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.
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Michaels Kid-Friendly Crafts
Time: See schedule below
Date: See schedule below
Location: Michaels Stores
Cost: Some are FREE, while others require the purchase of an item
Info: Website
What’s Doing?
— Sunday, February 5, 2012: Valentine’s Day Foam Mailbox (1-2 p.m.; With purchase of foam or white craft mailbox, while supplies last; Ages 3 and up)
— Sunday, February 5, 2012: Kid’s Valentine’s Day Card (2-3 p.m.; FREE, while supplies last; Ages 3 and up)
— Saturday, February 11, 2012: Valentine’s Day Memory Book (10 a.m.-12 p.m.; With purchase of paper sack, while supplies last; Ages 3 and up)
— Sunday, February 12, 2012: Valentine’s Day Gift Workshop (1-3 p.m.; With purchase of Wood Curly-Q letter or frame, while supplies last; Ages 3 and up)
— Saturday, February 18, 2012: Express Yourself Tote (10 a.m.-12 p.m.; With purchase of bandana, while supplies last; Ages 3 and up)
Address:
Locate a Michael’s store near you.
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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 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, February 4: Recollections of Home: Create a vibrant and lush landscape drawing of Florida using chalk pastels
— Saturday, February 11: Music Constructions: Make a musical instrument using a variety of materials
— Saturday, February 18: Romare Bearden Family Day
— Saturday, February 25: Homes of the Future: Build a collage of futuristic homes
** 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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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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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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IKEA Tampa Kids’ Academy
Time: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Date: Friday, February 10, 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 February, kids will be making a ‘picture perfect’ pirate! Decorate a RAM frame for your favorite Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza photo.
Address:
IKEA Tampa
1103 North 22nd Street
Tampa, FL 33605
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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 February:
— Saturday, February 4: Design-Your-Own Notebook
— Saturday, February 11: Be Mine! Valentine Mailbox Plus! Make your own Valentine’s Day bouquet and crown
— Saturday, February 18: My Little Log Cabin (In celebration of President’s Day)
— Saturday, February 25: Super Silly Storybook Character (Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s upcoming birthday by creating your very own stick puppet)
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 February.
Address:
LaFrance
1612 East 7th Avenue
Ybor City, FL 33605
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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, February 4: Keepsake Box — Kids can build a special keepsake box and personalize it to hold private treasures or to give as a gift for Valentine’s Day.
Address:
Locate a Home Depot store near you.
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Lowe’s Build and Grow
Time: 10 a.m.-11 a.m.
Date: Saturday, February 11 & 25, 2012
Location: All Lowe’s Stores
Cost: FREE, but registration is required
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, February 11: Valentine Card Creator: Your child will have fun making their own cards with this helpful card creator.
— Saturday, February 25: Rumblin’ Race Car: The #48 race car driven by Jimmie Johnson will be making a pit stop a Lowe’s. Help your child make this awesome race car complete with stickers and rumblin’ race car sound effects!
Address:
Locate a Lowe’s store near you.
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WFamily Fun Days
Time: 4-5 p.m.
Date: Thursday, February 16, 2012 (NOTE: Although this event usually takes place on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month, this month’s calendar only has one WFamily Fun Day scheduled at Westfield Brandon Mall this month.)
Location: Westfield Brandon (Play Space in front of 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.
Info: Website (You can download a .pdf of their February calendar from this page.)
What’s Doing?
Kids enjoy themed stories, a snack, crafts and more during this fun family event.
February’s Theme: Be an artist!
Join in the storytelling theme of “Be an Artist!” which brings children fun books incuding ”My Dog Thinks I´m a Genius” & “Make Van Gogh´s Bed”. Kids can enjoy snacks during storytelling and making their own Master Piece.
Address:
Westfield Brandon
459 Brandon Town Center
Brandon, FL 33511
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WFamily Fun Days
Time: 4-5 p.m.
Date: 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month
Location: Westfield Citrus Park (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.
Info: Website (You can download a .pdf of their February calendar from this page.)
What’s Doing?
