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Calling all Swifties! We see soooo many customers bring pottery to life with iconic Taylor Swift inspired designs and quotes. From "Love Story" to "Lover," we've seen it all! So for all you die-hard Taylor Swift fans with a passion for pottery painting, you're in luck! Drum roll please! Crafty Monkey Studio is very excited to announce the Taylor Swift upcoming events they will be holding (and watch this space for Swiftie workshops at a later date). These Swiftie Pottery Painting events will be an evening of painting Taylor-inspired designs onto pottery here at our Crafty Monkey studio and all things Taylor! They're guaranteed to get you into the spirit of her current Eras Tour and for those of you who didn’t manage to get tickets, you’ll have the chance to experience some Taylor with other Swifties. Why Taylor Swift? Errr…Hello?!  As you know, Taylor Swift is not just a pop sensation; she's a cultural icon. Her music, style, and overall aesthetic have inspired countless fans around the world. What better way to celebrate your love for Taylor than by painting her designs on ceramics? Whether you're a Swiftie from way back or just getting into her music, our Taylor Swift pottery painting upcoming events are the perfect way to show your fandom by painting your very own ceramic masterpiece. Long Story Short Our first event night is in line with her mammoth Eras Tour kicking off in Europe. We are holding it on 10th May, however, this has booked up almost as fast as her tour and before we had a chance to properly promote it so we’ve added a new date on June 21st to coincide with Taylors first UK date of her tour. Our evening event nights are aimed at adults but happy for age 10+ to attend. However, as a result of the interest shown from people with younger Swifties, we’re planning on running workshops for young Swifties and may put on an all ages event in the future so stay tuned! What to Expect at these fun-filled Taylor Swift upcoming events? As you step into our studio, you'll be greeted with a welcoming atmosphere, complete with Taylor Swift music playing in the background and Taylor-inspired décor scattered around the studio to get you in the mood! Once you’ve selected your pottery piece, from our extensive range, we will guide you through the pottery painting process, providing tips and tricks. It's now time to get creative, painting your masterpiece, inspired by your favourite era, worthy of Taylor herself. Our Taylor Swift pottery painting events are nights of creativity, fun, and, of course, everything Taylor! Not very creative or arty? Don't worry we've got you covered! We've curated a selection of Taylor-inspired design templates. You can simply trace your chosen design on your pottery piece and paint to your heart's content. From "Red" to "1989" to "Folklore", whether you want to paint lyrics, album covers, or even Taylor's cats, the possibilities are endless. Paint a mug with snakes for “Reputation”, a clock for “Midnights”, or even a plate with a section for each era on. No matter what design you choose, it’s sure to be an “Enchanted” night! To get pottery painting inspiration see our Taylor Swift Inspired Pottery & Designs Pinterest board “Aren't you The Lucky One” And of course our night wouldn't be complete without some Taylor themed goodies for you! Each guest will get a friendship bracelet handmade by our talented Chloe. She's a hardcore Swiftie and came up with the idea of putting on these themed evenings! You will also get a little Taylor Swift gift from us too! Are You Ready For It? Ready to unleash your inner Swiftie?  Either book a table with your fellow Swiftie friends or if flying solo book onto our Swiftie Community table where you’ll meet other Swiftie's to sing along with! Don't miss out on this unforgettable experience. Book now and get ready to get your paint on and come celebrate the magic of Taylor Swift with us. Once booked head over and like our Taylor Swift Facebook Event page where we'll be providing updated about the event and design ideas and all things Taylor. We also encourage you to come along dressed in your favourite era as a homage to Tay! We cant wait to see you! 🫶 If we're sold out or you can't make the date then comment here or in our Facebook Event page so we can either add you onto the waiting list or if enough interest we may put another date on! Also let us know if you want to be informed on events and workshops for your young Swifties! #TaylorSwift #PotteryPainting #EventNight #Cambs #Cambridgeshire #MyCraftyMonkey #PaintParty #Taylornation #Swiftie #SipNPaint #StNeots #taylorsversion #taylorswiftinspiredpottery

Crafty Monkey hit the road for a crafternoon (afternoon tea and pottery painting experience) hosted at Sawtry Tea Room, and it was a delightful affair! Nestled on the high street of Sawtry, the tea room provided a lovely setting for an afternoon filled with creativity, laughter, and, of course, plenty of tea. Guests feasted on an array of sandwiches, cakes, and other delightful treats plucked from tiered trays and cake stands. Vintage crockery adorned the tables, adding an elegant touch to the ambiance and setting the stage for a special experience. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as the guests came together, cups of tea in hand to spend some quality time together and embark in some mindfulness and creativity. From delicate flowers on jugs to geometric designs on mugs, each participant poured their heart and soul into their creations. Smiles were abundant and there was plenty of chatter over the delicacies but you could hear a pin drop whilst the concentration on painting was happening. The afternoon was wonderful and left us with a feeling of ‘our glass is full’. At the end we all got to see what each other had been working on and it’s amazing to see how each person brings their own unique perspective and creativity to the table. As the afternoon came to a close, we bid farewell to Sawtry Tea Room with full hearts and full bellies. Thankyou to everyone who joined us for this special event and helped make it a lovely experience. Check out our reel from the afternoon below! If you were disappointed to miss out on this event be sure to keep an eye on our social media for when the bookings go live for our next one at Sawtry Tea Room or check out our events page on the website. If you're interested in hosting a workshop or a sip and paint event of your own, whether it's a mother-daughter outing, a team-building activity, or a gathering with friends, we'd love to hear from you! Contact us to discuss how we can bring a touch of Crafty Monkey magic to you! #potterypainting #crafternoontea #diypotterypainting #paintyourownpottery #pyop #potterylove #potteryart #ceramics #paintyourown #afternoontea #cambridgeshireactivities #uniquethingstodo

With Easter just around the corner (I know, still feels like January right? but honestly it's super close now. There's never been a better time to join us for a pottery painting eggs-travaganza (gotta love a pun!) Not everyone can enjoy or wants to eat chocolate at Easter so it's always fun to look for an alternative gift or experience. Picture this: you and your crew gathered around a table, surrounded by an array of Easter-themed pottery pieces just waiting to be transformed (of course it could be any pottery). From adorable bunnies and colourful eggs to sweet lambs, delicate flowers, and meaningful crosses, our selection of Easter-inspired pieces is sure to ignite your imagination. Whether it's a ceramic egg filled with succulents or an Easter bunny ornament adorning your shelf, each piece adds a touch of character to your home. Here's a small selection of some of our Easter themed pieces just waiting to be painted either in our studio or they can be purchased as a 'Take Out' kit to paint at home either with our underglazes or with your own acrylic paint. These make gret Easter gifts as an alternative to a choccie egg especially for little ones. (oh just a sidenote though... the products below are just to show you some of our collection - please only hit the buy now button if you are purchasing as a take out kit. If you are painting in the studio you choose and pay for your piece on the day) Book your studio session now Of course you don't have to paint Easter pieces, anything can be made Eastery especially if you you have little hand or footprints for their first Easter. Whether you're a seasoned painter or a total beginner, there's a piece of pottery with your name on it. Trust us, you'll be amazed at what you can create with a little bit of paint and a whole lot of imagination. See you in the studio! oh and here is a little gallery of images to give you some ideas on what you could paint and how it could look... But hang on, why are we talking about bunnies, shouldn't it be chickens? And what’s with the eggs? Why are we encouraging you to paint these things? let's take a quick moment to explore the history behind some of Easter's most iconic symbols: The Easter Bunny can be traced back to acnient folklore particularly in Germanic cultures. Originally it wasn't a bunny though, but instead a hare. Hares were used to symbolise fertility and new life... which links them to the rabbit and the expression about their mating practises and in Christianity the hare is a representation of the resurrection of Christ and the promise of new beginnings. How cute are those little bunny footprints? This was created a couple of years ago now but I think we can all agree how stinking cute it is! Check out more bunny footprints here. These days however it is not a hare that delivers our chocolatey treats on Easter Sunday but instead a cute little bunny rabbit that is often tweaked with artistic license to be anthopomorphic, carrying a basket on one arm and maybe a pink satin ribbon adorned around his neck. This image is largely fuelled by advertising but hey, what's not to love about a cute bunny especially one that delivers those yummies! Chocolate Eggs: Just like hares and rabbits, the egg has long been associated with Springtime festivals for symbolising new life. Traditionally eggs were decorated and exchanged at family gatherings and festivals. That all makes sense but do you ever wonder why chocolate eggs are a staple of Easter celebrations? This tradition dates back to the early 19th century when European confectioners began crafting chocolate eggs as a sweet treat for the holiday and some may say that this was the start to the commercialisation of the holiday although a choccy egg is something many people look forward to receiving so it's not all bad!

