Mall (In the Restaurant Courtyard near the fountain)
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; Westfield Brandon Mall Facebook Page
What’s Doing?
Come celebrate the holiday season at Bahama Breeze in Brandon. Kids will enjoy story time, snack and arts & crafts all while listening to live music on the outside patio. Sure to be a rockin’ good time!
Address:
Westfield Brandon Mall
459 Brandon Town Center
Brandon, FL 33511
**********************************************************************************
Family Fun Day for Little Kids
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Date:Thursday, December 20, 2012
Location: Westfield Countryside Mall (Near the Living Ocean Play Space)
Cost: FREE
Info: Westfield Countryside Mall Facebook Page; Westfield Countryside Mall Events
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! This month kids will listen to the stories The Gingerbread Boy and Ten on the Sled, and then make a paper loop wreath and a snowflake card. Additional activities will include face painting and balloon creations all while listening to a fun DJ!
Address:
Westfield Countryside
27001 US Highway 19 North
Clearwater, FL 33761
**********************************************************************************
WFamily Fun Days
Time: 4 p.m.
Date: Thursday, December 20, 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; Westfield Citrus Park Mall Facebook Page; Westfield Citrus Park Mall Events
What’s Doing?
Westfield Family Fun Days are always FREE and feature a different story, snack and craft every month. This month’s theme is “Create Magical Moments”. Kids will listen to the stories The Gingerbread Boy by Paul Galdone and Ten on the Sled by Kim Norman. Afterwards, kids will make a paper loop wreath and decorate a snowflake card.
Address:
Westfield Citrus Park Mall
8021 Citrus Park Town Center
Tampa, FL 33625
**********************************************************************************
IKEA Tampa Kids’ Academy
Time: 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7 p.m.
Date: December 26, 27 & 28, 2012
Location: IKEA Tampa Store
Cost: FREE
Info: IKEA list in .pdf form
What’s Doing:
IKEA Tampa Kids’ Academy offers a FREE meal and a craft for kids on their days off from school during the 2012-2013 school year. All activities take place 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.
Wednesday, December 26: Pajama story time in the mattress studio
Thursday, December 27: Make a snowflake
Friday, December 28: Ring in the New Year with your own party favor
Address:
Ikea Tampa Store
1103 North 22nd Street
Tampa, FL 33605
**********************************************************************************
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: Glazer Children’s Museum 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
**********************************************************************************
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
**********************************************************************************
RELATED LINKS:
1. FREE (And Really Cheap) Family Movies Happening in December 2012
2. “Thunderstruck” Blog App + Combo Pack GIVEAWAY (ends 12/13/12)
3. Check the WDTB calendar to find more kid-friendly events taking place around Tampa Bay in December.
Image: posterize / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Time: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
