About Craft & Yap
Building Community Through Creativity
Craft & Yap is an Austin-based creative event company bringing people together through interactive experiences designed to spark connection, self-expression, and a little bit of play.
What began as a volunteer craft night making Valentine’s Day cards for seniors has grown into a creative community offering public craft events, private parties, corporate team-building experiences, university events, traveling charm bars, custom creative stations, and brand activations.
From intimate gatherings to large-scale events, every Craft & Yap experience is thoughtfully designed to feel welcoming, engaging, and memorable. Guests do more than make something cute—they slow down, try something new, meet new people, and leave with a keepsake tied to the experience.
Our mission is simple: building community through creativity.
About the founder
Founder + Creative Director
Gabriella Castro is the founder and creative director of Craft & Yap, bringing together a background in fine art, experience design, hospitality, and creative strategy.
After studying mixed-media art at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University, Gabriella built a career centered around creativity, connection, and bringing ideas to life.
In 2025, a community Valentine’s card-making event sparked the idea for Craft & Yap. What began as a way to bring people together through creativity has since grown into a creative experiential studio producing public events, private celebrations, corporate experiences, partnerships, and brand activations.
Today, Gabriella leads Craft & Yap’s creative direction—from developing original concepts and experiences to collaborating with brands, venues, and organizations to bring them to life.
More Than a Craft Event
Craft & Yap was created to make creativity feel approachable and social.
You do not need to consider yourself an artist. You do not need to bring a group. Many guests attend events solo and leave having connected with someone new.
Whether we are hosting a laid-back craft night, creating a custom station for a private celebration, or producing an interactive experience for a brand, the goal remains the same: to create moments where people feel welcome, inspired, and connected.
Creativity With a Purpose
Giving back has been part of Craft & Yap from the beginning.
In addition to public and private events, Craft & Yap has organized donation drives, community-centered gatherings, and Crafted for a Cause initiatives supporting organizations and causes including nursing-home residents, Caritas of Austin, and Pug Rescue Austin.
As the company grows, that commitment to creativity, connection, and community impact will continue growing with it.