Bored of the same old weekend routine and looking for fun or unique activities that are out of the ordinary? Look no further, because Crafty Monkey has introduced a new and exciting experience that combines the elegance of afternoon tea with the joy of pottery painting. And the best part? No experience is needed! Introducing Crafternoon Tea! - see what we did there!😁 Imagine sipping on a cup of tea, after indulging in a selection of sweet and savoury treats, and letting your artistic side run wild on a blank canvas of pottery. It's the perfect way to unwind, socialize, and create something beautiful which can later take pride of place in your home, or even be a functional piece to use, as a memento of a truly unique experience. Pottery Painting Fun for Everyone Whether you consider yourself an artistic soul or you're a complete beginner and have never picked up a paintbrush before, pottery painting is a fantastic activity that anyone can enjoy. Crafty Monkey's will provide you with full instruction and guidance, ensuring that you feel confident and inspired as you unleash your creativity onto a blank canvas. Catch Up with Friends Gather your friends for a memorable afternoon of laughter, creativity, and delicious treats. Bond over shared artistic experiences and create beautiful pottery pieces that will serve as lasting mementos of your time together. Plan a Unique Date Looking for a unique and thoughtful date idea? Enjoy quality time together while painting pottery and indulging in scrumptious treats - a date that's sure to be remembered fondly. You could even paint each other a piece! A Perfect Special Birthday or Mother's Day Gift Treat your mum or a special person in your life to a one-of-a-kind experience that they'll cherish forever? Create beautiful pottery pieces, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Our first Crafternoon Tea will be held at Sawtry Tea Room on 16th March 2024. Click on the buy now button to learn more. We are also looking to hold Crafternoon Tea at other venues, so keep an eye out for upcoming dates near you or if you on a cafe/tea room or know of a good one then let us know! We can also do other event's that may be more suited to your venue like our 'Sip and Paint' nights or 'Pizza and Paint' which have also been popular in the past! So, what are you waiting for? Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or looking for a fun activity with friends or family, embrace your creativity and indulge in a delightful Crafternoon Tea experience with Crafty Monkey. Book your experience today... #crafternoontea #verycraftea #craft #crafternoon #uniqueactivities #funthingstodo #newexperience #afternoontea #tealovers #craftlovers #treatmum

A chilly February half-term holiday looms and for some parents and carers it can bring a special kind of magic and chaos but for others it can bring a great big dollop of hail and sleet. With temperatures outside less than desirable parents and carers often find themselves grappling with the challenge of keeping little ones engaged and entertained during this time. Fear not! With some simple strategies, you can make it through with smiles all around. Here's a straightforward guide of things to do with the kids to help you navigate the winter break without stress: When it's chilly outside, plan some fun indoor activities. Movie nights, board games, and puzzles are easy and enjoyable ways to spend time together without braving the cold. 2. Libraries often have special activities, events and reading programs during school breaks. Take a trip to the library, pick out some new books, and attend any scheduled activities. Come home, make a hot chocolate and snuggle with your home made treats, a blanket and your cosy reads. 3. Gather some basic craft supplies and let the creativity flow. Simple projects like making paper snowflakes or creating winter-themed drawings can keep the kids entertained and engaged. Get crafty with DIY home decor projects. Simple projects like making winter-themed garlands or decorating mason jars can add a touch of seasonal charm to your home. 4. Not always a ‘less stress’ or ‘less mess’ option but how about bringing the family together in the kitchen to bake some simple treats like cookies or cakes and then… 5. Can’t face the thought of clearing up crafting or baking mess? Just need to get out of the house for a circuit breaker? Yep, we hear ya! Take your kids to your local pottery painting studio. Or if local to St. Neots, book a pottery painting session or our popular build-a-bear activity with us at Crafty Monkey. We have a mix of pieces to suit most budgets and tastes for the young and young at heart. Yes, Grandma and Grandpa if you are looking after the kids in the half term bring ‘em in and get the kids to paint you a nice plant pot or teapot. They get to enjoy time spent with you and you get to enjoy a restful cuppa in a painted with love vessel! Scroll through our little gallery of images below to get some pottery painting inspiration... 6. If local and looking for other activities and things to do to keep the kids entertained near to you, St Neots boasts a range of fantastic venues and outdoor spaces, ensuring there's something for every little explorer. If you haven't already, check out: St. Neots Museum – they often run budget friendly kids activities in school holidays Paxton Pits – great for winter walks and the education center runs activities for kids Miniature Railway – at Riverside Park near a play park and café Extreme 360 trampoline Indoor trampolining park Eat n bowl - ten pin bowling alley One Leisure - recreation center for raquet sports, roller skating and swimming Mini Monsters soft play With a mix of activities, a bit of creativity, and some quality time together, you can make the most of the Half Term and create cherished winter memories. Enjoy the downtime, stay warm, and have fun! #potterypainting #pyop #potterypaintingstudio #paintyourownpottery #creativeactivities #creativethingstodo #creativedaysout #familydayout #kidsactivities

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and at Crafty Monkey we've got an array of heart-themed pottery pieces just waiting for your artistic touch. From charming heart-shaped bowls, plaques, tea light holders, wax melt burners to cute mugs (to name but a few) adorned with love, these pieces are a perfect canvas for your creative expression of luuuuurve! Here are three popular ready to paint items... Of course it doesn't have to be all about hearts; anything can be painted on theme using the romantic hues of pinks and reds, your masterpiece doesn't have to be heart-shaped to capture the Valentine's spirit. How about painting something love inspired on a round plate or jug? Need some inspiration to kickstart your artistic journey? Scroll through the next set of photos featuring different ways to paint your pottery in a Valentine's Day theme. From intricate patterns to bold colour choices, these images showcase a very small selection of the endless possibilities that await your brush strokes. If you're hungry for love, or more love inspired painting ideas should we say, head over to our Pinterest board dedicated to Valentine's Day pottery inspiration. Pin your favorites and bring them to life during your next pottery painting session. Book your painting session ASAP for time is of the essence and Valentine's Day is fast approaching. Whether you're planning a cosy date night, or a creative outing with friends, securing your spot ensures you have ample time to craft the perfect Valentine's Day masterpiece. We look forward to welcoming you to Crafty Monkey either before Valentine’s Day or on Valentine’s Day itself, either during the day or for our adults only evening. Join us for our Valentine's evening session (adults only): For just £10 per painter, immerse yourself in the artistic atmosphere with the inclusive studio fee worth £4.50 covering underglaze, paint, and firing and a welcome drink of pink fizz on arrival (non-alcoholic option also available) and you'll receive a small token of our love and appreciation, as you craft your masterpiece. We will also be adding decorations to the studio as a little nod to the occasion, creating what we hope to be a warm and inviting ambiance without overwhelming the artistic space. Join us for a relaxed and creative Valentine's experience! Remember: It's all about having fun, expressing yourself, and creating memories that will last far beyond the month of February. So, grab your paintbrush, pick your favourite piece, and let the Valentine's Day painting festivities begin! #potterypainting #pyop #potterypaintingstudio #paintyourownpottery #creativeactivities #creativethingstodo #creativedaysout #dateideas #potterystudio #ceramicpainting #valentines #valentinesday #dateideas #valentinesdateidea

