Get Crafty for Cheap

A few weeks ago, I assembled a pretty extensive list of local classes and workshops for PW’s Education Guide (if you haven’t already read it, I highly recommend you do).

Having been blown away by home many awesome weekly craft/design workshops there are across the city, I thought I would elaborate a bit on my list.

For anyone who doesn’t have the time or money to spend to take a class (which are usually over $100), here’s a few places you can go to get your craft on, quicker and cheaper:

Paper Source (1628 Walnut St.)

Spring Card Making (Thurs., March 1. $25): Combine stamping, layering, new paper punches and more to make season-appropriate cards for any occasion you’d like.

Make Your Own Spiral Book (Thurs., March 15. $30): Bring in 10-12, 5″x 7″ vertical photos and memorabilia to add to the book and they’ll provide extra goodies and assorted papers for you to create a perfect keepsake book.

ReNew, ReUse, ReCreate-Crafter’s Night Out (Thurs. April 19, $35): During this Earth Day-inspired workshop, you’ll take ordinary objects and totally reinvent them. More specifically, you’ll get to recreate a colorful variety of stationary using a combination of rubber stamping, labels, envelope templates and cards. Even better: you’ll get to sip on wine and nibble on snacks in the process.

Queen Village Art Center (514 Bainbridge St.)

In addition to offering a wide range of really cool adult workshops and classes, every Wednesday night from 6:30-9:30pm, Queen Village Art Center gives crafters of all levels a chance to learn a new skill. Upcoming workshops include…

Screenprinting Introduction (Feb. 22, $45): Get a taste for the basics of screenprinting making simple stencils and try your hand at passing ink through a screen to make multiple prints.

Silver Clay Workshop (March 7, $64): Working with Precious Metal Clay—a material that models similar to clay and, once fired, is 99 percent fine silver—you’ll sculpt one-of-a-kind handmade silver jewelry like pendants, earrings, beads, or rings. After the workshop, they’ll fire and polish your jewelry and have it ready for you to pick up.

Silk Marbling Introduction (March 14, $42): Marbling is the art of creating floating designs on top of a dense liquid. You’ll learn a specific type of marbling called Ebru, laying pre-treated rice paper and 2 silk scarves over the liquid surface then watching the colors transfer and “print” your designs.

Craft Foundry (701 Belgrade St.)

Greeting Cards Workshop (Sundays, 10am-12pm. $45): After this workshop, you’ll be prepared for any special occasion having learned about materials—papers, glues, inks—and techniques such as embossing with different colored powders in order to make you own unique cards. Just think of all the money you’ll save!

Basic Bookbinding Class (Tuesdays, 7-9pm. $45): Learn about the techniques, materials and tools used to create an accordion fold book as well as a Japanese Binding. No experience is necessary.

Bronze Jewelry-Adventures in Alchemy (Saturdays, 9:30am-12:30pm. $90): Spend three hours learning the basics of making bronze pieces with a new innovative product called Fast Fire Bronze Clay—a non-toxic metal clay product used by jewelry artists and craftspeople to create one-of-a kind and small run jewelry, models, prototypes, sculpture and decorative items. You leave your pieces to dry and be fired then come back another day to pick them up.

Family Arts Academy (118 N. Broad St.)

Every Sunday from 2-3pm, PAFA welcomes folks of all ages to partake in a fun (and educational) afternoon of crafting, totally for free. Here’s some of the crafting events you can look forward to…

Exquisite Corpse (March 4): With heads, legs, arms and bodies created by different members of your family (or group of friends), you’ll design some rather funny “creatures.”

Around the World (March 11): After going on a musical tour of the world, create a silhouette of yourself then fill your image with a collage of people, places, words and ideas that make you, you.

Food Portraits (March 18): Finally a chance to play with your food again! Arrange real food items to make fun and delicious portraits and still life pictures in the tradition of Renaissance artists. You’re also invited you to bring a sample snack to share with the group in celebration of National Nutrition Month.

Fooling Around with Op Art (April 1): In celebration of April Fools Day, this workshop will feature a whole lotta optical illusions and trickery. You’ll learn to fool everyone using the secrets of color, pattern and optical art.

The Clay Studio (137-139 N. 2^nd St.)

For those can’t commit to one of their pottery classes, The Clay Studio holds two monthly events so that you can at least get a feel for it while enjoying beer, wine and light snacks. Both events cost $35 plus an additional $5 if you would like to them to glaze, fire and ship your masterpiece to your home.

Out of Hand (Fri., Feb. 24 & March 23. 6-8pm): Unwind after a long day by sipping on wine while skilled instructors walk you through a few simple ceramic projects. You’re also free to make your own creations. Just make sure to bring an extra set of clothes—wouldn’t want your nice work clothes to get ruined. Drop-ins are welcome on a first come basis if workshop is not sold out.

Date Night (Fri., March 16. 7-9pm): Instructors will walk you through a few simple projects or leave you to make your own creations. Don’t have a date? Just grab a few friends. Again, wear clothing you’re not afraid to get dirty, or bring an apron or smock. Pre-registration is required.

Michael’s (9737 Roosevelt Blvd.)

Admit it, you’ve never left a Michael’s store without the sudden urge to pick up a new hobby or start some sort of art project. Fortunately, every week their Northeast location offers workshops that show you how to use their insane selection of crafting materials or simply mingle with fellow crafters. But of course, you do have to buy their stuff first.

FUNdamentals of Bead Stringing (Thurs., March 1. 6-8pm. $25): Learn basic bead stringing techniques to complete a one-of-a kind bracelet. Create patterns using different colors and bead types. Then, attach a charm with a jump ring.

FUNdamentals of Stamping (Thurs., March 15, 6-8pm. $25): Learn the basics of stamping metal so that you can leave your own unique impression on jewelry designs.

Card Making/Scrapbooking (Thursdays March 8-29. 6:30-8:30pm. $25): Discover the wonderful world of scrapbooking as you explore design techniques, the power of the pen and the art of adding finishing touches. Though technically this is a four-week course (each costing $25), you don’t have to register for all four and can probably pick up a decent amount of tips and tricks from just one or two.