Kids enjoy themed stories, a snack, crafts and more during this fun family event.
February’s Theme: Be an artist!
Here’s the schedule:
— Thursday, February 2: Stories include My Dog Thinks I’m a Genius and Make Van Gogh’s Bed. Afterward, kids get to create their own masterpieces!
— Thursday, February 16: Listen to stories One Blue Hippo and Tickle Tut’s Toes. After story time, kids get to make their own jewelry and an Egyptian mobile.
Address:
Westfield Citrus Park
8021 Citrus Park Town Center
Tampa FL 33625
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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 February. Be sure to visit the Hillsborough County Public Library online event calendar to see all the events planned for this month!
~~~ Wednesday, February 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29, 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.
Art After School (4-5 p.m.; Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library
Art After School is your time to express yourself through visual arts. There is something for everyone to take home. For ages 6-12 years and their parents/caregivers. Seating limit: 25.
~~~ Thursday, February 2, 9, 16, & 23, 2012 ~~~
Family Story Time (7-7:30 p.m.; SouthShore Regional Library)
Make reading time family time. Stories, action rhymes, songs, interactive activities, and crafts make up this fun 30-minute program that celebrates a love of reading. Children may wear pajamas and bring a blanket and favorite cuddly toy. For ages 2-5 with a caregiver.
~~~ Friday, February 3, 2012 ~~~
Stupid Sock Creatures (3-5 p.m.; C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. Public Library)
Use basic sewing techniques to create whimsical creatures from ordinary socks. Every creature is different! This will be a multi-class event spanning 4 weeks. Ages 10-17. Limit 12. Registration required.
~~~ Monday, February 6, 13, 20, & 27, 2012 ~~~
Wee Artists (11:30-11:50 a.m.; Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library
Arts and crafts for preschoolers and their caregivers, featuring projects just right for little hands. For ages 3-5 years. Limit of 25.
Crafterschool (1:30-3 p.m.; New Tampa Regional Library)
Have fun with some crafts.
~~~ Monday, February 6, 2012 ~~~
Valentine’s Crafts & Gifts (3-4 p.m.; SouthShore Regional Library)
Join the children’s librarian in creating valentine’s crafts and gifts to take home. For children ages 5-12. Registration is required. Please call 273-3652 or stop by the information desk.
~~~ Saturday, February 11, 2012 ~~~
Crafternoon (2-3 p.m.; John F. Germany Public Library)
Stop by the library to make Valentine-themed crafts to take home.
~~~ Monday, February 13, 2012 ~~~
Unvalentines Day: Make A Zombie! (2-4:30 p.m.; 78th Street Community Library)
Valentine’s Day is coming, but who needs hearts when you can have braaaaaaaaains? Stop by the library for an Unvalentine’s Day event! Create your own feltie zombie keychain that’s so creepy it’s cute. No experience needed. Ages 12-18. Sign up in advance at the Information Desk. Limit 20.
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PASCO COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM CRAFT EVENTS
Visit the various Pasco County Libraries online to find out what’s going on in February. The online events calendar has a list of events happening at each library. Here are some highlights of events that include crafts:
~~~ Wednesday, February 1, 8, 15, & 22, 2012 ~~~
Preschool Storytime with Miss Lyn (12-12:40 p.m.; Hugh Embry Library)
Children ages 3-5 with parent/guardian are invited to enjoy stories, songs, and crafts with Miss Lyn!
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PINELLAS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM CRAFT EVENTS
Visit the various Pinellas County Libraries online to find out what’s going on in February. The online events calendar has a list of events happening at each library. Here are some highlights of events that include crafts:
~~~ Tuesday, February 7, 2012 ~~~
Curious Kids (10-11 a.m.; Largo Public Library)
Have fun at the library with themed stories, crafts, and music in this program designed for kids who are curious about the world around them. For children ages 3-5.
~~~ Wednesday, February 8 & 22, 2012 ~~~
Kid’s Craft Corner (2:30-4 p.m.; St. Petersburg Main Library)
Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month children of all ages are welcome to come make crafts at the Library.
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