Valentine's Day doesn't have to be all about roses and candle lit dinners. Whether you're celebrating with your significant other or getting together with friends, consider stepping outside the traditional Valentine's Day box. In this blog post, we'll explore five alternative activities that bring couples and friends together, with a special focus on the creative and versatile. 1. Ditch the crowded restaurants and opt for a cook at home extravaganza. OK it doesn’t have to be that extravagant! Whipping up a delicious meal together can be both entertaining and intimate. Host a potluck dinner where each couple or friend brings a dish to share. It's a communal way to celebrate, enjoy diverse flavours, and try something new. 2. As a couple or group of friends, plan an outdoor activity day. Whether it's hiking, biking, or even a scenic picnic, being in nature provides a refreshing change from the typical Valentine's Day routine. 3. Spice up your Valentine's Day with some friendly competition. Gather friends for a board game night filled with laughter and strategic moves. Couples can team up or go head-to-head in a game of friendly rivalry. 4. Rather than going to the movies, create your own cinema experience at home with your partner or a group of friends. Choose a theme – classic romance, comedy, or even adventure films – and enjoy a movie marathon. Don't forget the popcorn and drinks! 5. Gather your loved ones for a pottery painting session. Paint a mug with sweet messages or create abstract art – the beauty lies in the freedom to paint on or off the theme. It's a unique and memorable way to spend quality time together. More Valentine’s inspiration coming soon to the blog and our social media feeds so keep your eyes peeled! If you live near St. Neots you can Book your painting session now to paint your gift for your loved one - We have plenty of heart-themed pottery! Remember though time is of the essence as Valentine's Day is fast approaching and it can take 10 days for us to process your piece. Valentine's Crafty Date Night at Crafty Monkey Cambridgeshire Or you could come with your beau on Valentine's Day itself either in the daytime or to our Alternative Valentine's Pottery Painting event in the evening. Or come with friends to celebrate Gal-entines. For the single pringles, show yourself some love and take part in our - very fun - bubble heart plate workshop! Whether you're planning a cosy date night or a creative outing with friends, we look forward to welcoming you to Crafty Monkey on Valentine’s Day, either during the day or for our adults only evening. Join us for our Valentine's evening session (adults only): For just £10 per painter, immerse yourself in the artistic atmosphere with the inclusive studio fee worth £4.50 covering underglaze, paint, and firing. Sip on a complimentary glass of pink fizz, with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available, as you craft your masterpiece. As a token of our love and appreciation, each participant will receive a small little surprise on the night and we will be adding subtle decorations to the studio as a little nod to the occasion, creating what we hope to be a warm and inviting ambiance without overwhelming the artistic space. Join us for a relaxed and creative Valentine's experience! Remember, Valentine's Day is about celebrating love and connection, whether with a partner or friends. By choosing alternative activities like pottery painting and embracing the freedom to paint on or off theme, you create lasting memories that go beyond the traditional. So, break away from the ordinary, and make this Valentine's Day a unique and unforgettable experience for everyone involved. #potterypainting #pyop #potterypaintingstudio #paintyourownpottery #creativeactivities #creativethingstodo #creativedaysout #dateideas #potterystudio #ceramicpainting #valentines #valentinesday #dateideas #valentinesdateidea

Baby prints make great Christmas gifts for loved ones, they're a great keepsake to keep for years to remember how tiny your little ones hands and feet were. But with so many adorable designs, it can be hard to choose which one to go for! That's why we have come up with a top ten list to help you decide which one to choose! So starting with number 10... 10. Santa/Father Christmas Handprint What's more Christmassy than Santa! This is one of our handprint designs and looks adorable on pottery such as coasters. Why not make a coaster with this design on to put Santa's milk on for Christmas eve! 9. Penguin Footprint Another Christmas favourite is our penguin footprint design! This playful print looks adorable on a plate to put on show each year round. 8. Christmas Pudding Bumprint For the less conventional parents we have the Cheeky, Christmas pudding bumprint plate. This design is perfect for the foodie of the family to dish out desert on Christmas day. 7. Snowman Footprint What's not to love about this snowman footprint design! This design is perfect for a bauble to hang on the tree. 6. Christmas Tree Hand/Footprint This Christmas tree design can be done as a handprint or a footprint! This design is perfect for the family member who loves decorating their house head to toe in the Christmas season! 5. Gingerbread Man Footprint The gingerbread man footprint design is a great option for the sweet tooth of the family! This design looks adorable on a mug and makes the perfect tea mug to dip some gingerbread in! 4. Simple Hand/Footprint Why not keep it simple? This simple handprint design makes an adorable Christmas gift for any member of the family and is so versatile as you can choose whichever colour combination you want! Why not put it on a plate or coaster so that it can be used all year round. 3. Robin Hand/Footprint This is by far one of our most popular handprint designs around the Christmas season! These little robins look adorable on baubles and are the perfect gift for the bird lovers in the family! 2. Mistletoes Footprints This footprint design is an adorable way to remember the size of your little ones feet! This simplistic looking design looks adorable on plates, mugs and baubles and your loved ones are sure to treasure it. 1. Rudolph Hand/Footprint Its not Christmas without Rudolph! We have Rudolph designs for both hand and footprints, and it's by far our most popular design of the season. This adorable design is perfect for a bauble to keep for years to come. Or why not get a memento for yourself to keep! This treats for Santa and Rudolph plate is the perfect memento to get out for Christmas every year! So now we've given you the Christmas baby print options why not book as session to come and do some prints! Maybe prints on pottery isn't your style, why not check out some of our other gift options such as silverprint jewellery, Gift vouchers or create your own gift in a pottery painting session. #babyprint #christmas #personalgifts #footprint #handprint #bumprint #giftideas #christmasgifts #silverprint #keepsakes #potterypainting #babyprintpottery #potterykeepsakes

We are so pumped for our upcoming Wear it Pink Boobie Nights where we’ll be paying homage to our boobs in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month! Part of the proceeds of the night will also be going to the worthy Breast Cancer Now charity. We are holding them on the following nights: Tuesday 17th October 2023 at the Happy Mama, Family Hub in Brampton Thursday 19th October 2023 at our Crafty Monkey Studio in St. Neots So get your friends together and book onto one of our events for an evening full of fun, giggles and of course boobs! We of course strongly encourage everyone to come adorned in pink or wear a hint of pink to really get into the evening. You will be welcomed with a glass of pink fizz (either alcoholic or non-alcoholic depending on your preference) and a free ticket for our raffle complete with boobie prizes – you can purchase more tickets on the night. If you’re at the Happy Mama event there will be a Wear it Pink selfie station where you can capture your best poses and tag to socials to help raise awareness (we also hope to set one up at Crafty Monkey too). Also at Happy Mama, the lovely Helen Deverell, a breast cancer survivor will be doing a quick talk about her experience having breast cancer; the importance of checking yourselves, what to look out for and the charity called CoppaFeel. After this it’ll be time to unleash that creative streak with one of the below boobilicious options – don’t worry if it’s non-existent and you're not arty, you don't need to be. It's designed to be a fun girly night that’s something out of the ordinary and out and help and guidance will be on hand! 1) Boob Pot Workshop We will be running a clay workshop inspired by boobies where you’ll learn how to make a coil pot before moulding boobs in clay. Boob Pots are great for your succulents! 2) Pottery Painting: Boob Themed Pottery Come and paint the trending boob design on mugs, jugs, and plates. We have seen some great boob themed pottery painting over the last few years, so why not come in and give it a go. Or perhaps you would prefer to paint another design incorporating the pink ribbon associated with breast cancer. Don’t worry though if boob themed pottery isn’t your thing, you can still come and enjoy the night painting whatever you would like. 3) Boob Prints on Pottery The final activity is one of our favourites, print your very own boobs onto a plate or piece of pottery. We do so many baby prints at the studio it’s time for the adults to have some fun. Don’t worry though we won’t assist unless you ask us to and after we give you instructions you can do it in a private area. After you get your prints you can leave them plain or turn them into something, such as cherries, Christmas puddings, cupcakes and more! These plates could be a perfect gift for your partner this Christmas. Big thanks to the lovely Zyllah who owned Crazy Glazy in Godmanchester for allowing us to use these images of her very popular and successful annual Boobie Nights! The pottery workshop is £40 which includes all materials, a welcome drink and raffle ticket and for pottery painting including boob prints and boob pottery it’s £10 plus the item you choose to paint – see our online shop for our offering. The £10 includes the £4.50 studio fee, a welcome drink and a raffle ticket! Part of the proceeds of the night and the money made on the raffle will be going to Breast Cancer Now! Sounds like fun? It will be so book your space/s now and don’t forget to wear pink on the night! #potterypainting #breastcancerawareness #paintyourownpottery #potteryclasses #breastcancerawarenessmonth #breastcancernow #boobpots #boobdesign #boobsmug #potterypainting #fundraisingevent #potterypaintingevent #wearitpinkevent #happymamahub

