by CCSA Admin | Mar 21, 2023 | Blog
Looking for something meaningful to give Mom this Mother’s Day? It’s hard to come up with new ideas – something tailored to her taste, while still feeling personal, and usable in her daily life. Paint-your-own-pottery is the perfect solution! With hundreds of items both functional and decor-based, there are many ways to give your Mom a hand-painted gift that is perfect just for her.
PYOP is great for all ages. Younger kids can request palettes that won’t turn brown when all mushed together, while older kids can pick out more specific colors for base coats and details. If you want many ages working together, consider dividing up the painting tasks. Have the youngest kid paint the base coat (this can be messy!), then have older members of the group paint details on top. You can also enlist the help of stencils, dotters, squeeze tubes, extra fine brushes, sponges, and more! Ask the studio associate for tips and tricks on creating designs and patterns. Don’t forget, once out of the kiln everything will be brighter and shinier!
Want to experience pottery painting with Mom instead? Grab a gift card from your local studio to promise a painting date. We suggest making a coupon that says “Good for one painting date.” Decorate the coupon and wrap it around the gift card. Then, stick it in an envelope, and get ready to see a big smile on Mom’s face! If you want to really up the ante, you could throw in other gift cards as well; maybe grabbing coffee at a local cafe first or dinner afterwards is just what Mom’s been craving.
If you’re looking for ideas of how to get started, your local studio will have samples out with plenty of design ideas. Try our studio locator to find the studio closest to you and start planning the best presents to date!
by CCSA Admin | Feb 21, 2023 | Blog
Looking for something new and fun for your kids to do this summer? Try a pottery painting camp! By exercising their fine motor skills, keeping them occupied with creativity-based projects, and inviting them to make new friends, pottery camps are a great way to pass the summer months. Many studios also offer half-day camps, in case you need some time to do your own thing in the morning, but want to spend some quality time with your kids in the afternoon. You could even stay and paint something together!
Creating art is a great way to keep kid’s minds stimulated while they’re out of school. It practices planning, focusing, problem solving, and processing. Plus, it’s really fun! There are many ways for camps to have both individual and group projects, so making friends can be encouraged without pushing anyone too far out of their comfort zone. In areas with very hot summers, it’s also nice to have some time in the AC.
After making art works all week, campers will be able to bring home mementos of their time, and cherish them for years to come. Often, campers make useful items like bowls or dishes which can be integrated into their daily routine year round. Perhaps your kid would be more keen on eating their veggies if they were on a beach-themed dish or in a galaxy bowl. And, these projects can be useful, rather than just taking up space in your house.
Many studios have many camp sessions, often with different themes; this way, if your kid loves it and wants to keep signing up, they won’t get bored. There are always new techniques to learn and projects to explore. Try our studio locator to find your new favorite spot, and see what camps they have to offer
by CCSA Admin | Jan 23, 2023 | Blog
This Valentine’s Day, add a new kind of date to the roster: paint-your-own pottery. There is so much romance in creating something together, even if you don’t self identify as artists. Find pieces that remind you of each other, create something you can use together, paint a picture frame to hold memories, paint something to trade with the other; there are a million ways to make the experience extra special while showing each other how much you love them.
Most pottery studios get in tons of Valentine’s themed items. There are specially designed mugs, boxes, trinket dishes, statues, plates and more. Oftentimes, there are mugs or boxes which connect to make halves of a heart. If your local studio doesn’t have the perfect seasonal decor for you, you can still stay on theme by choosing a color palette that speaks to the holiday.
Not looking to get romantic this Valentine’s Day? You can celebrate any kind of love with PYOP. Make best friends interlocking mugs, or a gift to show someone how much you appreciate them. One of our favorite little details to add to a piece is a note on the bottom, either painted on or written with glaze pencil. This way, you can tell someone exactly how much they mean to you, and make the gift extra personalized.
If you have little kids and want to make a surprise Valentine’s gift for your spouse, we have the perfect project for you. Bring in the kids and pick out your pieces. Choose colors that will smush well together and not create brown, perhaps pink, purple, red and white. Then, let your kids paint (or fingerpaint) to their hearts’ desires all over the piece! Once they are done creating their artwork, ask the studio associate to help you design writing to go on top of the piece, something like “I love you,” or “Best Valentine Ever,” which the custom artist can write for you. This way, when you pick up the piece, the words you chose with your preferred font will make everything look very polished while keeping the original brushstrokes of your kids.
Try our studio locator to find a studio near you!
by CCSA Admin | Nov 15, 2022 | Blog
While cooking can be a drag, paint-your-own pottery can make your kitchen a colorful and inviting space filled with tools you actually want to use and maybe even display! With complete control over the colors and design of your pieces, adding ceramics into your kitchen may make it a bit more of an
enticing place.
Beyond the standard dishware that is always available in PYOP studios, many also offer things like measuring cups, utensil holders, teapots, sponge holders, lemon juicers, spoon rests, honey pots, berry colanders, butter dishes, trivets, sugar pots… anything you may need, the world of PYOP makes it! You can create a set of kitchen tools that all match, either through designs or colors, or keep everything different – it’s totally up to you.
For items that function more as décor than tools, there are vases, pitchers, napkin holders, cake trays, salt keepers, coasters, canisters, platters, creamers, gravy boats, salt and pepper shakers, and more! Each item type has many variations to fit your home’s unique style. Do you prefer salt and pepper shakers that look like mushrooms or are straight from an old-school diner? Well, you’re in luck because you can get both!
If your studio does not have an item you are looking for in-stock, inquire about ordering something special. Try checking out your local studio for all sorts of kitchen goodies, and use our studio locator to find your new favorite place to create!
by CCSA Admin | Oct 19, 2022 | Blog
Are you as excited about the holidays as we are? It’s never too early to start creating hand-made gifts for your loved ones, and paint-your-own pottery is the perfect way to do just that.
Pre-made pottery can be painted in a paint-your-own-pottery studio, classes are offered (perhaps on wheel throwing, canvas painting, glass fusing, wood sign making, special techniques, and more), and there is always ample opportunity for memories to be made! Purchasing a gift card from a studio to be used towards any creation or event is a great way to gift someone in your life a wonderful day
and a special present to hold on to.
If giving physical gifts is more your thing, don’t worry! Hand-painted or handmade pieces can touch the hearts of your loved ones. Children’s handprints, romantic designs, annual traditions, reindeer on an ornament, whatever your goal is, can be achieved on various pieces, all designed by you.
Pottery has a longer turn-around time than many traditional gifts because it has to dry, receive a glaze top coat, and be fired, so it’s always beneficial to start thinking ahead about when you may want to start creating your gifts.
Your studio will have a large selection of inventory to choose from, as well as samples and displays to keep you inspired. If you’re stuck, ask a studio associate for advice! Many holiday designs have passed through their kilns, so they are sure to have some tricks up their sleeves.
One incredible aspect of this gift idea is how it supports a local business, allowing it to do well during a season when many people flock to massive corporations and online sellers. So this holiday season, give a little thought to where your presents come from and consider giving the gift of an
experience.
