Shipwrecked VBS Backdrop Ideas

Grab your buoys and jump on board – it’s time to get excited for SHIPWRECKED VBS!  We decorate at least 2 levels of our main building (sometimes all 3), plus the preschool area (which is in a separate building).  Needless to say, we will need tons of Shipwrecked backdrops!

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!

Some of the places we most often use wall coverings/backdrops include:
-Foyer (Registration area, themed wall – just decorations, photo booth wall)
-Sanctuary (Stage, Bible verse station)
-Stairway
-Fellowship Hall (God sightings, Snack area, Story station)
-Lower Level (Music station, Imagination station)
-Gym building (Preschool stations)

We will have different themes in different areas.  Although the overall theme of VBS this year is Shipwrecked, there are several Shipwrecked backdrop possibilities.

Shipwrecked backdrop themes
-Ship/Boat
-Island/Beach
-Ocean/horizon view
-Underwater
-Jungle

I’ve found TONS of options online already!  Here are some of my favorites:

DISPOSABLE SHIPWRECKED VBS BACKDROPS

• Crepe paper – Check out this adorable backdrop idea!  Just use a few similar colors of crepe paper streamers (like a light green and dark green), then add some tropical leaves at the top!

Source: http://catchmyparty.com/photos/2182469

• Kraft paper vines – These kraft paper vines don’t completely hide the wall, but they are super fun if you have a plain-ish wall!  Supplies needed are kraft paper and tropical leaves.  There’s a great tutorial on making the vines here.

Source: http://www.carefreeblondeblog.com/2016/08/diy-wild-one-birthday-party.html#.WmVoSahKvIW

• Solid paper roll – The current Amazon price for light blue is a 4’x200′ roll for $23.  This is one of the most cost-effective ways to cover a large area.  You can also use this paper to cut your own tropical leaves.  Order several bright colors of paper for a fun leaf accent wall!

Source: https://www.etsy.com/pt/listing/462323388/tropical-party-decorations-hawaiian?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=giant+tropical+flowers&ref=sr_gallery_4

• Patterned paper roll – Many stores offer rolls of patterned paper that can be hung as a backdrop.
  • Hobby Lobby – A 4’x12′ roll of bulletin board paper normally costs $10, but stack that with your 40% off coupon for a great deal!  Check out the Under the Sea and Tropical Beach patterns (shown below)!
• 
  • If you like the patterns above, you can also purchase them in 4’x50′ rolls for about $23 on Amazon!
• Wrapping paper – Wrapping paper is basically the same as patterned paper rolls, but may offer more patterns or metallic colors!  I LOVE this classy anchor wrapping paper – it’s 22″x10′ for $1.65 right now. (Yes, you read that right – less than $2!)

• Plastic cellophane rolls – These are transparent, but blue cellophane looks really neat for an underwater backdrop!  A 40″x100′ roll is currently just under $20.
• Solid plastic table cover – You can buy rolls or sheets of solid colored plastic table cover.  This is one of the most cost-effective ways to cover a large area.  Fair warning: plastic table cover is usually at least somewhat see through.
  • White – If you need white table cover anywhere, I’ve never found it cheaper than at Sam’s Club! A 40″x300′ roll costs $13.
  • For colored table cover rolls, I typically shop on Amazon.  The current price for a 40″x300′ roll is $28.
• Patterned plastic table cover – You can buy either rolls or sheets of plastic table cover that are printed with a design.  Most of these patterned options are 40″x100″ rolls for around $20 each.
•  
  • Dark blue with stars (I think this would make a neat underwater backdrop)
  • Under the sea
  • Palm trees
• Plastic patterned backdrops – Similar to the patterned plastic tablecover, you can purchase plastic patterned backdrops.  These are more expensive per square foot than the tablecover rolls, but they’re pre-cut and ready to go.
  • Oriental Trading – A 9’x6′ tropical scene backdrop costs $17.99.
• Foil fringe – Oriental Trading has foil backdrops that would looks great for a variety of scenes!  Just add some paper cutouts and your backdrop is ready to go.  These would be super fun in the preschool area!  The 12’x8′ version is currently on sale for $14.

REUSABLE SHIPWRECKED VBS BACKDROPS

• Vinyl photo backdrops – You can purchase vinyl photo backdrops in a variety of sizes.  They’re reusable and vibrant colors/patterns!  You can hang them with a photo backdrop stand or just attach them to a wall with 3M tabs/staples.
  • 10’x10′ island horizon – currently $55
  • 5’x7′ water design – currently $15.99
  • 5’x7′ underwater scene – currently $17.38

• Group’s fabric backdrop – At a cost of $90 for 18’x8′, this is one of the most expensive options.  It’s nice that this backdrop is fabric so it can be used again.  If I were going to splurge for one of the fabric backdrops, I’d probably pick a more generic print (like underwater) because water scenes can be used with so many VBS themes.

• Fishing net – These fishing nets could be hung plain… for some extra fun, you can add accessories to the fishing net.  Anything from starfish to life preservers to pictures of the kids could easily be attached to the netting!

• Bamboo-like fencing – You can find this at any home improvement store.  The current sale price at Menard’s is just under $8 for a 4’x8′ roll.  This adds a super realistic, 3D texture that I love!
• 
• Tarps – Tarps are an easy way to cover a large area!  They’re also great because they store easily, they’re reusable year after year and they’re totally versatile in their uses!  For Shipwreck VBS backdrops, I could imagine light brown tarps as sand, blue tarps as water, any color tarps as ship sails and dark brown tarps as ships.

Shew!  If you made it all the way through this list, you are a trooper!  What other fun Shipwrecked VBS backdrop ideas have you had?  Feel free to share them in the comments!

This year’s VBS theme is Shipwrecked {learn more about the theme here}.  The VBS kits are available now.  All of our VBS resources are designed to be used alongside any of the Group starter kits, although I HIGHLY recommend purchasing the digital version.

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 VBS ideas here as we prepare for Shipwrecked VBS.  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!