Pottery painting is a great activity for family time and has something to offer for every member of the family. We have put together our top ten favourite reasons why we love pottery painting and how it can help in many aspects of family life. 1. Pottery painting is great for quality family time: It’s a relaxing activity in the company of others, and it’s perfect for catching up with your loved ones. The activity allows you to have time to unwind together, it also is a great way to engage with your children, allowing you to deepen your connections by asking about and discussing their pieces. 2. Painting is key to a child’s education; it engages them in multisensory activities which can help the development of their communication and vocabulary skills. It lets them express their emotions, explore colour, processes, and outcomes. Responding and encouraging your children’s painting is also important, it allows your child space to talk openly about their emotions and thought processes. 3. It allows you to express yourself: Pottery painting allows you and your family to express themselves in new and unusual ways. It also is a great way to boost your confidence and self-accomplishment, being able to see something through from start to finish can be valuable in improving your appreciation of yourself. 4. There’s something for everyone: Ceramics come in many forms, mugs, plates, figurines, money banks and vases so no matter how old you are, who you are or what you like there is a piece made for you. You can browse our pieces online. 5. Celebrating special times: Pottery painting allows you to create beautiful pieces to remember all your special moments, hand and footprints are brilliant keepsakes as to are family tree plates or family prints on pottery. 6. Relaxing: Pottery painting can be a great way to practice mindfulness. Being in a relaxing environment can help improve your well being and takes you away from the stress of everyday life. The calmness of the activity lets your brain wind down and allows you to have a calm state of mind. Doctors recommend this as an activity to help with anxiety and depression. View our blog post on 'Creative Activities for your Mental Health'. 7. A break from technology: This is the perfect opportunity to take a break away from screens, a few hours away from them can help your brain refocus and think clearer, it also gives your eyes a break and has noticeable effects on your physical health. 8. Indoor activity: Pottery painting is a great activity to do indoors, perfect for any time of the year! If it’s raining outside, it’s a good place to take the family to wind down or if the sun is shining its an activity that allows you a break away from the heat. It’s the perfect indoor activity for every member of the family. 9. Makes great personalised gifts: Not only do you get all the above benefits of pottery painting but it’s a great way to make personalised and thoughtful gifts for family and friends. You can paint your own designs to great bespoke pieces for birthdays, weddings, and christenings or the kids can paint Nanny and Grandad something. Not only do you get the satisfaction of creating something, but gifts people have created are so much more meaningful than items you can buy in a shop. 10. Can be done anywhere: Why not try it at home? Pottery painting doesn’t have to be done in the studio; you can order take out kits so you can paint in your own time at home or maybe at family gatherings. It’s a quick and easy process to do online, you just pick your pieces and colours then collect them from the studio. You then have as much time as you need to paint them. Once you’re finished just drop them back to the studio for glazing and firing, and we'll let you know when they're ready to collect! If you're now thinking you want to get creative with some pottery painting then there are hundreds of pottery painting studios dotted all over the UK - they're often hidden secrets so do a google search to find one close to you or if you live near St. Neots, Cambridgeshire then book a session with us to discover what you've been missing! Or if you want to try something a little different we also have Build a Bear as well as occasional Pottery Classes! #potterypainting #familyactivities #thingstodo #paintyourownpottery #kidsactivities #creativethingstodo #cambridgeshire #thingstodocambridgeshire #creativeactivities #craftymonkey #stneots #familyactivity #activitiesforfamilies #familythingstodo #familyactivities #indooractivities #kidsindooractivies #mindfulnessactivity #relaxingactivity #familytime #educationalactivity

With our Lets Get Fruity Adults Night and Workshop coming up in September we thought we would give you all some inspiration and collect a list of the top trending fruit designs. When Life Gives You Lemons... When life gives you lemons... Paint them on pottery! One of the most popular designs that we always see getting painted is citruses, whether it's lemons, oranges or limes these always come out the kiln looking really effective. Our top tip: Use a paint pen in white to get the highlights in each segment of the citrus. Just Peachy! Another popular design is peaches! This design has been a common occurrence since a few Tiktoks of people painting it went viral! Our top tip: Use a Cricut to cut out peach shaped stickers to put on your piece whilst you paint the background. This will leave the space free when you peel them off so that you are left with a stencil. If you don't have a cricut you can use a wet paper stencil over a base layer of white paint to get the same effect. Cherriffic Designs This design looks really effective and we're seeing it being painted in the studio more and more. This plate gives us major picnic vibes and is the perfect design to paint on a date. Our top tip: Use a paint pen in green to do the stalks, you can also use a paint pen in white to add a highlight to the cherry. Watermelon Sugar A lot of the popularity of fruit designs have come from Harry Styles. With his songs named Cherry, Watermelon Sugar, and Kiwi as well as lyrics mentioning Strawberries, you can see why fans are wanting to paint fruit pottery inspired by him. This design makes a great handmade gift for a Harry Styles fan. Stay tuned for a Harry Styles themed pottery night. Our top tip: Use the end of a paintbrush to create a dot then flick it out to create a seed shape. Squeeze The Day Another popular citrus design is oranges. Whether whole or just the segments, we are seeing this design getting painted in the studio more and more! This design is perfect for a hot summer's day! Our top tip: use a sponge dabber to create oranges easier, then you can paint on highlights and leaves using a paint pen. The Kiwi To Our Heart This is one of the more underrated fruit designs but we are seeing it become more and more popular. This is another design that is perfect for Harry Styles fans, why not add some lyrics to customise it further! Our top tip: Use the end of a paintbrush to create a dot then flick it out to create a seed shape. Sub-Lime Another citrus design, this time it's limes! These are a popular choice to pair with lemons on a piece. Our top tip: When creating a lime plate or bowl you can use your fingerprint to create texture in the segments. Berry Sweet Strawberries are the perfect fruit for a picnic, which also make them the perfect fruit to paint on pottery! Our top tip: Use a heart plate and paint a strawberry using the shape of the plate as a guide. Have a Grape Day Our final design to talk about is Grapes. This design looks great on a bowl and can then be used to keep your grapes in, or why not mix and match a few of these designs to create your new fruit bowl! Our top tip: Plan out where each of your grapes will go with a felt tip first, felt tips will burn off in the kiln, you can then use a sponge dapper or your fingerprint to add each of the grapes on with paint. If you've felt inspired by any of these designs make sure to book a place on our fruit themed pottery night! Alternatively, book a pottery painting session or buy a take out kit. Don't forget to comment and let us know which of these was your favourite design. #potterypainting #fruitdesignsonpottery #trendingfruitdesigns #fruitdesigns #trendingpotterypainting #paintyourownpottery #thingstodo #arttips #arttechniques #toptips #pottery #potterystudio #paintyourownpottery #pyop #potterylove #potteryart #ceramicart #potterypaintingworkshop #potterydesign #potterycafe #potterypaintingstudio #potterybowl #paintyourown #painting #peach #peaches #grapes #watermelon #cherries #lemons #oranges #limes #strawberries #kiwiplate #plate #bowl

The kids are off for summer and what better way to spend their time than getting creative at Crafty Monkey! We are always super busy at summer with our Parties, Build a Bear and Pottery Painting, but we have also got lots of fun workshops coming up our first one being this week. We have a wide range of arty, crafty kids workshops this summer, lots of returning favourites as well as a couple of brand new ones. With each one the kids will make something amazing that they can keep as a memory of the summer, whether it's an amazing plate to eat dinner from or a photo frame to display a memory in, they will learn lots of art techniques to express their creativity. See the dates for the workshops below, parents are to drop off kids at the studio ready for some crafty fun. Workshops generally take around an hour and a half so you'll have plenty of time to sit and rest in a local café! Learn more about our upcoming workshops here.

