If your kids are anything like ours, they love to make crafts. And us Moms love FREE crafts! Well, there are so many opportunities for your kids to make FREE crafts all over town, it will keep you all hoppin’. Just take a look at what’s going on!
Because we will be adding to this list throughout the month, please remember to check back often.
*********************************************************************************
MICHAEL’S IN-STORE CRAFTS
Time: See below
Date: See below
Location: Michael’s Stores
Cost: Some are FREE, while others require the purchase of an item
Info: Website
What’s Doing?
— Saturday, January 14, 2012: Build a model car (10 a.m.-12 p.m.; With purchase of a car kit, while supplies last)
— Saturday, January 21, 2012: Fancy Nancy: Design a Tiara and Story Time (10 a.m.-12 p.m.; FREE, while supplies last; Ages 3 and up)
Address:
Locate a Michael’s store near you.
**********************************************************************************
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 the Museum is re-offering the drop-in art program where you can let your children explore their creativity. The activity takes place in the Golding-Scher classroom. The art projects are self-guided, and the gallery-related monthly themes offer a different art activity each week.
– Saturday, January 14: Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival – Art activity on the Museum’s South Plaza
– Saturday, January 21: Awesome Abstraction – Create your own acrylic masterpiece inspired by the abstract paintings of William Pachner
– Saturday, January 28: All Aboard—Build your own 2-D train inspired collage stimulated by the trains in the artworks of Romare Bearden
** 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.
**********************************************************************************
January Storytelling Event at
The Book Swap of New Tampa
Time: 9:30-10 a.m.
Date: Saturday, January 7, 2012
Location: Book Swap of New Tampa
Cost: FREE
Info: (813) 929-7490; Facebook Page
What’s Doing?
Kelly’s Tales will be holding a fun children’s storytelling event at the Book Swap of New Tampa. Bring the kids for a story and a craft. Refreshments will be served. The store will be closed to customers so the kids can feel free to be themselves.
Address:
Book Swap of New Tampa
1946 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard
Wesley Chapel, FL 33618
Thanks for the flyer, Raequel!
**********************************************************************************
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
**********************************************************************************
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 & crafts activities.
Address:
The Dali Museum
One Dali Boulevard
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
**********************************************************************************
WFamily Fun Days
Time: 4-5 p.m.
Date: 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month
Location: Westfield Brandon (Play Space) & Westfield Citrus Park (Macy’s Court)
Cost: FREE; Activities are FREE for Westfield Family members. Not a member? Visit the Mall Information Kiosk to get your FREE membership card.
Info: Brandon Shopping Mall Website; Citrus Park Mall Website
What’s Doing?
Bring the kids for FREE activities on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month for stories, snacks and crafts.
January’s Theme: Cultural Traditions
— Thursday, January 5: Listen to stories (Shante Keys and the New Year’s Peas and Dragon Dancing), enjoy a healthy snack, and design your own necklaces and sequin dragons to take home.
Even Better! Children 5 and younger can register for a FREE 2012 Fun Card Pass to Busch Gardens and SeaWorld during the Westfield Brandon Family Fun Day event on January 19! Plus, you can register for a chance to win a family 4-pack of tickets to Busch Gardens.
— Thursday, January 19: Join WFamily staff to hear a classic folktale — Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel and Blair Lent. The second book, May I Bring a Friend? by Beatrice de Regniers and Beni Montresor, explores the tradition of English tea. Snacks will be provided, and children will have the opportunity to create cups to take home.
Address:
Westfield Brandon
459 Brandon Town Center
Brandon, FL 33511
Westfield Citrus Park
8021 Citrus Park Town Center
Tampa FL 33625
*********************************************************************************
IKEA Tampa Kids’ Academy
Time: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Date: Monday, January 16, 2012 & Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Location: IKEA Tampa
Cost: FREE
Info: Website
What’s Doing?
When school is out, bring the kids to IKEA Tampa for IKEA Tampa Kids’ Academy! Each Academy event offers FREE activities and FREE kid’s meals. The activity, which takes place on the 1st floor by the checkout lines, lasts about 20 minutes and repeats throughout the day. First timers will receive a FREE IKEA Tampa Kids’ Academy T-shirt to wear whenever they attend an IKEA Tampa Kids’ Academy event. Kids can eat for FREE throughout the day in the restaurant, where popular children’s films can be enjoyed in the kids dining area. Oh, and don’t forget about Smäland, where kids can play while adults enjoy some shopping time!
