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Arts & Entertainment

Getting Crafty at the Holidays

DIY workshops from decorations to dreidels

Don’t think holiday arts and crafts are just for kids: there are plenty of activities at local spots aimed at adults, so grab your guy or gal or gather a group and try your hand at something new!

Buon Natale:  Saturday, December 3, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., two projects will give you unique decorations to take home.  On Christmas stockings cut out of wood, one of Bella Italia’s artists in Deruta, Italy--Gerardo Ribagini—has sketched traditional Deruta-style designs you can paint, or using the same wood Christmas stockings use broken ceramics to create colorful mosaics.  Also music, free gift wrap, Italian holiday food samples. Free. Reservations requested:  301-654-2667 or email suzymenard@aol.com. bellaitaliaonline.com. Bella Italia, 4934 Hampden Lane, Bethesda.

Very Vintage:  Clara Barton National Historic Site will host Victorian Holiday Greeting Card Workshops Saturday and Sunday, November 26 and 27 and December 3 and 4, beginning at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. Participants will be dressed in costumes of the period for a photograph to be used to make your own Victorian-era holiday greeting card. All ages: adult supervision required. Free. Reservations required and space is limited. 301-320-1410, nps.gov/clba/planyourvisit/things2do.htm. Clara Barton National Historic Site, 5801 Oxford Rd., Glen Echo.

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Wrapture!  Saturday, November 26, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m., watch demos of how to make holiday cards, create favor boxes and heat emboss. Knock the socks off your holiday gift recipients this year with your newly acquired wrapping skills: Thursday, December 1, 6-7:30 p.m., the paper pros at Paper Source will teach you to boldly mix and match solids and patterns and finish with creative paper accents.  Bring two to three gifts in boxes (no larger than a shirt box) to wrap in this class.  $25 (and you receive a coupon for 10% off purchases).  Register: 301-215-9141, at paper-source.com. Bethesda Row, 4805 Bethesda Avenue, Bethesda.

All Fired Up:  There are lots of holiday items to decorate at this studio, including tree mugs, Santa mugs, a gingerbread coaster set with holder, Cookies for Santa plates, reindeer figurines, an assortment of holiday ornaments, Hanukkah plates, menorahs, dreidel plates and dreidels. If you’re coming with four people or more it’s better to make a reservation, otherwise just drop in. 301-654-3206, allfiredupdc.com. All Fired Up, 4923 Elm Street, Bethesda.

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Holiday in the Park:  Glen Echo Park has a number of classes and workshops designed to get you ready for the holidays.  Fused Glass Holiday Ornaments Workshops ($200) will take place December 2, 3 and 4 at the Art Glass Studio. December 10, during the park’s free Winter’s Eve, 6-9 p.m., make a hand-blown glass ornament at Glen Echo Glass Works ($25 per couple).  The event will include a variety of holiday-themed craft activities “for children of all ages” such as making a candy cane reindeer, gingerbread magnet, chenille snow skier or 3-D snowflake. Also enjoy performances, open studios and a hot chocolate bar. 301-634-2222, glenechopark.org. Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, Inc., 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo.

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