Interactive Ball Maze – Maker Fun Factory

Interactive Ball Maze – Maker Fun Factory

One of my favorite things about Maker Fun Factory VBS is the amount of interactive possibilities!  We used mostly supplies the church already had to make an interactive ball maze.  We actually made two of these - one for the back of the sanctuary (which was interactive) and one for on stage (that was filled with balls - not interactive).  Links in this post may be referral links.  Thanks for helping support Borrowed Blessings! Supplies: -Concrete form (ours were 12" across and 3-4' tall) -Poster board (4 sheets per concrete tube) -Clear packing…Read more …
Group Publishing VBS 2018: SHiPWRECKED

Group Publishing VBS 2018: SHiPWRECKED

Am I the only person who's been waiting on the edge of my seat for the 2018 Group VBS theme reveal?  I mean sure, my "waiting on the edge of my seat" is more of an exhausted slump since our Maker Fun Factory VBS just finished... but still... I'm excited! The "Easy" VBS theme {emphasis on the quotes there - Group calls it easy, not me - haha!} is Shipwrecked: Rescued by Jesus. The "Holy Land" VBS theme is Babylon: Daniel's Courage in Captivity. The "Weekend" VBS theme has not been announced yet.…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 …
Name Tag Templates – Maker Fun Factory VBS

Name Tag Templates – Maker Fun Factory VBS

For the last few years, we've printed our own name tags and put them in ID sleeves attached to lanyards.  These are affordable and have lasted really well!  We've had to throw away a few lanyards, but most of them can be re-used multiple years. 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!  The prices referenced here are current as of publishing, but retailers change pricing often. Materials Cardstock Paper…Read more …
Pregnancy Announcement to our Families

Pregnancy Announcement to our Families

As you may know, we were married and trying to get pregnant for close to two years before we finally got that big fat positive test.  Our families have been anxiously {and not-so-patiently... ahem, mom} waiting to celebrate our pregnancy.  You can tell how excited they were with our announcement in the pregnancy announcement video below!  We found out we were pregnant right before Easter, so we used Easter eggs to announce that we were "EGGspecting". We are so blessed to be welcoming this baby into our family!  Our due date is Thanksgiving…Read more …
Pregnancy Journal Update: 7 Weeks

Pregnancy Journal Update: 7 Weeks

Date: 4/12/16 *1st trimester* 7 weeks This week kicked my baby-loving butt!  With every week that passes, I feel more/new/different symptoms and get on a different food kick. It’s still very surreal that we’re actually, finally having a baby {in November, which feels like years away at this point}. I did find a new pair of nice winter boots on clearance and bought them… because next winter, I’ll be carrying a baby either inside me or in a car seat… so we don’t want mama slipping and falling! Hence, new boots, so good…Read more …
Why We Decided To Announce Our Pregnancy Early

Why We Decided To Announce Our Pregnancy Early

This was written just after we found out we’re pregnant… but we saved it to post online after we told close friends & family. I found out I was pregnant at 3 weeks, 6 days {the day my period was expected to arrive}.  I took a strip test Tuesday evening.  It was positive, but I was in complete shock because we’ve tried for a while now {more on that shortly}.  I didn’t say a word to my husband, then took a digital test the next morning.  It was positive!  I still didn’t tell…Read more …
I am {finally} PREGNANT!

I am {finally} PREGNANT!

We are pregnant {or I am pregnant... I never really know what to say}! This was written just after we found out we’re pregnant… but we saved it to post online after we told close friends & family. Last fall, I shared that I had some BIG NEWS with y’all and many of you said you thought we were pregnant before you read the article. {Spoiler alert: We weren’t. We bought a house.} We actually, really, for-real are now pregnant and are so excited to share the exciting news with you all! No,…Read more …
Cave Quest VBS Frugal Crafts: Custom Tote Bags

Cave Quest VBS Frugal Crafts: Custom Tote Bags

Welcome back to another of my Frugal Cave Quest VBS Craft Ideas!  Make sure to check out the other ideas here.  Before purchasing any of the craft supplies for VBS, I like to check the supply closet and see what we have.  Sometimes we have lots of glue, while other times we may only have a few bottles.  This helps me gauge how much I need to purchase.  We also have some SUPER SWEET and crafty ladies who will sometimes purchase Kids Ministry/VBS supplies for us. When I went to check out our…Read more …
DIY Stained Glass Cross Craft

DIY Stained Glass Cross Craft

Welcome back to another of my frugal VBS craft ideas!  Make sure to check out the other ideas here.  The super official name of this is the stained glass art thingy.  I found a photo for inspiration on Pinterest, but it was a discontinued item at Concordia.  This craft would be fun and easy with any VBS, so I've come up with instructions. This post may contain affiliate links.  Thank you for helping to support Borrowed Blessings! Supplies: -Black construction paper circles -Silver permanent markers -Contact paper -Tissue paper squares -Hole punch -Ribbon…Read more …
Cave Quest VBS – Frugal Craft Ideas

