August 1, 2018

Pottery Painting at Crock a Doodle

Crock a Doodle pottery painting studio
We were excited to drop-in aCrock a Doodle in Niagara Falls for an afternoon of fun. This pottery themed creative space with friendly staff made us feel welcomed. This studio is setup in a way that makes it comfortable for children to sit down and paint. For adults, it gives an opportunity to let go of everything and be a kid again. We loved it! 
Crock a Doodle pottery painting studio
People of all ages can easily have a good time at Crock a Doodle. 
Crock a Doodle pottery painting studio
To begin, pick a ready to paint pottery piece you love. They have different themed pottery pieces for holidays, different types of vases, pots, cups, mugs, jugs, pitchers, plates, coaster, bowls, containers, ornaments, and more. Pottery pieces vary depending on the location. There are over 30 franchised locations across Canada. The prices are on the bottom of each piece, and varies from 5 to 75 dollars. 
Crock a Doodle pottery painting studio
We are free to find a workspace in the studio that is already setup with a table mat and all the supplies we need.
Crock a Doodle pottery painting studio
The next step is to draw anything we like using a pencil. The pencil marks will disappear when it is put into the kiln.  
Crock a Doodle pottery painting studio
Then we get to pick the colours we want, and a staff member will pour as many colours we want into a palette. We like that they have a variety of colours, and some with sand within the paint to give texture. The water based paint is lead free and easy to work with. There is no need to dress for the activity or put on an apron.  
Crock a Doodle pottery painting studio
We can paint by applying 2 to 3 coats depending on how solid we want our finished colour to be. The paint gets absorbed quickly to the pottery and dries fast, so there is no need to wait to apply the paint coats. 
Crock a Doodle pottery painting studio
It is easy to remove mistakes with the sponge and wash it away. They have Funwriter pens, which are tipped paint containers we can use to add final touches. We used these writers to give depth to the flowers, and to make the dots.  
Crock a Doodle pottery painting studio
Once we are happy with our painting and sign our masterpiece, we can hand it over to a staff member. They will get it ready to be professionally glazed and fired in a kiln overnight at the studio. After applying the shiny glaze, the pottery is fired at 1828 degrees Fahrenheit. 
This makes the piece have a brilliant durable finish, so our pottery is functional and can be washed. It is best to hand-wash so the pottery will have its long life and shine. 
Crock a Doodle pottery painting studio
We like that a staff member is always present to help, give suggestions, and encourage. They gave us tips on how the coats of paint and the process works. We were given ample time to enjoy painting, we spent about a hour and a half. There is lots of inspiration around the room, and a booklet in case we need a little boost to start.  
Crock a Doodle pottery painting studio
The bright cheerful studio is a perfect place to go for a night-out with friends and family or for team building events, and birthday parties. It would also be neat to take babies and put their hand and feet prints on the pottery for keepsake. 
Crock a Doodle pottery painting studio
This is a fabulous activity to do when you are in Niagara Falls on a rainy, cold day or to cool off on a hot day. They are open everyday 10 to 7 p.m. all year long. This Crock a Doodle pottery experience is conveniently located next to the Hershey's factory across the Rainbow International bridge. There is plenty of parking close by. 
Crock a Doodle pottery painting studio
Since the piece needs to be put in the kiln after we paint, either go on the first day of your Niagara trip to paint, and then pick up the finished piece the next day or it can be arranged to be shipped. They also hold our items for up to six months, so we can pick it up the next time we are close to the location. After six months, the uncollected pieces will be donated. They have a free Crockadoodle app we can download on our mobile phone to get updates, offers, and earn rewards.   
Crock a Doodle pottery painting studio
We loved letting our creativity flow while painting our pottery at Crock a Doodle. Even those of us who do not feel artistic, will love the end results. This hands-on fun activity gives the participants a positive feeling about taking the time to let their creative energy flow. 

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12 comments:

  1. My kids have been to a few parties at crockadoodle and have had a great time and loved that they got to make/paint a piece and keep it.

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  2. My kids have been to a few parties at crockadoodle and have had a great time and loved that they got to make/paint a piece and keep it.

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  3. How creative, I'd love to do this with my niece!

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  4. Sounds like a great activity! Very creative!

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  5. Sound like a great place , so much fun .

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  6. Love this great creative idea for useful objects in your home decor.

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  7. lots of fun i have been to a place here where i live for a painting session

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  8. I love painting pottery with the kids!

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  9. Hadn't heard of Crock a Doodle before but definitely looks like a lot of fun for all!

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  10. this would be a blast! I have never been to this place or any place like it but i know a couple of people who have and really enjoyed themselves

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  11. This look so fun! My daughter recently asked me to go paint pottery, I would love to check this place out :) great review!

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  12. Love the flowers. Those tiles make a great hotplate. Just glue felt on the bottom. Custom hotplates are a great idea for our table.

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Thank you for commenting :)