The kids break up for their summer holidays soon, not sure about you but for us this school year has just flown by! We know you're probably armed and ready with a list of activities and things to do to as long as your arm, but remember we have lots to keep the kids entertained to give you a little helping hand! Want to know more? Build a Bear Sessions! Our poor little animals often get forgotten about with Pottery Painting hitting up a storm at the moment - but don't overlook them, our Build a Bear sessions are a full-on experience and offer great fun for the kids. Now we've got plenty of animals to choose from, not just bears, all waiting to be adopted by your little one's. Here's a little overview of what's included in the experience: We make sure to tell them a heart-warming story about how they came to be in our studio and are looking for their forever home before feeding them up with our magic food to make them all cuddly. The magic doesn't stop here as the next bit is our favourite; we get to make a special wish together using one of our magic wish stars and hearts. Our new friend looks after our wish whilst we decorate a t-shirt for them and come up with a name. The final part is arguably the most important as we fill in the adoption certificate and make a special promise that means your little one can take their new best friend home with them. You can even have Build a Bear Parties or order online to do the activity at home in your garden! www.mycraftymonkey.com/build-a-bear-shop Workshops! We have lots of fun workshops going on this summer, using all sorts of different art techniques to get different effects. Not only will they be expressing their creativity but also learn while doing it. Whether it's a plate, plant pot or something your child has created with clay, they're sure to come away with something to help them remember this summer! We kick off on 27th July, where your child will learn different techniques to make their very own name plaque out of clay that can take pride of place on their bedroom door. This workshop requires them to come back at a later date (of your choice) to paint their wonderful creation. Next up the fun paint spatting technique is used in our super cute Monster Plate Workshop on 7th August! On the 10th August, we have a brand new Fairy House Workshop where we'll be designing an amazing house for all our fairy friends to visit. We will be using terracotta plant pots and acrylic paints to get creative with! Our ever popular Under The Sea Plate Workshop is next up on 14th August. We use our fun bubble technique to create an amazing sea backdrop. We then get messy with fingerprint painting to create cute little fishes and other sea creatures to swim in our sea! Finally, on the 21st August is our Rainbow Zebra Plate workshop. We first make a rainbow pattern before going over the top to create stripes. Check out all our workshops here. Pottery Painting! Of course, the star of the show is Pottery Painting, and we can't deny it is a fabulous activity to do with the children. It's creative and parents/adults can join in as well, great for the whole family! How does it work we hear you say! Book your session online here and arrive for your chosen time. Pick your pieces - we have a really broad range of pieces from dinosaurs and princesses to salt and pepper shakers and mugs! You can browse the full range before you come in to give you an idea of what you might want to paint here (please note you can't order online before coming in, you have to choose on the day). Once you've chosen we go through all the instructions and leave you to create your creative masterpieces! When you've finished and we've been wowed by your artistic genius, you leave the pieces with us for firing and glazing which can take up to ten days and we'll send you an email when they are ready to collect - the most exciting bit!

Every year we get to August and we're racking our brains trying to think of something special and meaningful to get the kid's teachers. Now, lovely as chocolate and bubble bath are, how about getting them something a bit different? Now we've got something extra special for that fabulous teacher - how about clubbing together as a whole class and making a gift that says a huge thank you and also makes a special memory for their teacher? We can make a special memory plate with all the kid's fingerprints and it can be put on proud display in their teacher's class room to remind them of how fab they are at their job. We've turned their little fingerprints into owls, bees, apples and sooo much more in the past. But we're also creative and open to your ideas! We can tailor the piece to your children and their teacher to make it even more personal and special <3 Now you've created a killer gift, saved the planet (as there will be about 30 less bottles of bubble bath in landfill) and reminded their special teacher just how amazing they are. All you need to do is drop us an email with your ideas or questions to learn more! We've also got some great gifts that you can order through our online shop and collect in store! All pieces are made to order, hand painted and personalised for you so make sure to get your orders in early! View Shop. Don't forget that the kids can also paint their own gift for their teacher! There's nothing more personal and special than a hand painted gift that they can use everyday - make sure to book your session here. #teachergifts #bestteacher

May is Mental Health Awareness month and with constant pressures from work and the general state of the world, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Which is why it's more important than ever to take time out from the everyday and do something for you - and no, we don't mean have a scroll on your phone! Put that screen down and give your brain a break. Creative activities for mental health are a great way to wind down and take some time out from the busy world around us. Being creative can be daunting, we totally understand, but we promise you that you don't need to be good to reap the benefits of stretching your creative muscles! If you're feeling like you don't know where to start how about a colouring book or a paint by numbers? The great thing about these is you don't have to think too much and can just be absorbed in the activity itself. We have lots of customers visiting us that are unsure where to start so they opt for a piece with a design already on it so they have something to follow. It's a great way to ease yourself into creating without feeling overwhelmed! There are also plenty of techniques that you can opt for if you want something simple but that will look great. Art isn't just an activity for the 'talented'. We've said it before - and we'll say it again - simple designs made using intuition, patterns, splodges and splatters are often the most eye catching! There are plenty of artists that have made lots of money just throwing paint at a canvas ;) Take a look at this colourful vase painted with geometric patterns - simple but extremely effective. These designs also allow you to connect with the process rather than worrying about the outcome. What's the point in taking time out to be creative if you're going to be worried about the end result? We think you should enjoy painting and not worry too much about the finished piece. Being creative is also a great way to connect with others, there are plenty of groups where you can come together and paint, sew, crochet and much much more. In an age where we're always messaging each other via Facebook and not meeting up in person as much as we'd like, having an excuse to get together is a great idea. Covid and lockdown has also affected many of us and our social batteries, so having an activity to do whilst socialising can make the art of connecting with others that little bit easier. Studies have shown that getting creative can support emotional growth, memory, regulation of emotions, and much more! Many therapists even use it in treatment or specialise in art therapy due to the positive effects it has on our well-being. You may like to skip the therapy prices however and opt to do something at home, with a local group or you could even treat yourself to some Pottery Painting <3

King Charles' Coronation is coming up fast! The St Neots' community has lots going on to celebrate the occasion, most notably a live screening of the Coronation itself on the Market Square. There will also be free face painting and balloon modelling as well as the opportunity to decorate your own crown! Find out more on the Town Council's website. Speaking of the Town Council, if you enter their new Coronation Art Competition you could win a Free Craft Experience with us! The competition is free to enter an open to ages 3 to 16 years. All you have to do is create a Royal Coronation themed artwork of His Majesty the King to celebrate his Coronation on the 6th of May. You can create your piece in any way you like, whether that be drawing, painting, sculpting or crafting - nothing is off limits! The entry deadline is the 3rd of May - see poster below for all details! You may also like to pop into our lovely studio and create your own celebratory Coronation piece. Maybe a special mug or plate? If you do, you're in luck because we're give you a free studio fee for any Coronation themed pottery! To give you some ideas check out this King Charles Coronation plate painted by one of our talented Studio Assistants - isn't it amazing?! Simply head over to our website and book your painting slot and we'll give you your free studio fee on the day! If you're still looking for things to do to celebrate there will also be an afternoon concert on the day of the Coronation at the lovely Riverside Park with plenty of live entertainment, a small funfair and food and drink! Find out more here. #stneotstown #coronationstneots #coronationeventsstneots #coronationcelebrationsstneots #coronationeventscambridgeshire #coronationcambridgeshire #kingscoronationstneots

When it's Father's Day we always get a flurry of mum's coming in to make lovely gifts for all the Dad's - other than Christmas, it is by far our busiest time of year. When it comes to Mother's Day however...it's a quieter affair....BUT...this year we want to change that! Mum's deserve all the pampering and special gifts so we're making it easy for the Dads and here's a list of everything we can make! Prints on Pottery If you've got a little one, new-born, 6 months, toddler etc. this is by far the most popular gift for Mums. We can take your baby's prints and put them onto any pottery you like, whether it be a mug, vase, photo frame, plate etc. Find out how it works and book your session here Silverprint Keepsakes This is another form of taking their little hands and feet and being able to keep them forever but in the form Jewellery. We have necklaces, bracelet charms, earrings, keyrings and more. All you have to do is check out our prices online and book your session and bring baby in for us to take the prints (which is really easy, all you have to do is sit with baby on your lap and we do the rest). Silverprint can take up to 2 weeks to be ready and we send an email when it's ready to collect. For more info and to book click here Paint your own Pottery Gift If your children are a little old for doing little hand and footprints, why not come in and paint a special Pottery keepsake for mum? We've got plenty to choose from including 'I love Mum' mugs, plant pots, heart decorations and jewellery dishes. It makes for a cute, personal and thoughtful gift. More information and how to book here Gift Vouchers! A great option if you've left it a bit late to get a gift (we do only gift vouchers that are emailed directly to you!) and great if you're not sure which option Mum would like - or if she's expecting and you want to get something ready for when baby arrives! Our gift vouchers can be used for Prints on Pottery, Silverprint, Imprints & Outprints and Pottery Painting - so lots of lovely options! Order your Gift Voucher here. #mothersday #mothersdaygifts #mothersdaygiftsstneots #mothersdaygiftscambs #mothersdaygiftshuntingdon #mothersdayideascambs #mothersdayideasbedford #mothersdayideasstneots #potterypainting #babyprints #babyprintscambs #babyprintsstneots #babyprintsbedford #babykeepsakesstneots #babykeepsakes #babykeepsakescambs #babykeepsakeshuntingdon

