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 the neat pictures I found was a xylophone someone had made at home for their kids. I used that idea and made this super simple xylophone from materials we already had around the house! We completed a home renovation last year and my hubby is pretty handy, so he has plenty of scrap wood laying around. This was a very low (maybe even zero) cost project for our church! We used scrap wood and screws. The spray paint was already on our shopping list for other VBS projects. I don’t have a drumstick yet, but I’m going to check with our worship band to see if they have any old ones we can have!
Supplies
–Wood strips {I used window casing and 1″x2″ scrap board}
–Screws
–Spray paint {various bright colors}
–Drumstick
Instructions
1. Cut wood into whatever lengths you want to use. I cut my vertical pieces at 8″, 10″, 12″, 14″, 16″, 18″ and 20″. The two 1″x2″ scraps that are the backer pieces are 24″ long each. I literally went through my husband’s scrap wood in his workshop and found everything I needed!
2. Spray paint the vertical window casing boards. I made mine most of the colors of the rainbow, all using Rustoleum glossy spray paint.
3. After the boards are very dry, screw or nail the brightly painted boards {vertically} to the two support boards.
I’m planning to hang this xylophone in our foyer area with a felt-covered drumstick so that kids can enjoy interactive play… with a felt-covered drumstick so that they don’t chip all the paint off the first night! After VBS is over, I’m going to hang the xylophone in my daughter’s bedroom.
In case you haven’t already heard, this year’s VBS theme from Group Publishing is Maker Fun Factory {read more about the basics here}. The VBS kits are now available for purchase and I HIGHLY suggest getting the ultimate starter kit that includes a digital copy of all the materials on a USB drive.
I am a long-time Vacation Bible School lover. I’ve lead in several capacities throughout the VBS world and am currently our church’s VBS director. It is a joy for me to be able to share VBS ideas and resources with others! I will continue to share ideas here as we prepare for Maker Fun FactoryVBS . Follow the blog to see more of our ideas and planning! Please let me know if there are any specific VBS items or ideas you need help with!
Hey!! Wondering if you could make the Bible buddies in KJV??
So cute! Thank you.
Are you doing anything different from the Day 1 No Hum Drum? If so, I’d love to see it.
Lidia,
I’m not sure yet! Have you had any great ideas? 🙂
Kara
this is great thanks
You’re welcome!
Does the xylophone actually play notes?
It makes noise… I wouldn’t necessarily call them notes though. 🙂
This seems great. Since I am doing a making instrument project for my intro to music class in college, I hope that this would work out for my project. I am also wondering, does it make like different sounds while hitting different sections of the board?
I’m sorry – I don’t remember! We used it for Vacation Bible School but didn’t keep it.