What you need for a family craft afternoon
A family craft afternoon needs more than paper and paint. Plan supplies per child, then add shared tableware, snacks, drinks and cleanup materials for the adults helping out. This shopping list covers the craft tables, buffet, registration desk and hot drinks setup, so you can buy everything before the final guest count is confirmed. Use the confirmed registrations and dietary requirements to adjust food quantities without overbuying.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Tablesqty 6
- Chairsqty 36
- Buffet tableqty 2
- Registration desk
- Waste binsqty 4
Tableware
- Reusable platesqty 40
- Reusable bowlsqty 40
- Drinking glassesqty 50
- Coffee cupsqty 30
- Forksqty 40
- Knivesqty 40
- Spoonsqty 40
- Serving plattersqty 8
Kitchen
- Serving tongsqty 4
- Serving spoonsqty 4
- Cutting boardsqty 3
- Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 4
- Coolersqty 3
Equipment
- Kettlesqty 2
- Coffee machinesqty 2
- Extension cordsqty 4
- Power stripsqty 4
- Bluetooth speaker
Craft supplies
- Drawing paperqty 200
- Colored cardboardqty 100
- Paint setsqty 12
- Paintbrushesqty 40
- Colored pencilsqty 12
- Markersqty 12
- Wascoqty 8
- Children's apronsqty 20
- Children's scissors setsqty 20
- Glue sticksqty 30
- Liquid craft glueqty 6
- Glitterqty 12
- Pom-pomsqty 300
- Googly eyesqty 200
- Knotsqty 300
- Wool and stringqty 10
- Craft Sticksqty 300
- Tablecloths for craftingqty 6
Decorations
- Buntingqty 4
- Table décorqty 6
- Name badgesqty 40
- Adhesive hooksqty 20
Lighting
- Mood lightingqty 3
Cleaning
- Bucketsqty 2
- Spongesqty 8
- Dustpans and brushesqty 2
Catering
- Groceries
- Sandwiches - 40 pieces
- Whole grain bread - 4 loaves
- Herb butter - 4 tubs
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Cream cheese - 4 tubs
- Young cheese - 2,5 kilogram
- Back ham - 1,5 kilogram
- Chicken breast slices - 1 kilogram
- Vegetarian burgers - 20 pieces
- Hamburger buns - 40 pieces
- Arugula - 6 bags
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Tomatoes - 3 kilograms
- Bell peppers - 2 kilograms
- Red onions - 1 kilogram
- Potato salad - 4 kilogram
- Pasta salad - 4 kilograms
- Chicken satay - 3 kilograms
- Satay sauce - 3 jars
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Apples - 3 kilograms
- Grapes - 2 kilogram
- Bananas - 2 kilograms
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Salty breadsticks - 3 bags
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Mini muffins - 60 pieces
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Red - 4 bottles
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Lemons - 8 pieces
- Ice cubes - 6 bags
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Storage containers - 20 pieces
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 30 pieces
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Hand soap - 3 bottles
Tips
- Plan one main craft project plus enough paper and cardboard for two attempts per child. Paint, brushes, markers and coloured pencils are shared more easily when each table has its own set.
- Buy tableware for every guest plus 10% extra. For 20 people, that means 22 reusable plates, bowls, glasses and sets of cutlery, with extra cups if coffee or tea will be served.
- Prepare two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then add roughly one drink per person for each additional hour. Chill the drinks before guests arrive and keep spare bottles in coolers.
- Allow about 100–150 grams of snacks and buffet food per guest when the afternoon lasts two to three hours. Check dietary requirements before shopping and label suitable dishes at the buffet.
- Protect each craft workstation before setup with table coverings or another washable barrier, and place waste bins within a few steps of the tables. Pack extension cords and power strips with the kettles and coffee machines, rather than looking for them during setup.
Frequently asked questions
- What craft supplies do I need for a family craft afternoon?
- For each child, allow at least two sheets of drawing paper, one sheet of coloured cardboard and access to shared paint, brushes, coloured pencils, markers and wax crayons. Add 10–20% extra paper and cardboard for mistakes or late registrations.
- How much food and drink should I buy for a family craft afternoon?
- For a two- to three-hour afternoon, plan 100–150 grams of snacks and buffet food per guest. Buy two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then about one additional drink per person for every extra hour.
- How many plates, cups and cutlery sets are needed?
- Use the final guest count and add 10% spare tableware. For 30 guests, prepare at least 33 plates, bowls, glasses and sets of forks, knives and spoons, plus enough coffee cups for adults who will use them.
- When should I buy supplies for a family craft afternoon?
- Buy craft materials and disposable food ingredients at least three to five days beforehand, once registrations are nearly closed. Do the final food and drink shop one day before the event, and chill drinks several hours before guests arrive.
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