Is it your baby's first Valentines Day? We've got plenty of cute designs made with their footprints that would make gorgeous gifts for Dad's, Grandparents, Aunties and Uncles - Valentines Day isn't just for partners! We also have Silverprint Jewellery and gifts for him which are an extra special gift to mum or dad <3 Pottery Gifts! Our prints on Pottery can be fully customized, you can choose all colours and designs as well the writing/message you want written on the piece. Remember that the designs you see here can be done on pretty much any piece of pottery including plates, mugs, photo frames, vases and plant pots. Book your print session here: www.mycraftymonkey.com/bookings Remember it takes up to 10 days for items to be ready so get booked in now! Silverprint Gifts Necklaces, bracelet charms, bookmarks, paperweights, cufflinks, earrings, key charms and more! You can have your baby/child's prints on your Silverprint or you can get a drawing they've done, we can also immortalise a kiss or a special message. View items and prices here: www.mycraftymonkey.com/silverprint-keepsakes Book your session to get the prints done here It can take up to 2 weeks for your order to be ready so make sure to get booked in today! #valentinesday #valentinesdaygifts #giftsfrombaby #babysfirstvalentinesday #babyprintkeepsakes #babyprintsonpottery #babyprints #babyprintstneots #babyprintcambridgeshire #valentinesdaygiftsfrombaby

Our Bum'pkin Plates are one of our most popular designs and we do them all year round, however this time of year is the perfect time to come in and make your own. Bum Prints are a fun alternative to the usual baby hand and footprints onto pottery and surprisingly are often easier to get! Creating a Bum'pkin plate with your baby is a fun cute experience and one that keeps on giving as you get it out every year for your Autumnal décor! If you've got a group of friends with babies that you think would love our Bum'pkin plates, why not book in for you all to make your special plate together by booking a Group Baby Print Session - if you're group is 6 or more then we'll give you all Free Studio Fees! You're also not limited to just making a Bum'pkin plate in your session, we can create as much pottery as you'd like! We're already thinking special Christmas gifts for Grandparents and other family members or as a personalised First Christmas keepsake. Book your Baby Print Session here: www.mycraftymonkey.com/bookings #bumpkin #babyprints #babyprintsstneots #babyprintscambridgeshire #babyprintshuntingdon #babyprintsbedford #babyprintsonpottery #autumnbabyprints #autumnalbabyprints #babybumprints #babybumprintspottery #babybumpkin #bumpkinprints #babykeepsakes #babykeepsakesstneots #babykeepsakescambridgeshire

If you've been to events happening in St Neots over the past month or so, chances are you've spotted us hanging out and doing lots of colouring - we've been helping St Neots Town Council run their fabulous Jubilee Art Competition! The competition was free to enter and open for ages 3 - 16. Entrants created a portrait of the Queen to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. There were no limits on what mediums they used to create their portraits - be it colouring, painting, sculpting, the possibilities were endless! We attended St Neots Picnic in the Park, Street Food Fest and the Farmers Market in the Market Square one Saturday to publicise the competition and children could create their designs at our stand. We've had loads of fun seeing everyone creating their masterpieces. The four winners then came and painted their design on a plate with us as their prize and their entries will be exbibited in the St Neots Museum. See the winning designs below and the winners with our lovely Mayor of St. Neots, Ben Pitt and a member of the St. Neots Youth Council who were judging the competition. We love being involved in community projects like this - thank you to St. Neots Town Council for letting us collaborate with you! #stneots #stneotscommunity #stneotsfun #craftymonkey #craftymonkeystneots #jubilee #platinumjubilee #stneotstowncouncil #potterypainting #pyop #pyopcambridgeshire #pyopstneots #pyophunts #stneotsmayor #stneotsyouthcouncil #competition #community

We've always been open for commissioned pieces, but it's now even easier to order a special personalised gift for someone special by ordering through our website. We've got gifts for all sorts of occasions including wedding gifts, new home presents and vases for mums, grandma's and teachers. All of our personalised pottery can be tailored to say whatever you'd like - so if you see a design that you like but it doesn't say exactly what you want you can change this when you order! We hand decorate each piece in our studio and it's one of the best parts of our job - so it puts a massive smile on our faces when someone makes an order! Here are a few of our favourites! You can now order your pieces here for collection or delivery: www.mycraftymonkey.com/handpaintedpottery #personalisedpottery #personalisedgifts #personalisedmug #personalisedmugs #personalisedgift #personalisedplate #mrandmrsmugs #weddinggifts #weddingpresents #weddingplate #personalisedweddingplate #personalisedweddinggift #newhomegift #christeninggift #christeningpresent

It's nearly time for the kids to break up for the Summer Holidays! We hope you've got lots planned and are heading somewhere sunny now that we're allowed to! We're always busy throughout the summer holidays with Painters, Build a Bear and Foam Clay - but we've also got some special workshops coming up in addition to all of this! We've got a whole range of workshops; in each one the kids will be learning a different technique and come away with a lovely product whether that be a plate, coaster, photo frame or bowl. They're lovely pieces to keep as a memory of the summer of 2022 or to be given as a gift to Grand Parents or Aunties and Uncles! Workshops will be running every Tuesday at 11am, parents are to drop off the children at the studio for their Crafty Fun - workshops generally take up to an hour and a half, so the perfect amount of time to get some errands done and grab a coffee! So without further ado, here are the upcoming workshops! - Book your workshop here #thingstodo #kidsactivitescambs #kidsactivitiesstneots #craftworkshopscambs #craftworkshopsstneots #kidsworkshopscambs #kidsworkshopsstneot #kidsworkshopshuntingdon #thingstodowithkidscambs #summerthingstodocambs #summeractivities #summer2022 #potterypaintingworkshops #craftworkshops

It's almost time for kids to move up a year in school, and sadly say goodbye to their teachers... To give your teacher a big thank you, and something to remember their unique class, why not give them a gift to last a lifetime? There are lots of options when it comes to creating a gift for your child's teacher such as; them painting their own present, commissioning us to create something personalised or creating a collective gift from the whole class. You are the Bee's Knees Vase Get the whole class together and create a beautiful vase with everyone's fingerprints on turned into cute little Bee's. We do all of the decorating, all you have to do is order the piece and pick up a Take Out Kit from us in the studio. We'll provide you with instructions and map out the design prior so you'll know where to put all of the fingerprints. Write the children's names around their prints in a biro or felt tip and then bring back to us in the studio ready to be decorated and fired! We'll then email you once the finished vase is ready to collect! You can order this vase here: www.mycraftymonkey.com/product-page/you-re-the-bee-s-knees-vase Apple Teacher Plate This is a great option if you aren't wanting the extra effort of collecting all the class' fingerprints. This plate can simply be ordered through our shop and then collected once it's ready! Its a lovely design for the teacher to have on display in their class room, complete with names of the children and the year it makes a special keepsake. Order this design here: www.mycraftymonkey.com/apple-teacher-plate Hand Painted Mugs/Pottery These two designs make lovely gifts for teachers and can also be put onto othe pottery such as coasters and vases. "Thank you for Helping me Grow" would work especially well on a vase. These are handpainted by the Crafty Monkey team in the studio so are extra special and would also make great presents for Grandparents or Godparents. Shop "Thank you for helping me Grow" here: www.mycraftymonkey.com/thankyouforhelpingmegrowmug Shop "Big Hearts Shape Little Minds" here: www.mycraftymonkey.com/bigheartsshapelittlemindsmug 'Colourful Class' Crayon Design Get the whole class involved in a big thank you gift for your teacher with a design as colourful as your class! This can also be done using the children's fingerprints and decorated into crayons by us. Order this design here: www.mycraftymonkey.com/colourful-class-plate Owl Class Tree Another adorable way to get the whole class involved in your teacher's gift - everyone's fingerprints transformed into little owls perched on a tree! Shop this plate here: www.mycraftymonkey.com/owl-class-plate These are just a few of our Teacher Gift designs! You can browse all of our Teacher Gift range here: www.mycraftymonkey.com/teacher-gifts #teachergifts #teachergiftideas #teachergiftsstneots #bespoketeachergifts #handpaintedpottery #bespokepottery #personalisedteachergift #bespokepottery

