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Refine Your DIY Gift Ideas at These 4 Fab City Resources

By Eric Mutrie

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FORT YORK LIBRARY

Where: 190 Fort York Blvd. 416 393 6240 The Scoop: After you’ve admired the wood ceiling and full-height windows in this new, KPMB Architects–designed branch, go check out the ornaments on its Christmas tree. They’re made in-house using a MakerBot Replicator. Simply complete a 45-minute certification course and the desktop 3-D printer is yours to churn out jewellery, phone cases and key chains for about $6 each. Production software is also on hand for anyone looking to record a custom carol. torontopubliclibrary.ca

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PAINTLOUNGE

Where: 1173 Queen St. E 416 800 6973 The Scoop: Get in touch with your inner van Gogh and replicate a loved one’s favourite Expressionist masterpiece – with a few individual creative flourishes. Hone your technique during one of Paintlounge’s adult workshops ($40); or jump right into a solo freestyle session, which lets you pick from a range of five surface sizes and paint whatever you want (from $20). Paintlounge provides aprons, but nothing says up-and-coming artist like authentically paint-splattered jeans. paintlounge.ca

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KID ICARUS

Where: 205 Augusta Ave. 416 977 7236 The Scoop: Fill your family’s mailboxes with custom seasonal greeting cards. This beginner class – taught by the pros behind KI’s much-loved line of stationery – covers everythingyou need to know to start your own Hallmark line ($150, materials included). Learn paper-stencil and photographic-emulsion methods for transferring designs to a screen, and practise your squeegee technique until you master the angles and pressure needed to make a perfect print. kidicarus.ca

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THE SHOP

Where: 1139 College St. 416 824 2555 The Scoop: If last year’s gift exchange left you on the proverbial chopping block, The Shop’s walnut cutting board workshop will redeem you. For $130, this three-hour class teaches you how to safely operate a band saw, router and sander. The end result: a perfect surface for the chef in your life. Instructors encourage thinking outside the rectangle: students have modelled boards after cheese slices and cats, and returned to complete bigger projects. theshoptoronto.ca


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