It’s winter and CCPL and CreativeBug have you covered.  For this post, we highlight some of the amazing crafts and classes available to you with your CCPL library card in Creativebug. To start you exploring, we created a list of FREE crafts classes that include activities such as knitting a blanket, DIY seasonal letters and DIY gift wrap paper. We included seven activities with their videos, but feel free to check out all the others, and get busy and creative this winter with friends and family, and Creativebug! 

Winter Wreath

(From Creative Bug) This winter season, make a festive wreath with Alethea and Jill of Studio Choo. Using a variety of evergreen branches, berries, pods and pinecones, Jill demonstrates how to snip branches down to manageable pieces and attach them securely to a wire wreath form. As she walks you through the process of building the wreath, Jill shares her signature ideas for combining different kinds of foliage to create a wild, organic look.

Learn how to:

  • Master basic wire-wrapping skills
  • Work foliage trimming
  • Combine foliage in creative ways

Winter Placemats

(From Creative Bug) Make a winter textile with Jenn Sbranti from Hostess with the Mostess . Working in Cricut’s Design Space, you’ll cut two kinds of iron-on vinyl, then adhere to a placemat or table runner to personalize your seasonal dining space. Further embellish your work with stencil and painted motifs using basic acrylic paint turned fabric paint with a hot tip from Jenn. This seasonal textile adds sparkle and texture to any table.

Learn how to:

  • Decorate a placemat with Cricut iron-on decals
  • Mix your own fabric paint
  • Place and paint stencils evenly
  • Make stencils with your Cricut machine
  • Use Design Space
  • Layer Cricut iron-on materials

Make a Throw Blanket

(From Creativebug) Who doesn’t love cuddling under a big squishy throw blanket on a cold winter night? Learn how to make your very own oversized garter stitch throw – no knitting experience required. In this beginner friendly class, arm-knitting expert Anne Weil shows you every step of construction, from cast on to bind off. Since you’ll be using your arms instead of knitting needles, all you need is yarn to get started.

Learn how to:

  • Cast on and bind off
  • Arm knit with the basics and purling
  • Put your stitches on hold
  • Join in new balls of yarn
  • Weave in your ends

Winter Trees Decor

(From Creativebug) Jenn Sbranti from Hostess with the Mostess guides you through Cricut Design Space to create a trio of trees that stand up in a container of your choosing. This customizable centerpiece will spruce up your table for any gathering. Jenn will also walk you through cutting out intricate vinyl accents for your merry and bright container (with special tips and tricks for how to place those tiny adhesive vinyl pieces just right). This project makes a sensational seasonal centerpiece for a table or mantle.

Learn how to:

  • Use Cricut Design Space
  • Build geometric 3D paper trees
  • Work with Cricut Premium Vinyl
  • Create a container centerpiece
  • Add accents to customize

Mega Floppy Pom Pom

(From Creativebug) Marly Bird shows us how to make giant pom poms to top her newly-released Snowboarder Hat. This video originally appeared on Facebook Live on February 20, 2018.

Find the crocheted pattern here and the knitting pattern here!

DIY Painted Gift Wrap

(From Creativebug) In one afternoon, you can create enough painted paper to wrap gifts for any occasion. Courtney Cerruti teaches several quick and easy dry-brush techniques, from sophisticated crosshatch designs to lose geometric squiggles – no prior painting experience required. At the very end, Courtney shares unique ideas for mixing and matching papers to wrap any gift.

Learn how to:

  • Dry-brush
  • Create several surface designs
  • Wrap gifts

Marbled Eggs

(From Creativebug) Watch Courtney and Faith make a variety of marbled eggs using food-safe dyes and olive oil. This video originally appeared live March 11, 2019.