Tired of coming up with fun activities for the kids? Lots of local businesses are offering DIY take-home kits of their projects and cookery classes. Creative kids and adults can paint pottery at home, finger knit a chunky blanket, plant a succulent terrarium, make a wooden sign or design glass art. Crafty kids can create a buzz bot or flappy owl, and aspiring chefs can learn to make brunch. Keep the family busy and help support local businesses at the same time!
1. Hammer and Stain (Seattle)
Hammer and Stain are known for their fun workshops in which they help you turn wood into your own unique art. They are offering Hammer-it-at-HOME kits with everything you need to complete a project. Choose from family fun kits, outdoor games, décor, pick-your-project and more. Available for pickup and delivery.
2. Paint the Town (Seattle)
Paint the Town is offering Pottery to Go kits. Simply choose your unfired pottery and use the form on the website. Paints, paint pens and brushes are available for a small fee. You can also order an “All in One Kit,” which includes pottery, paints and brushes (scroll to the bottom of the page for these). They are open noon–5 p.m. daily, so schedule an appointment for pickup, for drop-off for firing and then pick up your finished piece.
3. Outside the Box Creation (Greater Seattle area)
Embrace opportunities for unplugged and unfettered creativity with Outside the Box Creation, the Whidbey Island-based brainchild of arts educator Beth Herrild. Beautifully curated art boxes are available through several tiers, including pre-paid subscriptions, month-to-month subscriptions, one-time purchases and (coming soon!) an Insider’s Club, which is a membership experience that sounds perfect to us for homeschooling parents who might need some supplemental inspiration and guidance in directing arts instruction.
4. Anecdotes Pottery Studio (Seattle)
Paint pottery to give as a gift or decorate your home using kits from Anecdotes Pottery in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood. Delivery within 3.5 miles is free (delivery outside that radius and up to 5 miles is $10). Contactless curbside pickup is available as well. The kit includes five paint colors plus lots of optional add-ons, such as paint pens, stamping tools, extra brushes and more.
5. The Works (Seattle)
Known for its environment-friendly projects and classes, The Works is offering kits to continue learning and have fun at home. Tweens and teens can enjoy making beeswax wraps, pompom earrings, cloth napkins, a macramé rainbow or even a Kokedama.
6. Uncorked Canvas (Tacoma)
Pick up a paint-at-home kit from Uncorked Canvas in Tacoma. They give you everything you need to complete a painting on canvas plus a link to an online tutorial. Lots of designs are available, but be sure to check out the Mommy and Me “Wolf Kisses” design, which has two canvases, one for the parent and one for the child. When combined together, they make a unique creation.
7. Craft Lab (Tukwila)
The Craft Lab is offering all of their designs as take-home activity kits. Create wreaths, menu boards, and all kinds of wood art or signs. All materials and instructions are included. Kits can be shipped or picked up curbside by appointment.
8. MoltenWorks (Woodinville)
You can even do glass projects at home with kits from MoltenWorks in Woodinville. Project pickup and delivery services are available if you live within 10 miles of the studio. Each kit contains all you need to create a project that you glue together to be fired by the studio. Choose from individual projects, an XL kit with five projects for the whole family or even build your own kit.
9. Sound Excursions Craft Experience (Seattle)
Sound Excursions offers this fun “Life Doesn’t Have to Succulent Terrarium Making Kit.” The kit ships nationwide and comes with a choice of three different vessels. An instructional video will be live-streamed with a recording available later.
10. Tinkertopia (Tacoma)
Everyone’s favorite upcycling store, Tinkertopia in Tacoma, has DIY kits for sale.
Choose from unique offerings such as the STEAM project Flappy Owl, a pixie beast mini trophy taxidermy kit, DIY mini treehouse for gnomes or elves, and lots more.
11. Steamboat Studio (Maple Valley)
Located in Maple Valley, Steamboat Studio offers take-home STEM and art kits for kids as young as 3 and all the way up to adults. Make a buzz bot, conduct experiments with a super science kit, practice plaster casting or fabric sculpting, or learn art concepts by making fun projects. Kits are available for pickup curbside at scheduled times, and instruction is provided via video.
12. Hands On Children's Museum (Olympia)
Hands On Children’s Museum offers seven different boxed "Curiosity Kits" with tons of art and science projects. The kits are themed and include a range of projects, such as Ornament Extravaganza, Gnome in Your Home, Mitten Critters Sewing and Holiday Science.
Curiosity Kits can be purchased online and picked up at the Museum Store on weekdays, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., through December 23, 2020. Local delivery and USPS priority shipping options are also available.
13. AR Workshop (various locations)
You can make signs, chunky blankets or pillows, and more at home with kits from AR Workshop. Offerings vary by location and all materials are included, along with instructions. A PrimARy paint kit with a color-blending tutorial allows for a wide range of painting possibilities. Curbside pickup is available.
14. FrogLegs Cooking School (various locations)
FrogLegs has an online option for some of its most popular classes, such as lemon blueberry cupcakes, dumplings and pie. You can gather your own ingredients from the list provided or pick up a kit. These aren’t recordings, but virtual classes, so sign up for a time that works for you.
15. Seattle Cucina (Seattle)
Take a live-streamed class for kids and teens — or the whole family! Make calzones, sushi, French favorites or a family brunch. During the class, you can interact with the chef and ask questions. Self-guided classes are available as well. Check out the kid enrichment classes, too! An option for ingredient delivery is available.
16. Sound Excursions Cooking Experience (Seattle)
Make the ultimate brunch from the comfort of your own kitchen with Brunch Box kits from Sound Excursions. Make biscuits and gravy or eggs Benedict with Chef Matt Lewis, owner of the Where Ya at Matt food truck. The event is live-streamed, with a recording available for 24 hours after the class. Ingredients are delivered to you.
17. Theo Virtual Chocolate Tasting Class (Seattle)
Do you have a chocolate lover in your house? If so, the virtual chocolate tasting class from Theo might be a good pick. This virtual tour includes a 45-minute interactive class (hosted via Zoom) plus all the chocolate and supplies you'll need to follow along and learn the art of chocolate tasting. You'll discover how organic chocolate is made and see some behind the scenes footage of the chocolate factory.