Here at Crafty Monkey we are gearing up for another busy Father's Day period, so we thought we'd share with you some of our favourite and most popular baby hand, foot and even bum print designs that make brilliant personalised gifts this Father's Day for Dads, Grandads and other Father figures! Our hand and footprint designs are also suitable for toddlers and older children too, not just for bubbas. During your print session our staff will help you to choose the best piece of pottery that will work for the size and the design. No Butts about it, You're the Best! For the less conventional dad's we have the always brilliant and always cheeky bum print! We love this punny bumprint design, you could make it even more personal by adding "you're the best Daddy" and little one's name and change the funky dots to Dad's favourite colours! We have lots of other bum print designs too! Daddy's BBQ Plate Our handprint BBQ plate is by far a favourite with our customers - we make this design all year round because it makes a brilliant birthday gift and Christmas gift aswell! We can make this with multiple hand prints from the same kiddiwink or if you have multiple children we can include all of their handprints which makes it a great option! To the Moon and Back Here's a super cute idea to express your love for Dad - little one's feet transformed into rockets! We have a bunch of colours to choose from, then you can choose any decoration you fancy to make this prezzie really stand out! Daddy's little Cookie Monster! Got a foodie on your hands, a cookie lover or just a little monster? Our Cookie Monster plate is the perfect gift this year. Finish the design off with the baby or child's name to make the perfect personalised gift for Dad to dish up on! Keep it Simple For the Dads who like to keep it straightforward! Sometimes all you need to make a stunning gift is a simple hand and/or foot. Choose any colour(s) Dad would like, let us know what writing and decoration to add to your prints, and voila! A simple yet thoughtful gift for Dad this Father's Day. Daddy, You're ROARsome! What's not to love about these dino-mite designs? These are super cute as a gift for Dad or Grandad, and adding a custom message on the back such as "Daddy, you're 'roar'some! Happy Father's Day xx" makes for an unbeatable gift! This is just a very small selection of some of the Father's Day baby hand and footprint personalised gifts that we offer on a select few pieces - We have many more pieces that you can choose from during your visit in the studio (bookings only). To make your unique personalised gift book a print session with us at a time to suit you and our friendly staff will help and guide you through the process. Please book in as early as you can as we do get very busy at this popular time of year. We don't want to overwhelm you but if you'd like to see even more designs or none of these quite grab you why not have a look at our hand and foot print Pinterest board to see some of our other designs or our bum print Pinterest board. Don't forget to follow us on Pinterest or our other social media accounts such as Facebook or Instagram as we regular post ideas. Don't forget to come back and see us to make your Christmas keepsakes too - handprints on Christmas baubles are a beautiful gift and something you can look at year after year. (oh and just to let you know, you can book your slot for those now to get ahead of the rush and panic). Father's Day baby hand and footprint personalised gifts #fathersday #fathersdayideas #fathersdaygiftideas #personalisedfathersdaygifts #printsonpottery #babyprintsonpottery #babyprints #babyprintsfathersday Father's Day baby hand and footprint personalised gifts

We don't know if you know but we are a fantastic venue for Hen Parties! If you enjoy getting creative with your best friends and family then Pottery Painting is a perfect option for a Hen Do activity. Pottery painting allows the Hen's brood to get to know eachother in a relaxed fun setting whilst getting creative. Bring a bit of bubbly to help get those creative juices flowing and you're on your way to a master piece! Here are some of the ideas we have for your Hen Party! Create a Collective Gift for the Bride and Groom Instead of everyone creating their own individual pieces to keep you could each pick a piece of pottery that when put together makes a great set for the Bride and Groom. You could pick plates, mugs and a teapot and you've got a great set that would make a brilliant personalised gift! Hen Party Momento Pieces A brides Hen Do should be one of the most special and fun days of her life which is why we can work with you to create a momento piece for her to keep as a special keepsake of the special day. We mainly do plates with the Hen Partie's fingerprints turned into cute animals, although we can also create a vase, plant pot or mug in just the same way! If the Bride has a favourite animal or colour we can tailor the design to suit her perfectly to create a special personal gift. Hen Party Take Out Kits! This is the perfect option if you've got a weekend away booked and you're looking for a fun activity to do whilst you're there! Simply pick and order your items and paints through our online shop and pick them up from our studio. Once they've all been painted bring them back to us to be glazed and fired! If you're also wanting us to do a momento piece we can map your design out for everyone to add their fingerprints and names and we'll finish off the decoration when you bring all the pieces back! Simple! Wedding Plate Gifts If you're looking for something special to give the Bride and Groom on their big day we've got some great options. Commission us to make a special piece to remind them of their wedding, we've got plenty of ideas and are committed to bringing your ideas to life! See below for some ideas! Wedding signature plates are also extremely popular! Give us a call on 01480 219222 or email us on info@mycraftymonkey.com to discuss ideas and options today! Book your Hen Do here: www.mycraftymonkey.com/bookings #hendoideas #hendoideasstneots #hendoparty #hendopartyideas #henparty #henpartyideas #henpartystneots #henpartyideascambridgeshire #kendoideascambridgeshire #weddinggifts #weddinggiftideas

We recently had the absolute pleasure of hosting three Eco themed mug painting workshops over the February half term at both Sawtry and Huntingdon libraries. Since good old Covid has hit the world, we haven't been able to get out and about as much as we used to so it feels great to be back delivering workshops and the like all around Cambridgeshire. Here at Crafty Monkey we are big advocates of becoming more environmentally friendly by re-using packaging, bubble wrap and composting cardboard. We've hosted numerous Eco-themed workshops and competitions to raise awareness including our plate painting competition which took place in summer and was incredibly successful! These workshops and competitions are great at getting the kids to think about the issues at hand in an engaging and fun way. And not only the issues, but the solutions as well! Because there are so many things we can do from home to help the planet. We had a great time talking all things Save the Planet with the children and they came up with some great ideas of things to paint on their mugs. We chatted all about keeping our local environment clean and tidy by putting our rubbish in bins and how we all do our bit at home to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle! We had Rain Forest themed mugs with Orangutans, paintings of the Earth and plenty of bees which were oh so cute! As well as reminding us of their importance to nature! Once the mugs are fired and glazed the children can use their mugs to have their hot chocolate out of whilst sharing all the things they know about being kinder to the planet! Keep an eye out for more Crafty Monkey workshops happening near you and if you're looking to host your own whether you're a school, scout group, library or the like then please feel free to get in touch by emailing enquiries@mycraftymonkey.com or calling us on 01480 219222. #kidsworkshops #funforkids #funforkidscambridgeshire #febhalfterm #holidayfun #halftermfun #potterypainting #potterypaintingworkshop #pyop #pyopstneots #pyopcambridegshire #saveourplanet #savetheplanet #ecothemedworkshop #artworkshop #craftworkshop

