Everyone has a creative muscle, and spring is the perfect time to flex it. From colorful and easy-to-make paper chains to high-end embroidered sweaters,
set aside a crafting date with the kids or a girls’-night-in with cocktails and creations. Art is good for the soul, so bust out those brushes, cruise the inspiring aisles of craft stores and make April the month you get artsy!
START SIMPLE
A quick activity for kids of almost any age is making paper chains. Gather up paper, scissors, glue or a stapler. Any paper will do (it’s an excellent way to use up scrap paper). For more colorful chains, construction paper is your go-to. You can also collect thick gift-wrap scraps and use pages from old books destined for the recycling bin. Begin by cutting a set of uniform-sized strips. The smaller the strip, the tighter the chain. An easy-to-manage paper chain starts with 1-inch-wide by 6-inch-long strips. Scissors do the job, but a paper trimmer yields fast, uniform strips of paper. (Look for a trimmer at any office supply store like Staples for under $50.) One standard-sized piece of construction paper can create a roughly two-foot paper chain. After you determine where you want to hang your chain, have the kids help with the math to estimate how many pages of paper you’ll need.
Using either glue or a stapler, roll a paper strip into a circle and connect the ends. Up the sophistication by alternating loop size and paper color. Draping or tying strands of ribbon, twine and dangling decorations like paper stars from the chains adds another element of fun. Search online for ideas and video tutorials.
Crafting your own designer wear just got easier.
WEARABLE ART
Crafting wearable art is a fun ladies’-night-in project. Sport the look of those popular Lingua Franca sweaters at a fraction of the cost. All that’s required are a sweater or sweatshirt, pack of needlepoint/embroidery thread, sewing needle, a clothing chalk pencil and an embroidery hoop.
Lightweight wool sweaters are easy to work with. Beginners can start with an affordable cashmere sweater from online retailers like Quince and Nadaam— both regularly sell classic cashmere sweaters for under $100.
Next, go online for design inspo. One cute idea for moms is a series of hearts with each child’s initial inside. Set the embroidery hoop around the area you want the design, and lightly draw your design on with the chalk pencil (available from Amazon or any craft store).
A simple chain stitch is easy to learn online. Plan a get-together around an upcoming theme, such as red sweaters with white embroidery thread to stitch a phrase like “Santa Baby” or cozy fall brown sweaters to stitch the word “Thankful.”
Embroidery is also a great way to salvage the life of a sweater with a snag or moth hole. Design a phrase or simple image like a four-leaf clover to be stitched over the flawed spot.
Lingua Franca, the company that started the custom-phrase sweater trend, can provide great ideas and also sells at-home sweater kits that comes with all you need, including the sweater.
Check the website for inspiration and availability of the at-home kits.
linguafranca.nyc
POTTERY PAINTING
Hands on Pottery in Darien celebrates its 25th anniversary this year with a wealth of crafting opportunities in-store as well as take-home options.
Book the sitter and plan a painting date night or girls’ night out at the Friday Night Paint BYOB evenings. Bring friends, food and drinks and enjoy an evening to relax, unwind and create. Friday evenings, the shop is open from 5 to 9 p.m. for attendees 21 and older. Painting takes roughly 60 to 90 minutes, so be sure to arrive early enough to finish by closing, and call ahead to confirm there’s no private party.
For those looking to craft at home, Hands on Pottery offers take-home kits based around a number of fun themes for children and adults. Try a Tuesday Taco Night kit for $34 and paint margarita goblets or look at the pet packs for dog bowls and treat jars.
The process is simple: Pick up the pottery, paint and supplies at the shop, craft at home and, when the paint is dry, return your project to the store for firing.
hopct.com
PICK UP A BRUSH
From master classes with NYC artists to live model drawing, the Greenwich Art Society on Greenwich Avenue offers a catalogue full of opportunities for any level. From Acrylics for Everyone to Intermediate Landscape master classes, painting and drawing courses are available for children and adults. Check out Creative Artists for six- to eight- year-olds or Young Artists in the Studio for nine- to 12- year-olds. Costs vary by course, with discounts for members.
greenwichartsociety.org
CRAFTING FOR OTHERS
Perrot Library in Old Greenwich offers families the opportunity to make crafts to donate to others. The Crafting Connections program provides participants with the supplies and guidance to hand-make items to donate to charitable organizations.
Students looking for volunteer hours can earn them here. The program is geared for participants five years and older, with those between the ages of five and eight requiring an adult helper.
April’s craft project is Water Globes for Meals on Wheels. On Wednesday, April 22, from 4 to 5 p.m., crafters will make miniature water globes to accompany Meals on Wheels deliveries.
The program is free, but space is limited, so be sure to register ahead of time through the library. Monthly projects are posted on the website.
Perrot also offers Open Knitting, a drop-in program every Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m. No registration is required.
perrotlibrary.org
CRAFTS MEETUP
All adults are welcome at Cos Cob Library Saturday, April 4, from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Community Room as the library welcomes friends to join in quilting, knitting or other hand craft projects. Crafts Meetup is a monthly event. Follow the calendar for future dates and projects.
greenwichlibrary.org
MODERN ART
Whether you want to learn to knit, crochet or sew, Make Modern in Cos Cob provides the tools and techniques to make beautiful things you’ll be proud to bring home. The seasonal quarterly schedule posts classes for children and adults. Kids will enjoy things like croqueting for kindergarten age and up, while middle schoolers can try Foundations of Fashion. School’s-out camps, summer programs and adult craft-and-sip parties are all great ways to exercise your inner artist.
make-modern.com
ART ADVENTURES
From mobile making to squeegee art, the Bruce Museum provides a number of drop-in workshops for young artists. The Art Adventures and Science Solvers events for children four and up and their families are free with general admission and no advance registration. Programs are hosted on most Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m.; check the calendar for dates.
And get ready for craft inspiration for all ages at the 41st Annual Outdoor Craft Festival on May 16 and 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival features handmade crafts from jewelry to decorative art to pottery and more. Admission to the festival and the museum is $15, members and children under five are free.
brucemuseum.org
STITCH SMARTS
Whether you’re looking to refine a new stitch or revel in the camaraderie of other needlepoints, Penny Linn in Rowayton offers Stitching Time Wednesdays and Stitch Mornings on Saturdays for needlepointers. Call ahead to reserve a seat, and learn expert tips and get individual support as you stitch, while also receiving a 10 percent discount on canvases and thread.
For stitchers frustrated with the long wait time to get their creations professionally finished, Penny Linn offers workshops in April on finishing your own projects. Round, square and standup finishing courses will be offered from May 14 through 17. These classes come with all supplies needed to learn how to take your finished project from canvas to creation. Other courses from beginner stitching to specialty stitching are provided throughout the year. Check the calendar for new events and opportunities.
pennylinn.com