VBS Crafts for 5th & 6th Graders

You know, it is always hard to find a cool, challenging VBS Project for 5th & 6th graders and still stay with in budget. What I have found that works best, and it is not original with me as I believe the young lady who was in charge of A&C before me told me she did this. Take the budget you have been given, divide the number of classes/grades you have to supply and that is the limit that you give yourself to spend on each class/grade. And that is what I try to do.

We typically have fewer 5th and 6th graders, so we can spend a few more cents on a project per child. But keeping it age appropriate, fun, etc.... Some of these kids were dragged here kicking and screaming... After all, they are TWEENS!!! Some are in Middle School! The great thing about our church is we do not put a 6th grader in a dept with a 12th grader. Nor are they in the same dept with a kindergartner and 1st grader. The 5th & 6th graders have their own Department, their own minister, their own worship leaders, etc. They do not have to be with the little kids or pushed into a scene where they are not quite ready. And we must have some exciting things going on for them b/c we had record numbers of 5th and 6th graders sign up for VBS this year.

5th graders, we chose Painted Ceiling Tiles.

You can buy these by the 6 pack case at Lowes or Home Depot, cut them down to what ever your budget will allow. Kids of all ages love them. This year we selected a larger size and allowed the 5th graders to paint them.

Tempera Paints work best with ceiling tiles. You will need to add a tad of water to them.

We use the primary colors and colors the Aborigine would have used. Some of the children wanted to change things up a bit, so we had white and black on hand for them to do so.

Of course this being Hoover Bucs, Alabama and Auburn Territory, we always have to keep plenty of orange, black, orange, blue, red, grey and white around. However, I did not see much school spirit painting as I have seen in the past.

A young lady, who is a very talented artist and used to be in charge of the VBS A&C researched Aborigine art. Then she came up with some templates for the youth to use with their ceiling tiles. (Thanks Andrea!) And the children were educated on the Aborigine art and then they put their own ideas to work.

I think these 5th graders did a very good job!

They color washed the tile with a background paint one day and gave some thought to their designs. Maybe even doodled with a pencil.

The 2nd day they painted the designs.

We drilled 1/2 inch holes about 1 and 1/2 inches down from the top of the tile. Ran "springy" clothes line rope through and tied it in the back for hanging.

Ceiling tile craft ran around $1.00 per child. You can cut the cost down by cutting the tiles smaller.

6th Grad Craft! Covered Clipboards!

For this craft, we had a lot of supplies already on hand. Supplies such as scrapbook paper, fabric, duct tape, glue & paint. All we had to buy were the clipboards. And through a google search I found them for .77 cents a piece!!! Yes!!!

Since this was to be a pricey craft, we wanted it to be a "right of passage" for the oldest children. Most of them really enjoyed it. And did a fantastic job with their clipboards.

Here are 2 cloth covered ones. They were started on day one. Time was an issue here as we only had 2 days with the tracks being 25 minutes long.

Here are some others that also have fabric on them.

The boys used old blue jeans,, duct tape, really cool designs, but most of them had their names front and center and I did not feel good about putting those photos on my blog....

Here is a completed clipboard. It was done with scrapbooking paper.

Here this clipboard is completed and drying. It has the weeks memory verses included in the decoupage. We try to reinforce the Bible Study Lesson and Memory Verses in all of our crafts.

Day 1 complete the back. Day 2 complete the front.

Because we had so many of the supplies on hand, fabric donated, this craft ended up costing about .80 cents per child. Not one you could do with a large group or a small budget, but doable if you work your plan right.

We had contemplated not doing the Ceiling tiles with the 5th graders next year, but cutting them smaller and, again incorporating VBS/SummerQuest theme, using it for a younger grade. However, I have a 4th grader going into 5th. And DH and I teach 4th graders. They are all 'abuzz' about getting to do ceiling tile painting next year....

Please let me know if you found these posts on VBS Crafts helpful.

I think the ceiling tiles were a hit! And we can give Glory to God!

Project Time! Clipboard...

....tutorial. I am linking this with Just a Girl's I Can Make That Party. Y'all enjoy!

First you want to select the fabric and trim that you want to decorate your clipboard with. You will not need much. Make sure you have enough for the back and to turn up around the edges for 1 1/2". You will need at least 3 inches of extra fabric at the top of the clipboard.

Other supplies that you will need are scissors for fabric, scissors for paper, scrapbook paper and card stock. Clipboard, glue Mod Podge, and we may find we need a few other things as we go along.

