It's closing time...

So, now that VBS is over, and I have finally recouped, I have uploaded photos of the fully decorated rooms. Due to work and preparing for VBS, the past couple weeks were really busy, and I know I did not blog as much as I would have liked. So, on that note, if you go through the photos and see anything that you have questions about, please don't hesitate to email me. I'll be glad to explain what I made or where I bought anything. I hope everyone has a successful VBS! I look forward to seeing everyone again next year as we get ready for the Amazing Wonders Aviation!

Click to View Decorated Rooms '11 Photo Album

The Lights of Broadway

I wanted to have at least one light up sign for the Worship Rally at Times Square. Since I was planning on mixing this in with my other Broadway Posters, I decided to showcase the Big Apple logo on this sign. Before I got started, I enlarged the logo and taped it together. 

How-To

• First, I used glossy Modge Podge to glue down the logo and seal it onto a piece of foam board. I painted over everything to make the entire foam board glossy.

• Then I made holes along the sides of the board, so I could push Christmas lights through them.  I used a wood burner to make the holes, but you could use anything sharp. Make sure you measure out the space between your holes so your lights will fit.  

• Finally I pushed the lights through the holes along to board. I put masking tape on the back to secure the the cord and the lights.

Now you have your own marquee on Broadway!

A Bike Rack Built for Two

Adjustable P-Trap Joint

I wanted to try to build a bike rack for the Bible Study at Battery Park. I wanted something lightweight and portable. I decided to make a curvy bike rack similar to the ones I see across campus in Atlanta. I used PVC pipe to keep lightweight and cost-efficient! To build this I used one PVC pipe and 3 adjustable p-trap PVC pipe joints.

How-To

• First I cut my PVC pipe into 4 equal individual pipes. I used a 1.5" pipe and cut into 26" sections, but you could use any length or width you want.

• Next, I assembled it into the shape that I wanted. I pulled the top of the p-trap off, so all I had left was the curved, elbow joint. I used those pieces to create the curved shape and stuck the leftover pieces on the end of the bike rack. I used pipe cement to secure the pipes into the joint.

• Once everything was assembled, I spray painted the bike rack. I chose red, so it would stand out.

You can add as many sections that you want to increase the size of the bike rack. Simply cut more poles and add more P-traps to the figure. 

Have Fun!

Knowing Your ABC's...

Each year I make ABC posters for each classroom that match the theme for that room. Each poster has the letter, what it stands for, and what it means.

Music Backstage

Bible Study at Battery Park

Crafts Warehouse

Bright Lights & Stage Lights

So, for the Music Backstage I decided to tackle stage lights. I teach music in the Sanctuary, so every year I incorporate the music room into my overall Worship Rally design. Our backstage will be built out of pvc pipe, so whatever I hang off of it has to be lightweight. So for the lights I decided to make them out poster board and paper plates.

How-To

• First, I painted small, paper plates with fluorescent paint. You can also use glow-in-the-dark paint on top of the plates to give them a glow when the lights are dimmed. 

• Next, I traced the plate on black poster board and drew a light shutter pattern around it.

• After cutting out the pattern, I hot-glued the paper plate onto the pattern. 

Now you have stage lights for your Music Backstage!

Enjoy!

Street Signs

I figured what is a New York City street without some street signs, so I decided to paint and build some out of pvc pipe and cardboard. 

How To

• First, I spray painted the pvc pipe silver. I used a hammered silver spray paint. The pipe can be however long you need it to be. I didn't feel like buying new pvc pipe, so I just connected some smaller pieces together to get the height I wanted.

• I also spray painted the pvc pipe caps silver to match the poles. Then I attached them to the top of the poles. 

• I cut street signs out of a cardboard box. Then I painted them to look like street signs. I chose to paint Broadway, 42nd Street, and 7th avenue.
• After the signs had dried, I hot-glued the cardboard signs onto the pvc pipe poles.

Now you have a street sign!

Give My Regards to Broadway!

I recently took some well known Broadway shows and photoshopped their posters so they would incorporate the daily mottos. I have uploaded them so they can be printed and used for decorating the Worship Rally at Times Square or the Music Backstage. I chose to sketch them out on poster board and paint them. If you're not comfortable with your free-handing, you can project and trace them onto any surface.

Posters (Days 1 & 4) & Posters (Days 2,3, &5)

Enjoy!

An Art Easel for Your Soho Craft Studio

An art easel is great element to use in your craft room this year, because it can be both decorative and functional. Unfortunately, they can be a little pricey. I decided to cut the cost and make my own.

• I started by picking up two five-foot 1" x 1" and one seven-foot 1"x 1" wooden poles at Home Depot. The price will vary depending on the type of wood you choose. I went with the cheapest. (You can also check out the scrap wood bin. As long as your poles are the same size and length, it really doesn't matter if the wood matches)

• First, cut off the extra three feet off the one 7 ft pole, so all of the long poles are 5 feet (we'll use the extra 3 feet later).
• Next, drill a hole about a half inch from the top of the pole with a 1/4" drill bit. Then repeat this for the next two poles. (I lined up the pole that I had previously drilled through with the new pole and marked where the hole was to make sure they would line up)

• After all three have a hole drilled through them, take a 4" screw and feed it through one pole. Put a bolt on the other side of the pole to anchor it. Leave about a 1/3 of inch and put another bolt at that spot, then feed another pole onto the screw. Place another bolt to anchor that one down also. Repeat this process for the third pole. This will leave you with a tripod like structure that you can manipulate to get it to stand up the way it to. 

• Next, take your 3' pole and attach it to the front legs (your poles on the right and left). I used two small wood screws to do this, but you could also drive small nails and it would hold the same.

• Once that is done, you have yourself and easel. I left mine with its natural wood finish and splattered some paint on it, but you can paint and decorate it to fit your room.

Enjoy!

'Tis the Season!

Well, it's that time of year again. The time for Vacation Bible School decorating to begin. Like every other year, I was hoping to get started a little bit earlier, but of course that didn't happen. I'm once again using Lifeway's VBS. This years theme is Big Apple Adventure. A few things I have planned for this year are:

• Homemade Art Easel
• Light-Up Broadway Sign
• Crafty Room Partition/ Shutters  
• Streetlight Lamp Posts
• Bike Rack
• Street Signs
• Stage Lights
• Sand Bags

Of course, I'll probably add more as I go a long, but that is game plan so far. I am actually in the middle of my last semester of college, so things are a little hectic. I am going to try to add as much as possible this week while I am on spring break. After that, I will add things when I get a chance. I expect to have everything up by the end of May. 

Let the fun begin!