26 SEPTEMBER 2026 By Rachael Bouley Scottsdale is known for its dining and shopping, although a new type of attraction is taking off: “make- your-own” experiences. These creative, hands-on projects let you unlock your inner artist and take home something special after a fun day in town. Here are a few spots to get you started!  7227 E. 1st Ave., Scottsdale lightandbark.com If you love candles and dogs, you’re in luck, as Light + Bark Candle Co. gives back to pooches in need while creating premium scented soy candles. The small business is focused on raising awareness and funds to support rescue and shelter dogs as guests blend their own fragrance and pour a custom soy candle. A portion of the proceeds is donated to the Community Canine Project, benefiting the Maricopa County Animal Care & Control shelter. Founder Jenni Pollack learned to make and sell candles as a unique fundraiser, originally beginning as DOG Candle Co. in 2017 before evolving into Light + Bark in 2020. At the Candle Bar, you get to pick your jar and scents before pouring a candle to take home. Light + Bark is a fan favorite for birthdays, bachelorettes, and date nights, while walk-ins, reservations, and private parties are welcome. Candle-making parties are especially popular for animal rescue fundraisers and team-building events. Light + Bark proudly specializes in custom, one-of-a-kind fragrance blends featuring 100 percent soy wax and cotton wicks for a safe, steady, and clean-burning candle. They have over 70 premium, non-toxic fragrance oils to combine into a unique scent, with cactus, sea salt, and basil some of the top picks for desert-inspired candles.  4225 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale rancherhatbar.com Rancher Hat Bar makes it easy to embrace the trend of western hats with modern flair. It’s been three years since the first storefront opened, with the goal of preserving hat- making heritage while adding contemporary, personalized designs. The Scottsdale location was the brand’s second overall, and now it’s blossomed into 17 stores nationwide. “Rancher Hat Bar was created at the intersection of western heritage, fashion, and experiential retail,” Founder Shantelle Girard said. “By giving every guest the opportunity to design a hat that’s uniquely their own, we’ve transformed shopping into an unforgettable experience.” The Old Town shop offers custom cowboy, rancher, and trucker hats, plus a cowboy boot and charm necklace builder. Every guest gets one-on-one guidance from a trained Hat Stylist to create a custom piece that matches their personality and style. You get to select your desired color, style, and fit before adding bands, feathers, charms, and brands to complete the look.     7240 E. Main St., Scottsdale turquoisecandyhatbar.com Another hotspot for creating western-inspired hats is Turquoise Candy Hat Bar, located on Historic Main Street. Sisters Faith and Julia Ballor opened the business in 2024 as an extension of Norde Scottsdale Boutique, where they sell Western clothing with feathers, fringe and sequins. Their hats live up to the name, with flat brim and cowboy hats made a of felt, wool, or beaver blend. Choose from over 1,000 accessories and 150 styles and then sit back and relax as a stylist works their magic, bringing the final piece together with rhinestones and ribbons, plus unique accessories like vintage matchboxes, bullet shells, and playing cards. There’s a custom trucker hat and charm bar for bracelets and necklaces, too.   15037 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale liplab.com Located in Scottsdale Quarter, Lip Lab allows customers to make their custom lipstick or lip balm. With 17 locations around the country, this customizable business has taken off and is especially popular with anyone on the hunt for a discontinued or hard-to- find shade. The experience starts with choosing your products: lipstick, gloss, balm, or cheek stick. Next, a color expert analyzes your skin undertones to help mix pigments until you achieve your desired shade. You can choose your coverage and feel, whether that be glossy, matte, satin or sheer. Then, enhance your new makeup with custom essential oils, featuring scents like vanilla, mint, and mango. The last step is selecting your case color before naming and engraving it. All personalized Lip Lab products are vegan, cruelty- free, gluten-free, paraben-free, and talc-free. While walk- ins may be accommodated, reservations are recommended due to popularity, or you can book in for special events like girls’ nights, birthdays, and work gatherings.   7010 E. Main St., Scottsdale thebrushbar.com The Brush Bar is a paint-and-sip studio where guests create their own artwork during guided classes for a fun, introductory art experience enhanced by great music and drinks. The business is celebrating 15 years and has expanded beyond painting to other art and craft classes, such as the Masterpiece Collage Class where children’s artwork and mementos are displayed and celebrated on a large canvas. The tight-knit Brush Bar team believes everyone can have fun being creative. “You don’t have to have any art experience to enjoy a class here. The last thing we want is to feel like a stuffy classroom, so grab a glass of wine, listen to music and let’s enjoy our time making art together,” General Manager Lauren Davidson said. They also recently launched Art Cafe, which is a walk- in option where you can paint or do one of many other craft options available on the menu. Paint Date is another popular pick, where each person paints one half to create a masterpiece together. In addition to in-person acrylic painting workshops at their Scottsdale studio, there’s an at-home creative experience with Art Box DIY painting kits. “We have seen many experience-based businesses open in Old Town over the years, and we love to see it,” Davidson added. “So many of us these days are craving experiences and memories over material things, and the changes we’ve seen naturally reflect that trend.” Make your own fun with these Scottsdale-based businesses