Arlington Community Education

Explore a seemingly endless supply of fun materials in this “craft-tacular” week. We’ll use yarn, popsicle sticks, beads, and more to make a variety of projects, including fluffy pompoms, treasure boxes, beaded geckos, flip flop noteholders, and more. Expand your crafting skills with gimp as we experiment with different stitches to make things like bracelets, keychains, and lanyards.

Did you know that making friendship bracelets is a two thousand year old tradition? We will use beads, bangles, and elaborate patterns to jazz up the more traditional string and gimp creations. Choose beautiful colors of string then learn to braid designs such as candy stripe, criss cross, and skinny stripe. Add in fun beads or charms to make them even more special. You will go home with bracelets galore and plentiful supplies to make more. This is “knot” your everyday friendship bracelet making class. Beginners to experts welcome.

Be amazed by the stunning, functional pieces of art you can make by combining colorful pieces of cut glass. After learning how to work safely, you will design your own unique fused glass tile and a night light using glass pieces, powders, frits (crushed glass), and stringers (spaghetti-like glass threads). Then decorate a trivet and embellish a mirror with a gorgeous glass mosaic. Finish the week by creating two beautiful silver-plated pendant necklaces featuring color-changing iridized and dichroic glass. Please note: Tuition includes a $105 materials fee. NEW SECTIONS ADDED July 28-August 1 AM, Grades 7-12 (follow link to high school listing) July 28-August 1 PM, Grades 3-6 (see below) 2022 parent: "My child liked making a variety of objects from glass without any accidents. He also enjoyed being able to use glass cutting tools and glass firing in a safe way."

Inspired by your active imagination and favorite movies, use special effects to transform a sculptural foam mannequin head into your own spooky or spectacular character. Design props and accessories to add dimension and personality. We will use acrylic paint, model magic, and other mixed media to bring our creations to life.

Use the magic of mixed media to craft a wild jungle, a secret hideout, or a whimsical world like cats in the kitchen or a panda sleepover. We’ll use oven-fired polymer clay and a variety of mixed media materials such as paint, colorful markers, decorative papers, shiny duct tape, and found objects. Stretch, pull, twist, mold, and sculpt animals, food, and more to bring your three-dimensional scene to life.

Unlock your artistic potential with a week filled with vibrant colors, imaginative landscapes, and a multitude of artistic creations. Use acrylics and watercolors to create beautiful seascapes, picturesque mountain ranges, and decorative wooden frames. Craft a wide array of DIY projects such as painted wooden organizers, paper flowers and pennants, mini pinch pots, rag quilts, and balloon garlands.

Join us for an imaginative week of creating magical creatures, such as animals, gnomes, wizards, or fairies, and constructing tiny dwellings where they can live and play. Using mostly materials we find in nature, as well as recycled items, we will create welcoming homes for our magical creatures.

Put on your painter’s cap and get ready to explore different ways to create with paint. We’ll talk about how great artists think and use their techniques to add depth and interest as we paint portraits, landscapes, and abstract art using thick lines, watery washes, and bright colors. Plus, we’ll experiment with different mediums and surfaces to paint on, so you can find the style and materials you love best.

Explore the basics of painting while learning how to create abstract artwork, giving you more freedom to express yourself and see art in a new way. You’ll try out different painting techniques, tools, and materials and discover the history of abstract art. Plus, you’ll keep an inspiration journal to record your ideas, research, and artistic journey. Build your creativity, problem-solving skills, and confidence as an artist.

Are you a Swiftie who loves art? Come craft creations straight out of your “wildest dreams.” We’ll draw, create silhouettes, and do awesome crafts inspired by Taylor’s music and style. Whether you’re crafting a “cardigan” or designing a “folklore”-themed masterpiece, come express yourself and make art as unique as a Swiftie playlist. “You belong with me” on this artistic adventure!

Discover the vibrant culture of Mexico and learn some Spanish as we create colorful crafts like flor de piñas (pineapple flowers) from Oaxaca and máscaras (masks) for the danza de los viejitos (dance of the little old men) from Michoacán. We’ll play traditional games like papa caliente (hot potato), zapatito (little shoe), and abeja buzz (buzzy bee) and whip up delicious treats like cheesy quesadillas and fruity calientito. As we explore the richness of Mexican traditions, we’ll learn the basic Spanish words for ingredients, numbers, and colors—y más! Descubre la vibrante cultura Mexicana mientras aprendes español básico. Juntos crearemos coloridas manualidades como Piñas decoradas y mascaras de colores que usaremos para la danza de los viejitos (Michoacán) y Flor de piña (Oaxaca). Jugaremos juegos simples como papa calienta, zapatito y abeja buzz, disfrutaremos comida como quesadillas y bebidas tradicionales como caliento. Mientras exploramos la rica cultura Mexicana aprenderemos español básico, colores, numero, ingredientes, emociones y mas…

Combine your love of nature and art as you explore the world around you through creative art projects. We’ll closely observe nature’s patterns—like the shapes of leaves, designs on rocks, patterns on butterfly wings, details of feathers, and the way light shines through crystals. Then we’ll draw, paint, layer sand, and make collages to turn our discoveries about the natural world into amazing art.

Craft your way through the world of Minecraft in this hands-on class—no computer screen required. Learn how to draw your favorite mobs (characters) by sketching basic shapes and adding the distinctive pixelated details of Minecraft’s signature style. Make a colorful, Minecraft-inspired mask you can wear—whether it’s a Creeper’s face, Steve, or your favorite Minecraft animal. Transform cardboard into cool tools, like swords and pickaxes, that can be used for pretend play or displayed as part of your Minecraft collection.

Get ready to explore the playful possibilities of printmaking. You’ll create awesome, one-of-a-kind works of art using all sorts of cool printmaking techniques. Stamp with potatoes, make prints with leaves, and even use squishy stuffed animals (don’t worry—the instructor will provide the plushies). You’ll also create multicolored, layered images with styrofoam and design your own mandala prints using foam and cardboard.

Learn to draw animals, vehicles, plants, ocean creatures, and more, using a combination of basic shapes. Pick your favorites and combine them to make a scene that you will color with a variety of media. Each day we will focus on a different theme and build on our drawing knowledge to make more elaborate pictures. There’s no right or wrong in this class—drawing is all about having fun!