Making crafts is an integral part of childhood. Coloring pages with crayons, cutting shapes from construction paper, bending pipe cleaners into butterflies—these repetitive activities enhance children’s fine motor skills, encourage self-expression and self-confidence, and pave an avenue for more creativity as they grow. For kids ready for new challenges—and for parents who’d prefer to keep their own dining tables free from the mess—we sought out local arts centers where kids can expand their artistic pursuits. So step up your craft game and check out these locally-owned artsy spots open daily around Dallas-Fort Worth.
Fuzz Lab
Try your hand at the newest crafting craze, rug tufting, at Fuzz Lab, which just opened two local venues. Believe it or not, creating a fluffy handmade rug is actually quite beginner-friendly (though fair warning, depending on the design it can be up to a three-hour process).
These art studios offer several other family-friendly projects, like a Drip Bear (pouring paint over a white bear-shaped canvas to create a one-of-kind drippy masterpiece) and whipped cream clay art (a delicate, water-based clay that looks like—you guessed it—creamy whipped icing).
All of these DIY projects are open to all ages (kids under 12 must pair with an adult for tufting), with materials and guidance provided. Sessions fill up quickly so it’s recommended that you book in advance online, though walk-ins are welcome when space allows.
Locations:
5100 Belt Line Road, Suite 514, Dallas; 214/699-7533
9543 Sage Meadow Trail, Fort Worth; 817/677-8866
Follow: on Instagram at @fuzzlabfw and @fuzzlabdallas
Learn more: fuzzlab.co
TuTugether
TuTugether is new art studio in on the paint pouring and rug tufting trends, but here you can also get in on another unique art medium—spin art. You’ll apply your chosen paint colors to a spinning canvas to create a unique abstract piece of stunning swirls and patterns.
There’s no age minimum for spin art, but those aged 15 and up can take it up a notch with spin and shot art, where you’ll use a BB gun to shoot paint-filled balloons onto a spinning canvas. Talk about a blast.
Location: 2225 Old Denton Road, Suite 120, Carrollton
Contact: 214/731-6960; contact@tutugethertexas.com
Learn more: tutugethertexas.com
Hawaii Fluid Art
Try your hand at fluid art, a painting technique that involves pouring liquid acrylic paint onto a canvas and manipulating it into designs, at one of several Hawaii Fluid Art studios that have recently cropped up at six locations throughout DFW. The activity is so simple that even 3-year-olds can do it, but the technique can be refined for different results—truly making it something for all ages.
All of the classes are taught step by step, so no experience is required, but you’ll want to save your dressy clothes for another time—the experience can get a little messy. Walk-ins and appointments are available at most locations.
Locations:
305 FM 1382, Suite 621, Cedar Hill; 808/855-8827
820 S. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 139, Coppell; 972/982-2067
1507 S Loop 288, Suite 202, Denton; 972/802-0432
6101 Long Prairie Rd #736 Flower Mound, 469/794-5165
6333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Suite 250, Fort Worth; 682/376-7516
2240 Matlock Road, Suite 102, Mansfield; 817/522-2423
Learn more: hawaiifluidart.com
Pedalisa Art
Known for their vibrant colors and intricate designs, Turkish mosaic lamps are part of a tradition that dates back for millennia. More than just decorative, these beautiful lamps carry cultural and spiritual meaning. And yes, you can learn this ancient art using tiles and beads.
Pedalisa Art offers hands-on workshops with step-by-step guidance, and in the end, you’ll create your own handcrafted mosaic lamp. No experience is required, though due to handling glass, participants should be at least 7. Workshops, which rotate through several cities, are held on weekends.
Location: Pop-up locations in Dallas, Fort Worth, Grapevine, Arlington, Frisco and Richardson
Contact: 346/696-0533; info@pedalisaart.com
Learn more: pedalisaart.com/collections/dallas-dfw-area
Dallas Silk Art
You’ll most often see water marbling—those mesmerizing patterns of swirling colors—on printed end papers inside leather-bound books. And now you can easily make your own designs and apply them to things like papers, planter pots, canvas shoes and hats here at Dallas Silk Art, a beautiful studio located at Grandscape.
Here’s how it works: Grab an apron, pick out two to six colors of acrylic paints (they have about 50 colors to choose from) and gently shake droplets of paint into a bucket or tray filled with a water and seaweed mixture, which allows the color to float at the surface. Once you’re happy with colors, the artisan will show you how to use skewers and rakes to gently mix them into your chosen design.
