From the Heart: Where to Handcraft Holiday Gifts in the Twin Cities

Handcraft holiday gifts can be extra special when the creative process is half the fun!

We’ve rounded up several local businesses where you or your kids can mess up someone else’s space. Let their imaginations run wild. Craft some serious masterpieces this holiday season for unique gifts that don’t come from the mall. Homemade gifts are perfect gifts

Updated 11/3/2022.

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FFTC ‘s 2022 Holiday Gift Sponsor

Simply Bliss:

Offering old-fashioned lard soaps in a variety of fun food-based scents from The Wild Outdoors and Creamy Coconut to a rotation of seasonal favorites like Butterscotch Cookies and Frankincense & Myrrh.

Offering favorite spa items like bath truffles, milk baths, and a home-roasted  coffee body scrub.
Use COUPON CODE for 10% off:  FFTC10

Gianna’s Thoughts: I found Simply Bliss at my local Farmer’s Market and have fallen in love with the Brown Sugar Latte Body Scrub.  If you have a coffee lover in your family, I’m pretty sure they will LOVE this gift.

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Handcrafting Events

Gifts Made By Me Box Affiliate Link*

Green Kids Crafts knows how much kids love making gifts for their loved ones, especially during the holidays, so they made it easy for us. This box will supply a child with SIX great creative activities they can make and give as keepsake gifts to their favorite people. Includes the following projects: Framed Ornament, Mosaic Coaster, Tie Dye Bag, Artist Canvas, and Homemade Wrapping Paper. With this box, your child can unlock their creative potential and create one-of-a-kind gifts. For ages 3+. Purchase the Gifts Made by Me Box for $34.95.

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Twin Cities Studios to Handcraft Holiday Gifts

 

Articulture | Minneapolis

2613 East Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Offers: Articulture is a collection of local artists and art-lovers that provide classes for people ages 1-100+.

Opportunities:

• TBA

ARTrageous Adventures | Minneapolis

2121 W 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55405
Offers: Every Saturday from 10 am-2 pm, drop in for Open Studio Hours.  $25/Hour

North Suburban Center for the Arts at the Banfill-Locke  | Fridley

 110  77th Way NE, Fridley, MN 55432
Offers:  November 19 Winter 3-D Paper and Clay Family Workshop| 2:30 pm-4:30 pm, $10/person | For ages 5+ | Also, pick up a Family Art Kit to make some gifts at home and check out the Holiday Giftmart.

Studios are permanently closed.  Order DIY Kits to be shipped to your home.  
Offers: Shop for stencils only or complete DIY packs with everything you need to make custom signs and gifts for those you love.

13351 Elm Creek Road, Dayton, MN 55369
Offers: Learn to make candles at one of three candle-making workshops. A great gift to add to anyone’s decor.

• Nov 18, 2022: Homeschool Family: Candle Making – 1pm-3pm
• Nov 18, 2022: Girl Scouts: Candle Making and Yarn Dolls. 6:30pm-8:30pm.
• Nov. 19, 2022: Candle Making Workshop – 1pm-3pm.

7210 County Road 110 West, Minnetrista, MN 55364
Offers: Learn felting and create Fiber Gifts from sheep’s wool. These activities require pre-registration.

• Nov 12, 2022: Holiday Felted Ornaments – 1pm-3:30pm (Ages 12+)
• Nov 19, 2022: Sheep Shearing & Fiber Gifts – 9:30am-12pm (Ages 8+)
• Nov 20, 2022: Felted Holiday Stockings – 12:30pm-4:30pm (Ages 12+)
• Nov 20, 2022: Needle Felted Holiday Sculptures – 1pm-3:30pm (Ages 12+)
• Dec 2, 2022: Sheep to Felted Luminary – 10am-1:30pm (Ages 12+)

Heartfelt | Minneapolis

4306 Upton Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55410
Offers: Monthly preschool festivals, drop-in crafts and a comfortable, child-friendly environment to spend some time. Browse their Holiday Gift Digest, filled with dozens of holiday projects from tabletop reindeer to wood-burned picture frames, that can be given as handmade gifts.

Home Depot Kids Workshops

• Nov. 26, 2022: Train Ornament
• Dec 3, 2022: Santa Letters Mailbox (Gift Idea: With different paint this could hold jewelry, glasses or remote controls).

Lakeshore Learning Free Crafts for Kids | Maplewood and St. Louis Park

Michaels | Twin Cities locations

Offers: Sundays are MakeBreak Classes where you come home with a free gift you make yourself

• Nov 6: Paint ornaments
• Nov 13: Make cards with pop-up Christmas Trees
• Nov 19: Learn to make peppermint candy melts
• Nov 20: Pinecone Christmas Trees
• Dec 4: Mini Canvas Gift Tags
• Dec 11: Painted Rocks
• Dec 18: Yarn-wrapping gifts

Northern Clay | Minneapolis

2424 Franklin Avenue East Minneapolis, MN 55406
Offers: Classes and Studio times for kids and adults to work with clay and create ceramic arts and pottery.
Opportunities:

• Sunday, Nov 13, 2022, 12pm-4pm: Art@HAND Winter Workshop. Create decorative claycreatures  FREE.

Northrup King Building | Minneapolis

1500 Jackson St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Offers: A building full of art studios, shop Minnesota artists on Saturdays in December.
Opportunities:

• • Friday-Sunday, Nov 4-6, 2022: Art Attack will have interactive art activities that may just make great gifts.

Simply Jane | Minneapolis

Offers: Still on hiatus, but offering an artist to come to you. The studio is still looking for a new space and hopes to re-open soon.  In the meantime, families can order kits to create handmade gifts at home.

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More Holiday Shopping and Gift Ideas:

• Handcraft some cookie treats: Where to Make Christmas Cookies in the Twin Cities.
• Shop small businesses: Support Your Local Shops on Plaid Friday and Small Business Saturday.
• Consider Crafting as a Black Friday Alternative
• Pop-up opportunities to shop local makers & local artisans: Holiday Shopping Events: Christmas in the Twin Cities 2022
• Toys: Twin Cities Toy Stores for Every Family
• Best Places to Buy Real Christmas Trees in the Twin Cities
• Mix shopping with fun at Holidazzle at Loring Park.

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**Family Fun Twin Cities has an affiliate sales relationship with Green Kids Crafts. We receive a small commission for sales through our site.