Cave Quest VBS – Frugal Craft Ideas

  In the past few years, Group Publishing has transitioned from crafts over to “science-y gizmos”.  According to a blurb in this year’s curriculum, it was a move to cut down on the little junk that kids took home and eventually trashed.  My issues with this are that (a) their science-y gizmos are just junk that kids take home and trash…. and (b) we like crafts, doggonit!  The suggestions from group are pricey and not impressive {in my opinion}.  I recently shared the things I love & don’t love about Group’s curriculum and…Read more …
Cave Quest VBS Frugal Crafts: Spelunker Helmet

Cave Quest VBS Frugal Crafts: Spelunker Helmet

Welcome back to another of my Frugal Cave Quest VBS Craft Ideas! Make sure to check out the other ideas. All great spelunkers need their caving gear! This cute helmet is super easy and VERY cheap to make {pennies per child}. Supplies: Blank helmets Black construction paper Aluminum foil Round jar lids Scissors Glue and/or double stick tape Permanent markers Foam stickers, regular stickers, feathers, sequins, other crafty items for embellishments {optional} Okay, so the beauty of this craft lies in the fact that I found these helmets for $.60 per dozen {yes,…Read more …
Cave Quest VBS Frugal Crafts: Bible Verse Activity Sheets

Cave Quest VBS Frugal Crafts: Bible Verse Activity Sheets

I’m not really sure whether these should be called bible verse activity sheets or coloring sheets or puzzles… they can be anything you want them to be! I designed activity sheets with each night’s bible verse on it. There are 4 options for each night – coloring book font 9 piece puzzle, bold font 9 piece puzzle, coloring book font 20 piece puzzle and bold font 20 piece puzzle. The blank puzzle templates were from here and the daily bible buddies from Group are featured in the background of each day’s activity sheet.…Read more …
Vacation Bible School: My Love/Hate Relationship with Group Publishing

Vacation Bible School: My Love/Hate Relationship with Group Publishing

You may have read last week that we’re using Group Publishing again this year for our vacation bible school curriculum.  I chose the curriculum because it works really well for our church, but there are pros and cons to every curriculum out there. LOVE: MUSIC Group has great music!  Our church is also super blessed to have a fun couple that writes and leads music every year.  Even if you don’t have tons of musically inclined people, it’s easy to follow along with the Group songs.  They include a music CD as well…Read more …
Vacation Bible School Planning

Vacation Bible School Planning

I’ve been involved in the Vacation Bible School program at church my entire life.  Growing up, it wasn’t a casual “oh, it’s VBS time”… it was pull-out-all-the-stops, wild and fun, over-the-top VBS time!  One year my parents built a gazebo in the church.  It wouldn’t fit out of the room… they literally built it in place to use it FOR ONE WEEK, then took it apart to get the lumber back out of the room.  Another year was the story of Paul in jail… they built a “jail cell”, complete with handcuffing kids…Read more …
Expectations vs Reality

Expectations vs Reality

Hubby and I got married just over a year ago.  Our honeymoon wasn’t a walk on the beach, literally or figuratively.  We got married, then spent our honeymoon attending the wedding of some of Hubby’s good friends in another state.  The only way to financially afford a honeymoon and a cross-country wedding trip in the same year was to make the two trips one – so we did.  We flew out two weeks after our wedding, spent a few days visiting Hubby’s old stompin’ ground {where he went to college}, road tripped for…Read more …
Our Journey to a Simplified Home + Lifestyle

Our Journey to a Simplified Home + Lifestyle

I've moved several times in the last eight years.  I moved to college and back three years, back home, moved in with my fiance, moved back home... you get the idea.  You'd think this many moves would give me reason to reduce my physical belongings... and yet, the amount of STUFF I've amassed continues to grow.  Over the last year, my husband and I have realized that we {mostly I} have WAYYYYY too many belongings.  We have so many physical THINGS that our home never seems to truly be organized or put together.…Read more …
Finding God’s Peace in the Midst of Life’s Pain

Finding God’s Peace in the Midst of Life’s Pain

I know they say not to cry over spilled milk, but what about crying over scraped cabinets?  I haven't shared anything faith-based with you guys lately, but God smacked me in the face with a lesson this weekend and I have really felt it on my heart to share!  Have you ever struggled with finding God's peace? I have been refinishing the kitchen cabinets for our new house.  This process has not been a quick one - I started with hours upon hours upon hours of research {ahem, thank you Pinterest}.  I cleaned…Read more …
I Can’t Wait for Patience!

I Can’t Wait for Patience!

Last night as we were vegging at home, Munchkin asked if he could have ice cream {I may have bribed him into helped him realize he should be eating all his dinner with a conditional offer of dessert}.  Ten seconds after he finished eating dinner, he wanted to cash in on the dessert offer.  I told him he could have ice cream, but he had to wait a few minutes.  As he was watching the book-turned-movie he had picked at the movie store, I was cleaning up from dinner and trying to accomplish a few…Read more …