A bell regularly rings throughout the day at Make-A-Messterpiece as kids come in ready to make a creative mess. The studio lets kids spend the day painting, coloring, cooking and working on crafts without worrying about the cleanup.

"Kids in a lot of homes are told: 'Go play, but don't make a mess,'" said general manager Sarah Cole. "This facility is to let your whole creativity shine."

Since opening in September, the specialized art studio in Glenview has been an instant success. Cole said lots of repeat visitors are drawn in by the new schedule of activities every two weeks. The $10 admission provides access to the open art area where children can work at low custom-built tables in the shape of paint splats with crayons, watercolors and markers, or sit at an easel to make larger works to take home.

"Kids just love to be able to paint and dip their hands in it and mess around," Cole said.

Additional activities are offered for $5 each at stations throughout the facility. The most popular is Drum Roll. Kids don raincoats and goggles and go into a room where they can learn about rhythm and sequence by pounding on drums. Big drums are filled with paint, which splatters everywhere on impact. The whole affair is recorded on DVD and families get to take a copy home at no additional price.

Bubble'ology is another big hit. Kids hold pieces of paper under paint-infused bubbles that leave their color behind when they pop. Children can learn the results of mixing colors, use stencils to cut out shapes and finger paint with the wet mixtures.

Other stations teach cooking, gardening and science. Projects range from building lava lamps to whipping up sorbet and decorating pet rocks. The goal is to make every activity both a creative outlet and an educational experience.

"Art is the first thing cut out of school curriculums," Cole said. "We thought it was very important to have a studio for kids who aren't getting what they need through school."

The spot also sports two play areas, divided by age group, complete with a slide, teeter-totter and a small kitchen and gets plenty of use from kids burning energy between projects. A cafe offers healthy snacks, couches and books where parents often spend time reading to their kids if they need a bit of time to relax. A bank of televisions also has proved popular with dads, who like to watch sports while their kids play.

Make-A-Messterpiece also encourages families to use their facilities for school projects since the price of admission is often less than buying all the materials classes can require. If a visit inspires a new interest in art, a gift shop provides an assortment of art kits and supplies, plus other toys meant to appeal to the senses such as lavender-scented stuffed animals that can be warmed in a microwave.

Besides providing fun for families, Make-A-Messterpiece has proved to be a popular party destination. Two party rooms host 25 kids and the studio offers T-shirt making and other custom art projects.