Decorating

Shipwrecked Tiki Hut (Quick, Easy & Cheap!)

Shipwrecked Tiki Hut (Quick, Easy & Cheap!)

It's not often that I have a large VBS display for little to no cost... this year, though, we can make tiki huts for little to no cost and very little time (uh, aren't those projects every VBS director's dream come true?!)! 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. This year's Group VBS theme is…Read more …
Shipwrecked VBS Crew Signs (Free Printables!)

Shipwrecked VBS Crew Signs (Free Printables!)

Every year, we have opening and closing in the church sanctuary.  Each crew gets 2 pews where they're supposed to stay during opening and closing.  I make some sort of crew sign every year so that kids (and crew guides) know where they should be.  Feel free to use or share the crew signs (just link back here if you're sharing)! 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…Read more …
Shipwrecked VBS Backdrop Ideas

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…Read more …
Decorating: Foyer (Registration & Photo Booth) – Maker Fun Factory

Decorating: Foyer (Registration & Photo Booth) – Maker Fun Factory

Our foyer is just inside the main entrance, so we have registration there every year.  We also had a photo booth, tshirt factory and sound station in the foyer decorations this year! This post contains affiliate links, where I earn a small percentage of items you purchase.  Thank you for helping to support Borrowed Blessings! For about a month before VBS set-up, we have one wall in the foyer that's dedicated to VBS.  This year we actually used the normal advertising wall plus a second wall for the robot building competition. Our pre-VBS…Read more …
Decorating: Sanctuary (Opening & Closing) – Maker Fun Factory

Decorating: Sanctuary (Opening & Closing) – Maker Fun Factory

We use our sanctuary for opening and closing every year.  All of the kids {even the preschoolers} are in both opening and closing.  We spend about 15 minutes each in opening and closing. Opening usually consists of: -Welcome -Music -Skit -Daily bible point intro {by the director} -Announcements -Prayer {usually by the director} Closing usually consists of: -Music -Daily summary {director asks a few kids to share the bible verse, bible point, etc.} -Daily totals {attendance and offering} -Announcements -Prayer {usually by a child who volunteers} This post contains affiliate links, where I…Read more …
Decoupage VBS Signs – Maker Fun Factory VBS

Decoupage VBS Signs – Maker Fun Factory VBS

I love decorating projects that use up supplies we already have... not only are these low-cost/no-cost, but it's also fun to see how creatively leftover supplies can be used! This post may contain affiliate links.  Thank you for helping support Borrowed Blessings! Supplies: Posterboard Clear packing tape Duct tape Cardstock paper Liquid school glue Decoupage materials: Tissue paper squares Foam shapes/scraps Paint dot markers Cotton balls Pom pom balls Markers Instructions: 1. Cut posterboard into an arrow shape.  I used a regular sheet of paper to make sure my arrow was straight.  The…Read more …
Sound Station – Maker Fun Factory

Sound Station – Maker Fun Factory

There are times when I come up with completely new ideas and times when I use the VBS curriculum provided ideas. I LOVE the sound station idea provided by Group!  For our sound station, we made the wrench chimes suggested by Group as well as another interactive sound station that we created.  I'm so glad we made these sound station items - they turned out so fun!  We also made a homemade xylophone, but it ended up in another area. This post may contain affiliate links.  Thank you for helping support Borrowed Blessings!…Read more …
Crew Signs – Maker Fun Factory

Crew Signs – Maker Fun Factory

Every year, we have opening and closing in the church sanctuary.  Each crew gets 1-2 pews where they're supposed to stay during opening and closing.  I make some sort of crew sign every year so that kids (and crew guides) know where they should be.  I actually went through several ideas this year, so I'll share them all with you!  It was the classic Three Little Bears... "no, this sign isn't quite right"... I've included my three ideas below.  Feel free to use or share any of them! This post may contain affiliate…Read more …
Paper Plate Cutout Gears – Maker Fun Factory

Paper Plate Cutout Gears – Maker Fun Factory

We made A LOT of gears this year... like, a lot.  I felt like Bubba Gump's million kinds of shrimp... we have gears cut out of tablecloths, gear posters, gear toys, gears that look metallic, gears that actually work... One of the types of gears we made were paper plate cutout gears.  These were one of the projects we used during our volunteer work day.  They're a great project to send home with someone, too! This post may contain affiliate links.  Thank you for helping support Borrowed Blessings! Supplies: Paper plates Scissors Permanent marker…Read more …
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 …
Upcycled Station Signs – Maker Fun Factory