Here at Crafty Monkey we believe that Arts and Crafts are extremely important in the enrichment of our children's learning. Whether that be painting, drawing or clay building, arts and crafts lets their imagination go wild as they explore the endless possibilities that creating allows. It supports their development and critical thinking, encourages self-expression and builds their confidence as well as their sense of individuality. We think we can all agree that these are all important things for children to learn which is why we have just launched a new collection of workshops especially for Home Schooled children. We hope that our workshops will encourage and support their creative learning and development whilst also offering a place to have fun with other children and make new friends. In our workshops your child/children will explore a broad range of fun approaches aimed at teaching them something new whilst being creative, inlcuding pottery painting techniques, decoupage ideas and clay building projects. Current workshops include our Under The Sea Plate which involves using our fun and exciting bubble techinque to create a sea-background for fingerprint fishes and sea weed! We also have a Clay Decorations Workshops which is a two part workshop where we will make and decorate clay decorations and finally we have a decoupage Love Sign workshop just in time for Valentines Day. We also have even more workshops coming soon! To book now go to: www.mycraftymonkey.com/workshops #kidsworkshops #artworkshops #homeschoolers #homeedworkshops #creativeworkshopsforkids #homeschoolthingstodo #workshopsforhomeschooledkids #homeeducation #craftworkshops #craftworkshopsstneots #homeschoolevents

We, at Crafty Monkey, are very excited to announce a brand new style of session aimed at toddlers and pre-schoolers called 'Storytime & Paint'! We've been wanting to introduce these sessions for a while where the children first read a story and then they paint a piece of pottery that is relevant to the story they've heard - if you've been to Crafty Monkey you'll know we have an extensive range of pottery so can tie in lots of stories! Both activities are not only fun but also very educational and brings lots of great benefits to your child! The benefits of reading to your little ones are endless, from helping them learn about important topics and vocabulary, to the one-to-one time and attention to building their self-esteem, lending itself to relaxation, happiness and fun. Painting and being creative has much of the same benefits as reading, such as building their imagination and confidence, so there really is no better pairing of activities for a creative event for your little ones. We also thought what better time to kick it off than in the lead up to Christmas with a festive story! While we could read the story in-house we decided a collaboration with the lovely Emma Page from Storytime with Molly would add to the experience. Emma is passionate about books and particularly about starting to read to your baby from an early age! She has a lot of practice as she reads to her daughter Molly who is two. Her passion on this subject is so much so it led her to set up her business selling the well-esteemed Usbourne Books! Many of you may already know her as she has a following on Instagram and her Facebook page and if you don't then pop over to her accounts to learn more and see some of the fabulous titles in the Usbourne range. Between us, we picked the classic festive tale The Night Before Christmas - well it was Emma's suggestion and because we do a really cute mouse footprint plate from an excerpt from the story, we knew it was the perfect fit! Emma will be talking all about these benefits in the Storytime session and will also bring along some books if you should wish to put an order in - books make great gifts and stocking fillers! Among her books Emma has a range of baby books - because reading to babies is also extremely beneficial! The baby books are mainly black and white which, according to tinylove.com is said to stimulate the developments of optic nerves thus teaching the eye muscles and brain to coordinate and function properly. Because we know reading to both children and babies is great stuff, we'll be hosting two events, one where your little one's get to paint so is suited more for ages 18 months to 4 years and the other is more for mum's of babies who want to learn about the benefits of reading and also enjoy a nice festive tale with their baby and have our popular mouse plate made from their footprint. We recommend this session more for babies but the plate will fit a footprint up to 17cm long so is open to toddlers too! For the teeny tiny ones, after the story, we'll be coming round to get their little footprints on a plate for us to turn into our popular Night Before Christmas plate! Then for the older ones, they'll get two Christmas Decorations, a Santa and a Rudolph, to paint for themselves with the option to upgrade to also have a Night Before Christmas plate. In both sessions they'll also get a Christmas First Colouring Book worth £3.99 from Emma! Emma will also be on hand with a range of books to talk to you further about suitable books and you'll be able to place an order if you wish but no pressure! We really hope this will make a great activity to get you in the festive spirit in the lead up to Christmas! Plus the plates and decorations make a fantastic present for Grandparents and family; wink wink, nudge nudge. We even have a special offer if you get in quick! Use code EARLYBIRD for £3 off - ends 31st October, www.mycraftymonkey.com/workshops Please share this with friends who you think will be interested. There's limited spaces though so grab your tickets before we sell out! #storytimeandpaint #storytimepotterypainting #christmasstorytime #christmasevents #festiveevents #festivethingstodo #christmasactivities #christmasthingstodo #christmaseventcambridge #christmaseventsstneots #craftymonkeystorytime #craftymonkeyevents #stneotsevents #storytime #storytimecambridge #storytimestneots #toddlertime #preschoolactivities #thingstodowithbabies

Pottery Painting often gets a rep for being just for children, but it's not! As an activity Pottery Painting is perfect for all ages and abilities and we've had some brilliantly painted pieces by teenagers, adults and older ladies and gentlemen recently! It's true that when we get older we lose a bit of that spontaneous creativity that comes so naturally to children - which is why it's so important to flex those creative muscles every now and then! Even if you think you're not very creative or supposedly "good at art" (whatever that means) the point is that you're having a go! It can be a bit of a challenge to let go of that perfect image in our heads of what we want to create, but it's an art in itself to let go of perfection and focus purely on enjoying the process of making something. What you define as successful and good changes all the time and depends on your own creative abilities, so you can't really go wrong; especially with pottery painting! Take a break from the everyday and let yourself have some fun. Crafty Monkey is all about encouraging people of all ages and abilities to get down and dirty with the paints and the pottery which is whyyyyy .... exciting announcement alert! We've brought back our brilliant #AdultNights! Take a night off from the kids and get yourselves in the studio for some arty, crafty fun - you deserve it. Whether you want some quality time with the other half on an all important date night or want to let loose with some friends, it's the perfect activity for having a natter whilst getting arty. Feel free to bring a bottle of wine to help get the creative juices flowing! (We ask you also bring drinking vessels as we can no longer provide these) To see availability and to book in for our adults nights, select the Adults Night option on our booking page. If we've still not filled you with enough encouragement and are feeling like you need a bit more inspiration then take a look at these fantastic recent designs below or head to our socials to view even more! #potterypaintingforadults #potterypaintingdatenight #potterypaintingadultnight #stneotspotterypainting #potterypainting #thingstodo #paintyourownpottery #ceramicsstudio #potterypaintingstudio #pyop #datenight #dateideas

Crafty Monkey has launched an engaging plate painting competition designed to get us thinking and discussing current environmental issues. The competition, which is free to enter, is asking everyone, young and old, of any artistic ability, to design a plate with the theme ‘Save our Planet’. There will be a winner from each age group and with pottery painting becoming increasingly popular with teenagers and adults Crafty Monkey are hoping to see lots of creative designs from all the oldies out there as well – having fun isn’t just for kids! The winners will get to paint their plate in the Crafty Monkey Studio on Moores Walk, St Neots. With environmental issues in the headlines every day and global warming becoming an ever-increasing worry in this world, communities and businesses are pulling together to become more eco-friendly. Crafty Monkey is particularly aware of current environmental issues and strives to do all it can to reduce waste by reusing packaging and materials where possible. Crafty Monkey owner Chrissy Bennett states how she has become increasingly concerned about environmental issues and hopes that this competition will encourage people of all ages to consider ways they can help and get others being active in the bettering of our environment. In the Crafty Monkey Studio, when customers collect their painted pottery, items are often wrapped in reused bubble wrap and Chrissy has even been known to compost some of the boxes that new stock comes in – however the business would also be keen to hear from local businesses that are in need of packaging for the postage of orders or similar! Crafty Monkey isn’t the only business changing how it operates and moving towards more eco friendly ways of functioning and the rise of Refill shops such as The Refill Shop in Eynesbury is brilliant to see. It may take a bit of time for people to adjust the way they do everyday things, such as the weekly food shop, but it is gradually becoming easier and more accessible to be more eco conscious in our everyday lives. To enter the competition, you can find the Crafty Monkey team at the St Neots Rugby Club Street Food Festival on the 12th of September and Pirates in the Park at St Neots Regatta Meadow on the 19th of September. Alternatively, you can enter online at www.mycraftymonkey.com/competition. Get those brilliant environmentally conscious plate entries in! #environmentallyfriendlybusinesses #ecoconsciousbusinesses #ecoconsciouscommunity #environment #environmentallyfriendly #reducereuserecycle #potterypaintingcompetition #stneots #streetfoodfestival #piratesinthepark #craftymonkeycompetition