WHEN: April 1st 2026 (VIP Day on 4/2)
Where: The Gathering Table Venue – Plant City, FL
Are you ready for a crafty good time?
What is the Florida Craftventure with Manda Panda Projects?
Crafting is better with friends. Period.
Craftventure is a one-day immersive creative experience made to spark inspiration, connection, and fun….not just cute crafts (though there will definitely be cute crafts, 3 of them to be exact 😉).
This is your chance to meet your online crafty friends in real life (and of course ME), craft side by side, laugh way too much, and step out of your comfort zone in the best possible way. From the moment you walk in, you’ll feel energized, supported, and creatively lit up.
You’ll make 2 full-size projects, plus a quicker bonus craft, with games, activities, and surprises thrown in throughout the day from 9am–6pm. It’s not a conference. It’s not a class.
It’s a crafty adventure….a Craftventure!
The very first Craftventure with Manda Panda Projects is happening in Plant City, Florida, just outside Tampa.
This is the first stop in what I hope will become a nationwide series of Craftventure pop-up experiences, bringing the fun of crafting and connection to cities all over the country.
Every stop is different.
Every stop is special.
Every stop is a Craftventure.
The VIBE…
Think girls’ weekend energy, not craft conference energy.
✔️ Crafts
✔️ Games & activities
✔️ Lunch included
✔️ Laughter, friendship, and so many photo ops (in our matching event T-shirts!)
✔️ A napkin exchange table (because of course 😍)
✔️A “make and take” craft
✔️Swag Bag + Door Prizes
You’ll leave feeling refreshed, inspired, and genuinely connected, not overwhelmed or exhausted.
Want to turn your Craftventure into a mini getaway?
Upgrade to the VIP Experience, which includes:
Dinner together after Craftventure at Olde Town Pizzeria
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A relaxed thrifting + craft consignment shop adventure
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Lunch at Sunset Grill on the beach
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An afternoon soaking up the sun and hanging out beachside
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This crafty experience is exactly what you need to fill your creative cup! You’re guaranteed to make lifelong friendships, some cute crafts, and most importantly…
MEMORIES
Join us for...
Some of the Highlights
Crafts + Make & Take
Create 3 adorable projects you’ll finish and take home, plus a "make & take" to do at your leisure...no PHDs here.
Exclusive Event T-Shirt
An exclusive Craftventure event tee for a matching Tee photo op and so you can wear the memories long after the day ends.
Games, Activities, and Napkin exchange
Fun, low-pressure games and activities designed to spark connection, laughter, and creativity. Bring napkins, swap napkins and leave with new designs.
Swag Bags + Door Prizes
Surprise swag bags and fun door prizes because every crafty adventure deserves a little extra magic.
Lunch, Coffee + Refreshments
Lunch, coffee, and snacks are included so you can stay fueled and focused on the crafty fun.
VIP Upgrade Experience
Extend the adventure with a VIP day featuring dinner, thrifting, beach time, and extra bonding with your new crafty besties.
Kick back, relax, and craft at a The Gathering Table...
This adorable barn is uniquely decorated with a bit of a vintage style. It fits up to 30 guests comfortably seated at six round tables. This peaceful, nature-filled space was created for connection, creativity, and meaningful moments. Tucked away in the rural beauty of Plant City, Florida, the property blends open skies, ancient oaks, and thoughtfully designed settings to create an unforgettable atmosphere. A true crafty oasis!
Wed. 4/1
Check in: Promptly at 9am. We’ll have coffee and light refreshments while you mingle and get to know your crafty friends. Then we’ll do an Icebreaker game before diving into our first craft. As we finish up, we’ll play a fun activity for a chance to win some Door prizes. Next, we’ll enjoy a sandwich lunch while chatting and laughing and swapping napkins at the Exchange table. After lunch we’ll dive into our second craft. We’ll have a photo op on the gorgeous property in matching Tees, then we’ll finish the day with another activity and quick craft before we say our goodbyes. For those that upgrade to the VIP experience, we’ll head to Olde Town Pizzeria for a fun and delish dinner.
Thur. 4/2
If you aren’t ready to say goodbye, join us for the VIP upgrade experience! We’ll start the day by relaxing on Bahia beach while bonding with our new friends. When we get hungry we’ll head into Sunset Grill right on the beach for a pre-fix menu lunch. Once our bellies and hearts are full we’ll head to the Craft Consignment shop in Brandon and continue on for an afternoon of Thrifting at every place that we can find! We will thrift ’til our hearts content and say our goodbyes before dinnertime. *Lodging is not included in the VIP ticket but I will provide recommendations for those that may need them.
Come get crafty, inspired, and relax in Plant City, FL
3 reasons to take this trip!
Double F's.....Friends & Fun
Crafting is SO much better with friends! Many of us have known each other for such a long time online, but never had the opportunity to meet in person. You’ll have a chance to hang out in the vintage barn, share meals and coffee, craft together, laugh ’til your cheeks hurt, and Thrift Til you Drop for the VIP day.
You may feel hesitant to come alone, but I promise the second you step foot in the Barn you’ll feel like you’re with your lifelong friends you’ve known forever! Just ask the ladies who have come to my San Diego Craftaway event!
Check Florida off your bucket list
The only thing better than crafting with friends, is crafting with friends in sunny FL! If you aren’t able to make the trip out west to Cali, then take advantage of me coming to you! Plant City is just a short drive from Tampa, Riverview, Brandon, Orlando, and tons of other cities in central Florida.