Upcycled Station Signs – Maker Fun Factory

This weekend, I used free supplies to make some awesome upcycled station signs!  One of our church members (who is a former architect) donated a whole stack of old blueprints.  I used blue paper leftover from another VBS project to make some large (and FREE) station signs! 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: -Blueprints -Blue paper (I had some left over from our other blueprint project) -King sized Sharpie Instructions: 1.…Read more …
Blueprint Backdrops – Maker Fun Factory

Blueprint Backdrops – Maker Fun Factory

I am super excited to share this easy (and large) backdrop idea!  Using tarps and white tape, you can quickly make large-scale backdrops.  These would work well on stage or in other areas of your building.  I'm planning to use these on four walls in our foyer (entry) area. 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: -Blue tarps (I used 6'x8') -Packing tape -Skinny white artist tape or off-white masking tape Instructions: 1.…Read more …
Gear Floor Decals – Maker Fun Factory VBS

Gear Floor Decals – Maker Fun Factory VBS

Did you see the Giant Gear Decorations post earlier?  I've had some great feedback and ideas from other VBS leaders and have another table cover-based gear idea to share.  Get excited - this is another decorating for a dollar idea!  We are going to use the table cover method to make floor decals {think stepping stones, except obviously not made of stone}. 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 Table covers Plastic carpet…Read more …
Giant Gear God Sightings – Maker Fun Factory VBS

Giant Gear God Sightings – Maker Fun Factory VBS

I am not super crazy about the God sighting lights on stage with this year's VBS curriculum, so I came up with a fast, easy and colorful alternative! 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 Giant Gear Decorations Adhesive Gear Labels Permanent Markers Instructions 1. Make several giant gear decorations (they're about $1 each and super easy to make). 2. Hang the giant gears in your God sighting area.  We're going to…Read more …
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 …
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 …
How to Make Blueprints for Under $1 – Maker Fun Factory VBS

How to Make Blueprints for Under $1 – Maker Fun Factory VBS

Good afternoon!  I am so excited to share with y'all the cheapest, easiest blueprint-making-method ever!  Carrie A. (who is part of our Maker Fun Factory facebook group) made these phenomenal (and huge) blueprints for pennies.  They are large and will be a quick, easy way to decorate spaces (think hallways, stairwells, on stage, etc). 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! Supplies Blue fadeless paper (you can use sky…Read more …
Bible Verse Printable Posters {NIV & NLT}: Maker Fun Factory VBS

Bible Verse Printable Posters {NIV & NLT}: Maker Fun Factory VBS

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! Group uses the NLT bible for their curriculum.  I'm usually okay with this translation {it's supposed to be one of the best for readability}, but there are times where I'm not a fan.  This year's Maker Fun Factory VBS bible verses are a prime example.  There are times where this NIV-raised lady just needs to hear the phrase "fearfully and wonderfully made".…Read more …
Cave Quest VBS: Decorating Spaces – Rockin’ Tunes

Cave Quest VBS: Decorating Spaces – Rockin’ Tunes

Our church used Group Publishing's "Cave Quest" VBS curriculum this summer.  I've shared many of our projects, but you may be missing out on a big picture idea of how our spaces looked.  This room was proof that you don't have to spend a lot of time or money to make VBS special for the kids!  Here's how we decorated a super simple music area. Sorry for the poor quality of these pictures - a lot of them are from my cell phone {I'm not sure why my sleep-deprived VBS directing self wasn't…Read more …

Cave Quest VBS: Decorating Spaces – Preschool Cave Pool

Our church used Group Publishing's "Cave Quest" VBS curriculum this summer.  I've shared many of our projects, but you may be missing out on a big picture idea of how our Preschool Cave Pool space looked.  This area is definitely one of our most elaborately decorated.  The preschoolers have their own program in our gym building.  They come to opening and closing with the big kids, but stay in their building for all other activities.  This works really well for us, since this age can be challenging to keep on a tight schedule. I've…Read more …
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