NOTE: The activity, FREE kid’s meal and T-shirt are for kids age 12 and younger only. Also, if the activity is filled, you need to wait for the next activity time.
In January, kids will have fun decorating an IKEA blue bag to hold all their Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza treasures.
Address:
IKEA Tampa
1103 North 22nd Street
Tampa, FL 33605
**********************************************************************************
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 January:
– Saturday, January 7: Kid Crafted Calendar — A crafty calendar that kids design themselves–complete with blank calendar pages children can customize each month!
– Saturday, January 14: Hand in Hand Flower — Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a one-of-a-kind flower bouquet!
– Saturday, January 21: Anchors Aweigh! Floating Boat — Set sail for fun & adventure–with a spectacular, kid-crafted boat that actually floats!
– Saturday, January 28: Groundhog Puppet — Enjoy the changing seasons…with a cute-as-can-be groundhog puppet kids will love to make and play with!
Address:
Lakeshore Learning Store
4501 West Kennedy Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33609
**********************************************************************************
KRAFTS FOR KIDZ 2011 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 January.
Address:
LaFrance
1612 East 7th Avenue
Ybor City, FL 33605
**********************************************************************************
KIDS WORKSHOP AT HOME DEPOT
Time: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Date: Every 1st Saturday of the 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.)
– Saturday, January 7: Make a Savings Shed — Start the year off by saving with this super cool Savings Shed. It is a great place to store money and save up for that big ticket item you’ve been eyeing.
Address:
Locate a Home Depot store near you.
**********************************************************************************
LOWE’S BUILD AND GROW
Time: 10 a.m.-11 a.m.
Date: Saturday, January 14 & 28, 2012
Location: All Lowe’s Stores
Cost: FREE
Info: 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.
– Saturday, January 14: Castle — Your child is sure to love this kit! This castle comes with stickers, paperboard cutouts and a working drawbridge! Just imagine all the dragons the knights must fight in order to save the princess.
– Saturday, January 28: Build-a-saurus — This kit is awesome! Your child can build this cool dinosaur and then choose the stickers to make it a cartoon or a realistic dinosaur! What do you think your child will choose?
Address:
Locate a Lowe’s store near you.
**********************************************************************************
Stained Glass Snowflakes
Time: 3:30-4 p.m.
Date: Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Location: Safety Harbor Public Library
Cost: FREE; Regisration Required
Info: Website
What’s Doing?
Come to the library so you can learn to make Stained Glass Snowflakes. Then you can adorn your windows with these icy decorations! Registration required.
Address:
Safety Harbor Public Library
101 Second Street North
Safety Harbor, FL 34695
**********************************************************************************
Your public Library offers FREE craft events and activities for kids and families, too!
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM CRAFT EVENTS
Below are some highlights of events being offered around Hillsborough County in January. Be sure to visit the Hillsborough County Public Library online event calendaronline event calendar to see all the events planned for this month!
~~~ Wednesday, January 4 & 11, 2012 ~~~
Afterschool Art and More (3:30-4 p.m.; Temple Terrace Public Library)
30 minutes of coloring, drawing, or other arts & craft projects, and reading activities. For children 6-12 years of age.
~~~ Friday, January 6, 2012 ~~~
Art For All Ages (4-5 p.m.; Austin Davis Public Library)
After a hard day at school, come into the library and relax with an arts and crafts activity that is inspired through a book. All art supplies will be provided. After the program you are invited to browse the craft section of materials at the library.
~~~ Monday, January 9, 2012 ~~~
Art After School (4-5 p.m.; North Tampa Branch Library)
“Art After School” is your time to express yourself through art. Come join the fun and take home your creations to show off your talents. For ages 6-12 years and their parents/caregivers. Seating limit: 25. Funded by the Friends of the North Tampa Branch Library.
~~~ Friday, January 13, 20 & 27, 2012 and Friday, February 3, 2012 ~~~
Stupid Sock Creatures (3-5 p.m.; C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. Public Library)
Kids age 10-17 are welcome to join this multi-class event (spanning 4 weeks) where participants will use basic sewing techniques to create whimsical creatures from ordinary socks. The class is limited to 12, and registration is required. Sign up at the Check Out Desk.
~~~ Saturday, January 14, 2012 ~~~
Wee Artists Let’s Create! (10:30-11:15 a.m.; SouthShore Regional Library)
Wee Artists 3-6 years will have a fun morning creating an art project with art instructor Tim Gibbons. Limit 15. Adult must be present. Registration required at SouthShore Regional Library. Please visit the Information Desk or call 273-3652.
