Color Me Mine in Dublin, OH

Color Me Mine in Dublin is a studio where you can paint pottery. They have the unfinished pieces, the paint, the brushes, examples, and it is a pretty awesome activity to do with your children. Paint your own pottery makes a great gift too – for the holidays or birthdays. The kids and I went before Christmas and made a popcorn bowl for daddy and a goblet for grammies’ place in Florida. We left feeling so creative and excited about our hand-painted gifts.

Upon arrival, a friendly-face greeted us and we were asked to take an empty table. The process was explained and then we were excused to choose an item to paint. Decisions, decisions – so many choices! From bowls, plates, platters, and mugs to figurines and holiday-focused pieces (ornaments were a hot item during the Christmas holiday season). We chose a bowl, and a goblet that donned palm trees and coconuts. My daughter chose the paint for the goblet and my son helped me choose the paint for the popcorn bowl.

It took us about an hour to paint. Now, this is where an OCD person needs to give it up – trying to control kids around paint is like asking birds not to fly. The kids aren’t going to paint in the lines, they will smear paint on their faces, shirts, and perhaps their shoes just ‘cuz they’re kids. I had to be patient and embrace the drips and the black smudges – actually, it was endearing to watch the kids concentrate and say “this is for daddy!” as they created their masterpieces.

Once we were finished up Color Me Mine kept the pieces and fired them in the kiln to set the colors. I was a little worried about our drippy paint and random brush strokes, but the finished pieces looked terrific. Actually, when my husband opened up his popcorn bowl Christmas morning he said it was the best present he ever had received. We painted the rim of the bowl in his favorite color of green and then used our thumbs and fingers to make the “popcorn” around the bowl. I personalized it even further by adding the kids’ names and ages and wrote “Daddy’s Popcorn Bowl” inside the bowl.

If you are looking for a fun activity and great gift idea, consider painting your own pottery. It is a great birthday party idea, too. Many places offer birthday party packages (I’d inquire about appropriate ages for a birthday party when you call. I’d think 5 and up would be best). Check out Color Me Mine or find a studio in your area. Here are a few others I know of: Clay Café in Columbus, Outside the Lines Creative Studio in Hilliard (they even offer summer camps!), The Bare Bowl in Delaware, and Marcy’s Clayground in Powell. Check out this website to find other studios: www.paintyourownpottery.net.

Also, check out my write-up of our experience over at Kidslinked Columbus KIDS: Painting Pottery With the Pint-Sized

Color Me Mine
6375 Perimeter Loop
Dublin, OH 43016
614-761-1153

A few tips if you are planning to go:

• Weekdays will be less crowded than weekend days.
• Call ahead to make sure they can accommodate your entourage.
• Check the studio’s website to see when there are deals. We went on a Tuesday and I got one child’s studio fee for free.
• Speaking of studio fee, there is a fee to paint and then a fee for the item chosen to paint.
• It takes about a week for your painted piece to be ready for pick up. Payment is due the day you paint.
• Have your child wear clothes they can get dirty or bring a smock.
• Don’t be afraid to paint your kid’s hand and do hand prints. Great way to capture their age!