GIANT Gear Decorations – Maker Fun Factory

GIANT Gear Decorations – Maker Fun Factory

I love decorating for a dollar!  My last decorating for a dollar project was the blue paper decorated as blueprints.  These giant gear decorations are even faster and easier... and each one is a whopping SEVEN FOOT gear! This is a great way to decorate large spaces without investing a lot of time or energy.  I'm planning to use these in our snack area and possibly crafts or bible verse stations. This post may contain affiliate links (I earn a small percentage of anything you purchase but you don’t pay anything extra).  Thanks for…Read more …
Master List of Craft Ideas – Maker Fun Factory

Master List of Craft Ideas – Maker Fun Factory

The Maker Fun Factory curriculum is my favorite in YEARS.  I think the message speaks to the identity confusion that most (if not all) kids experience at some point or another.  The points shared through this curriculum are ones that we ALL will benefit from hearing and sharing!  I love that the Imagination Station activities reinforce the daily bible points, but I am a strong proponent of more old-school crafts rather than the gimmicky science gizmos that Group suggests using.  I've come up with a master list of alternative craft ideas that still mesh…Read more …
Wooden Cross Craft – Vacation Bible School Ideas

Wooden Cross Craft – Vacation Bible School Ideas

Our church typically uses the vacation bible school curriculum created by Group Publishing.  Every Group curriculum, regardless of theme, uses night 4 (Thursday night for us) to tell the story of Jesus' life and death (and offers kids the chance to accept Jesus).  I like doing a cross craft at Imagination Station for the Jesus story.  My goal is always to keep crafts under $1 per child per night, but if I'm going to splurge on a craft I want it to be a keepsake... so I will occasionally spend over $1 if…Read more …
Robot Craft (GUTSY Bear Alternative) – Maker Fun Factory VBS

Robot Craft (GUTSY Bear Alternative) – Maker Fun Factory VBS

The Maker Fun Factory curriculum is my favorite in YEARS.  I think the message speaks to the identity confusion that most (if not all) kids experience at some point or another.  The points shared through this curriculum are ones that we ALL will benefit from hearing and sharing!  I love that the Imagination Station activities reinforce the daily bible points, but I am a strong proponent of more old-school crafts rather than the gimmicky science gizmos that Group suggests using.  This robot craft is a much less expensive alternative to Group's GUTSY Bears, but…Read more …
DIY Xylophone – Maker Fun Factory VBS

DIY Xylophone – Maker Fun Factory VBS

Maker Fun Factory is one of my favorite VBS programs in a long time!  One of the things I love is that decorating for Maker Fun Factory is so interactive.  From life-size marble runs to homemade instruments, the possibilities are endless. This post may contain affiliate links.  I earn a small percentage of anything you purchase through these links but you don’t pay anything extra.  Thanks for helping to support Borrowed Blessings! After hunting Pinterest like it's my job, I had an idea list a mile long for interactive VBS decor.  One of…Read more …
Indoor Advertising Banner for less than $1! – Maker Fun Factory VBS

Indoor Advertising Banner for less than $1! – Maker Fun Factory VBS

Our church has an outdoor vinyl banner that we display with the VBS dates and times every year.  To advertise indoors, we typically order a lower quality indoor banner customized with the theme each year.  This year, I made a HUGE indoor banner for under a buck.  The banner is 4.5 feet wide by 9 feet tall - wowzers! This post may contain affiliate links (I earn a small percentage of anything you purchase but you don’t pay anything extra).  Thanks for helping support Borrowed Blessings! Supplies for this project: -Blank banner (table…Read more …
Budget-Friendly VBS T-Shirts: Maker Fun Factory

Budget-Friendly VBS T-Shirts: Maker Fun Factory

We have used the Group iron-ons in the past to make VBS t-shirts, but haven't been very happy with the quality {You know how you can see the white square around the logo?  Yeah, we'd like to not have that.}.  We also like having the freedom to buy different colored shirts for each crew. This year, I decided to delve into custom t-shirts.  I've designed t-shirts for years for various organizations {everything from a band fundraising concert to church ministries to collegiate events}.  I created two t-shirt designs for Maker Fun Factory VBS.…Read more …
Cheap & Easy Robot Building Ideas – Maker Fun Factory VBS

Cheap & Easy Robot Building Ideas – Maker Fun Factory VBS

Since this year's VBS theme, Maker Fun Factory, focuses heavily on robots, we're all going to be professional robot builders by the end of the summer!  I've looked at more robot building ideas than I care to admit, so I thought I'd share some of my favorites.  Thankfully, robots are cheap and fairly easy to put together! This post may contain affiliate links.  I earn a small percentage of anything you purchase through these links but you don’t pay anything extra.  Thanks for helping to support Borrowed Blessings! To build a robot (or…Read more …