Creative Artists Let’s Create! (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; SouthShore Regional Library)
Creative Artists 7-10 years will have a fun morning creating an art project with art instructor Tim Gibbons. Limit 20. Registration required at SouthShore Regional Library. Please visit the Information Desk or call 273-3652.
Expressive Artists Let’s Create! (12:45-1:45 p.m.; SouthShore Regional Library)
Expressive Artists 11 years and up will have a creative afternoon with art instructor Tim Gibbons. Limit 20. Registration required at SouthShore Regional Library. Please visit the Information Desk or call 273-3652.
Super Saturday: Pirates and Princesses Party! (2-3 p.m.; John F. German Public Library)
Staff at John F. Germany Public library are celebrating Gasparilla at their annual Pirates and Princesses Party, and you and your family are invited! Listen to pirate tales from guest storyteller Katie Adams, and decorate a crown or pirate hat. Pirate and princess costumes are encouraged!
~~~ Wednesday, January 18, 2012 ~~~
Publisher for Kids: Chinese Lanterns (4:30-5:30 p.m.; Upper Tampa Bay Regional Public Library)
Kids age 8-12 can celebrate Chinese culture with some fun decorations they make themselves on the computer. Mouse and keyboard skills required! IMPORTANT: The class is limited to 9 children, and registration in person required no earlier than one hour prior to the start of the program.
**********************************************************************************
PASCO COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM CRAFT EVENTS
Visit the various Pasco County Libraries online to find out what’s going on in January. The online events calendar has a list of events happening at each library. Here are some highlights of events that include crafts:
~~~ Saturday, January 7, 2012 ~~~
Fun Factory for Kids (2-3:30 p.m.; Hugh Embry Branch Library)
Kids 12 and under (10 and under, with parent) enjoy crafts, games, and snacks with your friends, courtesy Friends of Hugh Embry Library!
~~~ Wednesday, January 11, 18, & 25, 2012 ~~~
Preschool Storytime with Miss Lyn (12-12:40 p.m.; Hugh Embry Branch Library)
Children ages 3-5 with parent/guardian are invited to enjoy stories, songs, and crafts with Miss Lyn!
~~~ Tuesday, January 17, 2012 ~~~
Family Night Out—Winter Wonderland (6:30-7:30 p.m.; Land O’Lakes Branch Library)
Family Night Out takes place on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, and this month’s theme is “Winter Wonderland.” There will be themed stories, crafts and activities for the whole family to enjoy.
~~~ Saturday, January 21, 2012 ~~~
Kids Craft Corner (2-3:30 p.m.; Hugh Embry Branch Library)
Children are invited to join Ms. Cindy to make cotton ball snowmen and mitten wreaths.
Kids Chinese New Year Crafts (2-3:30 p.m.; Land O’Lakes Branch Library)
Celebrate the year of the dragon by making crafts for the Chinese New Year!
~~~ Saturday, January 21, 2012 ~~~
Junk Jewelry (6-8 p.m.; Land O’Lakes Branch Library)
Bring your tweens (age 9-12) to make some fun jewelry from recycled chip bags.
**********************************************************************************
PINELLAS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM CRAFT EVENTS
Visit the various Pinellas County Libraries online to find out what’s going on in January. The online events calendar has a list of events happening at each library. Here are some highlights of events that include crafts:
~~~ Friday, January 20, 2012 ~~~
Oodles of Oatmeal (2-3 p.m.; Largo Public Library)
Who knew oatmeal could be so much more than a breakfast food? Join us for stories, trivia, educational crafts, and more. For all ages. Register in the Children’s Department.
~~~ Saturday, January 21, 2012 ~~~
Chinese New Year Craft (10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Tarpon Springs Library)
Kids of all ages are invited to stop by the Library to create holiday crafts.
Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Sat.) & 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (Sun.)
Sunsets at Pier 60 Sunset Theatre
Popcorn and a Movie
Saturday Afternoon Movies
Premiere Harbor Cinema – Hugo
Movies in the Park are Back!
Family Movie Matinee
AMC Sensory Friendly Films
Saturday Afternoon Movies
Movies in the Park are Back!
Time: 10 a.m.
Time: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on (Sat. & Sun.), 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Mon.)
Time: 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
What’s Doing?
Monday Matinee
Early Release Day Movies
Kids’ Movie Trilogy Weeks
Time: 10-10:45 a.m.