Then you’re ready to dip. Most items you can take home the same day. There are no restrictions regarding kids, as long as they are supervised by their parents. (Mommas, we recommend making a silk scarf for yourself.) Walk-ins are welcome as space allows, but it’s better to book a workshop in advance. The studio fee is $20, plus the cost of whichever items you’re dipping, which typically starts at $25.
Location: 5768 Grandscape Blvd., Suite 180, The Colony
Contact: 972/410-0382
Learn more: dallassilkart.com
RELATED: 8 Ways to Raise Art-Smart Kids
Pipe and Palette
For a deliciously messy experience, there’s nothing cooler than the splatter room at this arts studio inside the Shops at Willow Bend. You’ll need to gear up head to toe in plastic coverings—goggles and booties included—to protect your clothes. Then tape up your canvas to the wall inside the splatter room, dip your brushes into your paints and start throwing colors. If you miss your canvas, it only adds to the colorful tapestry of the splatter room. And when everyone is finished with their canvases, you can all pile into the same room and splatter your fellow painters too.
And this is something that’s fun for kids and adults. One patron celebrating her 50th birthday with friends told me she decided to come after first visiting with her 10-year-old. Pipe and Palette is set up for parties and for walk-ins for the splatter room, and they also offer ceramics and canvas painting. And just steps away, Pipe and Palette operates its second location for kids, where they set up camps and have another splatter room that can hold even larger groups.
Want to try it out? Come for the Splatter Room Kids Night Out on first Fridays for $45, or come on any Friday Kids Night Out with painting, a movie screening, pizza and popcorn for $35.
Location: 6121 West Park Boulevard, Plano
Contact: 972/482-0755
Learn more: pipeandpalette.com
Quiggley’s Clayhouse
When I visited in on a recent Sunday, nary a seat was available at this bustling walk-in art studio in Richardson. Little kids and their families were all laser-focused on painting their chosen ceramics, from puppy figurines and ice cream sundaes with a cherry on top. That’s the hard part—choosing which of the seemingly hundreds of different style ceramics to paint. You’ll fill your palette with your selected colors, then get to work painting over the white ceramic with your own design.
Others prefer the glass art, making mosaics with square glass tiles that you grout yourself, glass shard art (the “shards” are not as sharp as it sounds), or even glass fusion, which melts the glass and allows the artisans to bend it for you.
But as this is Quiggley’s Clayhouse, you may have come for the clay. Hand-sculpting clay at the activity tables is tactile and satisfying experience for littles. Have a baby? You can use the clay to make a precious keepsake of your child’s handprint or footprint.
Take your pick of activity. The walk-in studio fee is only $8 for adults, $6 for children (half price on Tuesdays), plus fees by activity. The only type that requires advance registration is throwing clay on the pottery wheel, which is really what makes Quiggley’s special. Kids roughly age 5 and up are welcome to join the pottery wheel classes. If this sounds enticing to you and you live around Fort Worth, stay tuned. Quiggley’s plans to open a second Clayhouse in Fort Worth later in fall 2024.
Location: 1344 E. Belt Line Road, Richardson
Contact: Call 972/234-2644 or text 469/609-0843
Learn more: quigglys.com
Ephemera
Planter lovers, listen up. You can build your own terrarium and decorate it with retro toys and mini figurines at this lovely, lush shop on Fort Worth’s historic Magnolia Avenue. If your response was, “What’s a terrarium?” there’s no shame. And no green thumbs are needed.
These glass containers are low maintenance and easy to assemble. First, you select a glass container, then the succulents and tropical plants. Next, build the soil, with a sand layer and rock layer, then materials like charcoal, moss and dirt. The owners Frank Garcia and Suz Reyes will walk you through how to make the right combination to ensure the plants thrive. Then, where the real magic happens, decorate with your choice of toys, colorful rocks, and other tiny surprises. These put the finishing touch on these tiny worlds.
Walk-ins welcome as space allows, but this plant shop is snug, so book a reservation online if you’re thinking of taking your child and their friends. Pricing is based on the size container you choose, starting from for planters and from $25 for terrariums. Have one kid not interested in plants but is drawn to comic books? They’ve got those too.
Location: 1208 W. Magnolia Avenue, Suite 106, Fort Worth
Contact: 817/382-8238
Learn more: ephemeraterrariums.com
To find more arts activities near you, visit dfwchild.com/calendar and selects “arts & crafts.”
Top image of courtesy of Fuzz Lab
