crafty

VBS Crafts: DIY Kindness Rocks

VBS Crafts: DIY Kindness Rocks

Kindness rocks are becoming popular in our area!  If you haven't heard of the Kindness Rocks Project, these are rocks that are decorated with positive & inspirational messages, then hidden around your community for others to find.  I love the joy these kindness rocks bring, both to the person who decorates the rock and the person who finds it! 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…Read more …
Rescued by Jesus Canvas Painting (Shipwrecked Imagination Station Alternative: Day 2)

Rescued by Jesus Canvas Painting (Shipwrecked Imagination Station Alternative: Day 2)

I love canvas painting... it's a high-quality craft that doesn't use many materials!  These Rescued by Jesus canvas paintings are a fun craft alternative for the Shipwrecked VBS Imagination Station gizmo on day 2. 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 VBS theme is Shipwrecked {learn more about the theme here}.  The VBS…Read more …
VBS Crafts: How to Dye Rice

VBS Crafts: How to Dye Rice

Many VBS crafts and activities use dyed rice.  It's an easy and inexpensive project that is SO fun for all ages!  Here is a super quick way to dye rice for your next craft project or activity. 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. There are two methods below to dye rice based on how…Read more …
DIY Small Bead Decoder Bracelets (Shipwrecked Imagination Station Alternative: Day 3)

DIY Small Bead Decoder Bracelets (Shipwrecked Imagination Station Alternative: Day 3)

During the Imagination Station rotation, students participate in an object lesson using a small toy, or what Group calls a "gizmo".  These gizmos can be taken home by the kids each day to reinforce the lesson.  In this Imagination Station Alternative series, I'll track down similar gizmos that can be used in place of Group's gizmos.  I'll also design/find craft ideas that could be used instead of the gizmos.  Which Imagination Station activity you choose (gizmo or craft) should be dependent on the interests of your VBS kids and how you prefer to…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 …
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 …
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 …
DIY Fabric & Ribbon Garland Backdrop

DIY Fabric & Ribbon Garland Backdrop

You know how projects on Pinterest look great until you actually try them and realize that it's not realistic to make a project look pin-worthy?  Think again!  This project was legitimately easy to do and didn't take any sewing skills whatsoever.  The most difficult part was choosing the fabric {not even sort of kidding here}. Materials: -Grosgrain Ribbon {I used 3" wide ribbon in silver, light pink and hot pink.} -Fabric -Paracord -Scissors -Rotary cutter tool -Cutting mat -Yard stick -Lighter -8 foot long 1"x2" board {for hanging} -Spray paint {optional - for 1"x2"…Read more …
DIY Baby Shower Invitations

DIY Baby Shower Invitations

My mom and I are both pretty crafty, so when she offered to host our baby shower I knew we would be in for some fun projects!  One of the simplest projects we've done has been the baby shower invitations.  They were completely frugal and fit our theme perfectly.  I might have a slight obsession with elephants, hence the elephant theme for both the nursery and the baby shower. Supplies: -Card stock paper -Envelopes -Printer -Silhouette Cameo machine -Cricut cutting mat Instructions: Design invitations.  I used the Silhouette design software to make the…Read more …
Cave Quest VBS: Decorating Spaces – Imagination Station

Cave Quest VBS: Decorating Spaces – Imagination Station

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. Our Imagination Station room was in one of our classrooms.  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 craft area. Sorry for the poor quality of these pictures - a lot of them are from my cell phone {I'm not…Read more …
Cave Quest VBS: Tabletop Gems

Cave Quest VBS: Tabletop Gems

These quick and {fairly} easy tabletop gems turned out cute and were a great project for other people to help with!  We used these on the snack tables to tell each group where to sit.  They made the snack process simpler since everyone was in the sanctuary at the same time! SUPPLIES:  -Styrofoam balls {Ours were 3"ish across} -Brown kraft paper -Hot glue gun -Hot glue sticks -Party toothpicks -Colored cardstock -White cardstock -Black cardstock {leftover from cutting out bats} -Double stick tape INSTRUCTIONS: -Plug in hot glue gun {make sure to put…Read more …
Cave Quest VBS Decorating: DIY Posters

Cave Quest VBS Decorating: DIY Posters

We used colored and black poster board to make fun DIY posters for Cave Quest VBS!  We bought a few poster sets from Oriental Trading and similar sites, but the posters we made were fairly quick and easy.  They are a very inexpensive way to add personalized, colorful decor to your church.  These signs will be used throughout the building for directional signs, decorations and even in the photo booth!  You can print or save a PDF of the instructions formatted for printing.  We purchased the poster board locally, but all other supplies through Amazon. The Oriental…Read more …
Cave Quest VBS Decorating: Cave Formations

Cave Quest VBS Decorating: Cave Formations

The Group VBS decorating book explains how to make cave formations/stalagmites & stalactites using foam board and a hot knife.  We use cardboard for decorations most years.  Last year, we got donated cardboard and had some leftover.  We decided to use cardboard instead of foam board to save on our budget.  The end result is still a colorful, fun stage cave formation!  You can also print or save a PDF of the instructions formatted for printing. In years past, we've used box knives to cut the cardboard.  This year my husband brought over…Read more …
Cave Quest VBS Frugal Crafts: Lightning Bug Catching Jar

Cave Quest VBS Frugal Crafts: Lightning Bug Catching Jar

Welcome back to another of my Frugal Cave Quest VBS Craft Ideas!  Make sure to check out the other ideas here.  I'm from Indiana, so we LOVE catching lightning bugs!  Growing up, we would use a baby food jar and dad would stab some holes in the lid with a knife so we had a lightning bug catching jar.  I wanted to use that idea for a VBS craft, so we're going to make it slightly safer by removing the "stab some holes with a knife" step and instead let our kiddos use…Read more …
Cave Quest VBS Frugal Crafts: Tic Tac Toe Game

Cave Quest VBS Frugal Crafts: Tic Tac Toe Game

Welcome back to another of my Frugal Cave Quest VBS Craft Ideas!  Make sure to check out the other ideas here.  This craft was inspired by BalancingHome.com.  You can see the original tutorial here.  I love her burlap bag and tic tac toe idea, but she just has x and o on her rocks {you know, like a normal game of tic tac toe}... I thought it'd be more fun to spice it up and paint fun designs on the rocks {you obviously still need to have only 2 different patterns so the…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 …
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