Iron the fabric you selected. I rarely prewash, unless the fabric I pick is from my stash & was purchased during my "prewash when I walk thru the door with the new purchase" phase. But you do need to steam out any folds or wrinkles.

Add a few drops of water to your glue. But not too much.


With paint sponge, paint the glue onto the back of the clipboard.

Quickly position your fabric. Before you get to this point, you do need to consider a few things. The design of your fabric, who it is for, etc. This clipboard is for DD's piano teacher. I want to make sure a piano shows on the back. I also like to cut the fabric on the bias. But I do not do a lot of pulling and tugging to the fabric b/c it distorts design.

The diluted glue is forgiving to work with, so if you need to pull it off and do it again, you can. :D Don't do it too much though, clipboards are made of chipboard or something like that....

Using a boning tool or a straight edge (I am using a pencil) quickly rub all the wrinkles and air bubbles out of the fabric.

Clip some of the bulk out of the corners, put some glue around the edge of the clip board and
bring the corners in. Center the corner in first, then miter the rest of the fabric in and trim.

You will need a straight edge blade or zato knife to trim around the clip area.

You will need to get as close as you can. Mod Podge this area. It will keep it from fraying. And if you have any uncovered clipboard at this point, and it bothers you, just get some matching craft paint and cover it. No on will know but you. Then Mod Podge when dry.

I prefer flat embellishments on the back of the clipboard. I have made several. And bumpy stuff anoys me. This is grosgrain ribbon. You can use anything you have on hand.

Another thing to have on hand for this project is fabric glue. It is permanant and will not come off of almost anything so be careful where, when and with who you use it. (Ask me how I know?) Some fabrics and trims have sizing, or are made of polyester that Elmers and mod podge will not work on. Fabric Glue will work and work very well. It is not forgiving. So make sure you use it quickly and know exactly where you want it. No second chances.

While your fabric on your clipboard is drying, select your photos, crop and frame them on scrapbook paper.

After the fabric is dry, add a piece of card stock onto the top of the clipboard by painting the top of the clipboard with more of the slightly diluted glue. You may also have to use a boning tool or pencil to rub out any bubbles, etc.

Crop, glue and frame your photos with scrap booking paper and scrap booking glue. (I prefer the glue over the zots and dots. Zots and dots leave space. You do not want that. Then arrange your photos.

Using mod podge, paste the photos onto the top of the clipboard.

Because my clipboards get a lot of use and abuse, I Mod Podge the front and back. This preserves the photos and if 'stuff' gets onto the fabric, it just brushes off. (I got plaster of paris on one once. Did not realize it until it was dry. Brushed right off!)

Add any other embellishments that you desire. You can really get fancy with these. But I like them more simple. Silk flowers do tend to fall off. I do like to tie fancy yarn and ribbon in the clip portion of the board. They last forever.

Lovely gift for my daughter and for my daughter's piano teacher.

It is really very simple and fun. You can get carried away making them and they really hold up. Y'all make some and if I figure out how to do a Mr. Linky, I will do a Mr. Linky when I get back and we can share. :D

Next week, when I get back from my Smocking Arts Guild Convention, I will do the tutorial on the matching pencil cup.

It's a PINK Clip Board!

Good Morning everyone! Happy PINK Saturday! Thank you Beverly for hosting another beautiful PINK Day!

This is a craft I did a few years ago. I have made several of these over the years. I love them. Who likes to walk around with an ugly old brown clipboard? Next week, I will post a tutorial on them. Or this particular style. Oh, and there is a pencil cup to boot! And it is PINK!

This is a 'cull' photo of my child. I have several beautiful photos from this shoot. I could not bear to throw it away. But I could Mod Podge.... And it did not go to waste.

The Clip Board has it's own Fru Fru!

I just love the pencil/pen cup. My mom and grandma had us making them all the time as kids, but, they never looked this cool or this PINK!

Oh that black ribbon and the black poka dots make the PINK really POP!!!

A nice gift set for a teacher, grandparent, parent or for yourself!

And this is really PINK!!!

Check back with me next week. I will post a tutorial on Beautifying your own clipboard and making a matching pencil cup. But meanwhile, stop by Beverly's place. She is hosting a wonderful fun PINK Saturday Party at How Sweet the Sound and see all the other PINK
Happy PINK Saturday! Saturday posts!