The event is really designed for semi-local ladies, but if you decide to fly in or take a road trip, then make it worth it by upgrading to VIP so you’ll really get a chance to see the FL beaches and thrift stores.
Crafting
Let’s not forget the thing that brought us all together in the first place….the crafts! I believe that crafting is like therapy. And crafting in a cute Vintage inspired barn? The best therapy ever! You’ll learn to make at least 3 new cute crafts that you can bring home with you, that will make you remember this experience every time you look at them. No need to bring anything with you except for your creativity (and maybe a few tools that I will communicate in advance)
You’ll come home feeling inspired, rejuvenated and like you’ve just been living your best crafty life..because you have!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The total cost of the event only ticket is $229 per person.
The VIP upgrade is an additional $79 making the total event + VIP ticket $308 ($229 + $79 = $308)
You will have the option to pay in full, or there will be a payment plan offered through ShopPay at checkout.
- 9 hour Craft Experience in a Vintage Inspired barn
- At LEAST 3 crafts with all supplies needed to make them. To keep the crafts affordable, some items at the event will be “BYOT” – Bring Your Own Tools, like glue gun and scissors. Crafts will be cute and not super complicated. They will also be small enough to take home. 2 crafts will be more complex, while one will be quicker and simpler so we have time to complete them all.
- Coffee and light refreshments
- Sandwich Lunch
- Games, Activities
- Swag Bag and Door Prizes
- Craftventure event T-shirt
- Make and Take Craft
- **SOME THINGS TO NOTE THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED: Airfare, Alcohol, Transportation, Accommodations
The event only and VIP tickets are 100% NON-REFUNDABLE. There is a TON of planning and preparation that goes into these events, and the money collected for each ticket will be almost immediately spent on event expenses.
You are responsible for selling your ticket if you cannot attend for ANY reason at all, including emergencies. With that being said, Amanda will do absolutely anything possible to help you to sell your ticket, including but not limited to promoting the available ticket on her social medias, sending an email to her email list, and sending Telegram notifications.
We truly do not want to see anyone lose their deposit/ticket cost, but refunds are strictly not an option.
There will be a survey questionnaire sent out in advance asking these type of questions. You will have available meal alternatives for things that you are allergic to so long as the information is provided on that survey in a timely manner.
Unfortunately, the Gathering Table Venue is not wheelchair accessible.
The Gathering Table is approximately 24 miles from the airport. I recommend renting a car at the airport for the easiest, most affordable and convenient transportation. If renting a car is not an option then Uber/Lyft are both available from Tampa Airport. I recommend downloading the app ahead of time, and setting up an account so that when you arrive in Tampa all you need to do is enter the address of the Venue and head to the Uber/Lyft pickup location of the airport. There is a designated spot that is clearly marked with signs, and you can also ask any airpot attendee where the Ride Share pick up location is.
If you do not feel comfortable with using a ride share service, the airport will have a line of taxis that you can jump into at any time.
There will be a Facebook group for coordinating before the event, so I suggest finding someone with a similar flight time so that you can ride together and share the cost, whether that be a rental car or Uber/Lyft. Right in the Uber/Lyft app there is a “share cost” option, or you can always Venmo the other person your share.
Either way, a car rental will be BY FAR the most affordable option at about $45 per day (Uber will be about $45 ONE WAY to event)
Check-in is at promptly 9am on Wednesday 4/1/26. If you arrive late, we will have started the event without you.
The event ends at 6pm, and Amanda will be cleaning up from 6-6:30. Anyone who has not left the barn by 6pm will be asked to help clean. After 6:30 pm we will head over to the Olde Town Pizzeria for dinner at approximately 7pm.
The VIP day will begin at 9am on 4/2/26 and will end whenever we feel we are done thrifting, sometime before Dinnertime.
The event itself is in Plant City, but the airport and the VIP day will be closer to Tampa, so I recommend staying in or near Tampa so that you are close to the airport. I would fly in on 3/31 so that you have no problem making it to the event on 4/1 at 9 am.
The Beach that were are going to and the lunch spot for VIP day have several gorgeous hotels that I can recommend, which would be the ideal place to stay depending on your budget. I can also recommend some more affordable options off of the beach but still nearby to the VIP day activities.
Keep in mind, if you fly in and get a hotel by the airport, it will be best to rent a car (find a buddy to rent with!) so that you can get to the event venue on 4/1.
The Gathering Table Venue has plenty of free parking. No one will have a problem finding parking at all.
What Manda Panda Projects peeps said about past crafty experiences...
Meet your crafty host!
Hi! I’m Manda! Or Amanda, whatever you want to call me as long as it’s not Mandy.
I’m a Crafter, Twin Boy Mom, Business Owner and Sunflower, Leopard, and Rainbow Lover. I love to make cute things on a budget, which is how Manda Panda Projects started. It has since grown into the most amazing, supportive and encouraging community on the interwebs! We always joke on my lives about how we’d love to meet and craft in person, and get a party bus that goes from Thrift Store to Dollar Tree to Thrift Store…
Well, I decided to make that a reality!
Lots of you have said time and again “When are you going to come do an event on the East Coast?” Well……NOW is the time! I am (hopefully) touring the US doing pop up events so that I can meet as many of you IRL as possible. My goal for you is to get you out of your crafty comfort zone, make crafty memories, and meet crafty friends on a once in a lifetime Craftventure!
I can’t wait to hug you in person!
IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WANT BADLY then remember that you are WORTH it.
You deserve to have these experiences and it’s ok to put you first sometimes!
I can guarantee you that you will leave this experience with your cup so full it will be spilling over into all the people that you love!