Custom Creative Experiences

The Craft Center can help you create a one-of-a-kind experience for you and your group. Great for team building, book clubs, social groups, or other private events! Designed by professional artists at the Craft Center, participants are invited de-stress, immerse themselves in the process of being creative and enjoy the opportunity to make an artifact or art object by hand. Contact one of our representatives at craftcenter@ucsd.edu.

Please note: for scheduling purposes, workshops require 3 weeks advance notice. Minimum number of participants is 5 people, up to 25 or 30, depending on activity selected. (If your anticipated number of participants do not fall within that range, we will try to work with you to customize the experience within reason).

Please note that we will charge a 50% non-refundable deposit 15 days prior to event date on all reservations.

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Custom Creative Experience Options:

Artist Trading Cards

Experience the world of Artist Trading Cards through the magic of Block Printing. Using traditional printmaking methods, you will learn to create your own designs, ink and print the image(s) onto "regulation" size trading cards. No two prints are the same, and each is signed and dated back. The last 10 mins. of the workshop will be trading time! A timeless childhood tradition with a twist — teaching us to create AND share our work. Each of you will leave with a beautiful deck of original artwork. Different styles, different colors, different content ... no two prints are the same and each deck of trading cards is unique.

This workshop takes 1.5-2 hours and costs $45/person.

Mini Lathe Woodturning

In this miniature woodturning workshop participants will be challenged to produce items such as small mushrooms and little trees using small scale turning tools and specialty wood. Tool technique and tool safety will be covered along with fun exercises that will lead to making the final products.

* Due to the capacity of these mini wheels, the curriculum will be set by the instructor.

This workshop takes 2 hours and costs $70 per person for groups of 6 or less.

Ceramics Sampler

Participants are introduced to the stress-relieving and playful experience of shaping clay into something beautiful and functional. Experienced artists provide a brief overview of the different traditions of ceramic arts: hand-building and wheel throwing, and facilitate participants’ exploration of the medium in a supportive environment designed for a range of skill sets. Each participant will create a clay art piece by hand which will be glazed and fired at the Craft Center. Projects will be available for pick up approximately 2 weeks after workshop date.

This workshop takes 1.5 hours and costs $80/person.

Edible Spring Rolls

Enjoy the fun of learning how to prepare a delicious appetizer or light meal together. Rice paper wrappers envelop a rainbow of ingredients from carrots, cucumbers, optional proteins and more. Participants will learn to source ingredients, prepare them properly, and put together a stunning presentation design! Making mouth-watering sauces top off this fabulous culinary experience.

This workshop takes 1-1.5 hours and costs $60/person for 5-9 and $50/person for 10+.

Friendly Cupcake Wars

Work together in teams to challenge your taste buds and creativity as you make and decorate cupcakes with unlikely ingredients. Bacon and parmesan in your buttercream? Chives in your batter? You and your teammates will have to decide what unusual- yet yummy- ingredients to add to your confectionary creations. At the end, each team will present and sample each others creations and vote for the favorites.

This workshop takes 1.5-2 hours and costs $82/person with a minimum of 8 participants or $656.

Fused Glass Tile Project

Using a colorful array of provided glass pieces and embellishments, you will create an abstract or representational design of your choice and adhere it onto a 4”x 4” glass base “canvas”. Your piece will be fired in a glass kiln and ready for you to hang or display it the following week!

This workshop takes 1.5-2 hours and costs $85 per person for groups of 10 or more, and $80 per person for groups of 5-9.

Beaded Bracelets and Bag Charms – Shrinky-Dink Magic!

This workshop takes 1-1.5 hours and costs $45/person.

Bookmaking Basics

This workshop takes 1-1.5 hours and costs $45/person.

Smash Your Stress Mosaics

Relieve stress, have some fun and make something beautiful and functional! Smash plates and other ceramic ware with hammers and then glue pieces to a decorative mirror frame.

This workshop takes 3 hours and costs $60/person. Please note it cannot be shortened to less than 3 hours. Smashing stress takes some quality time! 

Mini Wheels

Participants will learn how to make mini pots on mini pottery wheels in this workshop, which is designed to encourage students to have fun, get a little messy, and enjoy making (less than perfect) miniature pottery! Participants will get to choose their favorite pieces to have fired in the kiln and return 2-3 weeks later to pick up their tiny treasures.

This workshop takes 3 hours and cost $85/person for group of 16 or more. $80/person for group of  1-15.

Are you a Campus Affiliate or Student?

The Craft Center offers exclusive courses and discounts to campus affiliates and student organization groups.

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