ChristianCrafts.net

Cokesbury | Vacation Bible School 2012

2011-06-25T19:41:00.000-05:00

Want to guess the Cokesbury 2012 VBS Theme?

Cokesbury | Vacation Bible School 2012

Lifeway VBS 2012 Theme

2011-06-08T18:42:00.000-05:00

The Lifeway VBS Amazing Wonders Aviation Theme will be an exciting one to be sure. Check out the video:

VBS 2012 Theme Announcement from LifeWay Kids on Vimeo.

Lifeway VBS 2012 Theme

2011-06-03T19:00:00.009-05:00

LifeWay will be announcing their 2012 Vacation Bible School Theme on Monday, June 6, 2011. Be sure to tune in at 1pm Central Time for the big announcement. In the meantime, go to the LifeWay VBS Blog to guess the clues and enter the VBS 2012 Sampler Sweepstakes. Simply respond to the post with your best guess for the 2012 theme and you will be entered to win.

VBS Decorating Ideas

2011-06-01T19:55:00.000-05:00

VBS Decorations and Backdrops

Have you ever stayed up all night making decorations or painting backdrops for your Vacation Bible School? If you have been there and done that, you know that the rewards are great but finding the time and talent are another story. You might want to consider premade VBS decorations and backdrops. In addition to saving your time and sanity, these decorations can be stored and used again.

Check out a vast array of VBS decorations, backdrops and more at ChristianCrafts.net

Jesus Truth Seekers VBS Workshops

2011-04-20T20:30:00.002-05:00

Are you doing Jesus Truth Seekers VBS this year? Urban Ministries is offering a free VBS workshop this Saturday, April 23, 2011 in Louisville, KY. Find the details at: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1580520379/eorg

Another workshop will be offered in Trenton, NJ on May 14, 2011. Find details at: http://www.zvents.com/z/trenton-nj/vbs-workshop--trenton--nj---may-14--2011--events--170502205

For curriculum and purchasing information go to: http://www.christiancrafts.net/vbs/Jesus-truth-seekers-vbs.htm

For curriculum information go to ChristianCrafts.net

Easter Craft Pop Up Card

2011-04-08T07:09:00.001-05:00

This Easter card is easy and fun to make. View the free instructions and download free printable cross and verse at ChristianCrafts.net Easter Sunday School Crafts

Easter Pop-Up Card Craft for Sunday School

Pandamania Craft Idea - Jungle Drums

2011-04-07T21:06:00.000-05:00

Jungle Drum Craft

Make individual drums out of empty oatmeal containers. This craft can also double as a carrier for the kids to take smaller items home - just don't tape the lid at the top.

Supplies:

Empty Oatmeal Container (wipe inside clean)
Brown or white paper cut 7 1/8" x 13" **
Masking tape or glue
Markers or crayons

Instructions: Use masking tape around the top to secure the lid to the drum (if you want the drum to double as a container, skip this step). Cut the paper to size and either glue or tape it to the drum. Let the kids decorate the drums. It might be easier for the kids if you have them decorate the paper first and then adhere it to the drum. Either way will work.
** I used a generic brand of oatmeal container, measure to be sure the size is the same and adjust if necessary.

For more Pandamania Ideas and crafts, go to: Pandamania VBS at Christian Crafts.net

Hometown Nazareth VBS Crafts and Resources

2011-03-29T18:26:00.000-05:00

Just added new resource page: http://www.christiancrafts.net/vbs/hometown-nazareth-vbs.htm

Hometown Nazareth VBS Crafts

New 2011 Big Apple Adventure VBS Resource Page

2011-03-25T08:11:00.000-05:00

Check out Big Apple Adventure VBS Resources at ChristianCrafts.net

Big Apple Adventure Decorating and Crafts

Pandamania Group VBS Crafts, Curriculum and Decorations

2011-03-21T20:19:00.000-05:00

Is your church doing Pandamania for VBS this year? It looks like a lot of fun. Group has done a terrific job of putting together a complete VBS program. Start gathering up any stuffed panda bears you can find and check out our new Pandamania Group VBS page and subscribe to our newsletter for more ideas in the coming months.

Remember, God is Wild About Us!

PandaMania Group VBS Easy Decorating

2011-03-14T19:10:00.000-05:00

Check out these quick and easy decorating ideas for PandaMania.

Free Craft Ideas for Sunday School and VBS

2011-03-12T09:31:00.001-06:00

Join our e-mail list for updates featuring new craft ideas and products for Sunday School crafts or object lessons. Each month we give away one free craft book to a randomly selected subscriber.

Joshua 24:15 Coloring Page

2011-02-28T20:44:00.000-06:00

This is a cute and simple picture that kids can not only color, but also add their own artwork by drawing sun, grass, trees or even people. Since the verse is short, it would be easy for younger students to memorize.

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

Get the Free Coloring Page at www.ChristianCrafts.net

Free Bible Coloring Page for Isaiah 40:31

2011-02-26T08:55:00.000-06:00

Help your students memorize this beautiful Bible verse with our free coloring page for Isaiah 40:31: "But those who wait on the LORD...". Just download this free coloring page at ChristianCrafts.net/free-coloring-pages.htm

Sunday School Object Lessons

2011-02-16T19:35:00.000-06:00

Sunday School Object Lessons

ChristianCrafts.net is much more than a craft site; we have added object lessons for you to use in your Sunday School classes. There is nothing like using something familiar to make a life lesson more memorable. For example, think of Jesus' parables. He used situations familiar to his listeners to help them understand unfamiliar concepts. We will have lots of lessons in the weeks to come so bookmark our object lessons page at Sunday School Lessons and check back often for new lessons. To automatically receive updates right in your e-mail box, sign up for our newsletter and get updates. As an added incentive, we give away one free craft book a month to e-mail list subscribers.

Valentines Day Banner Craft for Sunday School

2011-02-12T18:35:00.000-06:00

This craft will take about 20 minutes. Use our pre-printed Bible verse from I John 4:16 and cut the hearts before class. Visit our site for complete instructions and printable Bible Verse: Valentine's Day Banner Craft

Free Turkey Coloring Page

2010-11-12T15:16:00.000-06:00

Follow this link to download your free Turkey coloring page from Michaels: Football Turkey There are many more to choose from.

Free Turkey Coloring Page from Michaels'

Thanksgiving Banner Craft for Kids

2010-11-05T20:56:00.001-05:00

Kids will enjoy making this easy and economical craft for Thanksgiving. All you need is some construction paper, ribbon, hole punch and glue. There are some free down loadable patterns included on the site at ChristianCrafts.net

http://www.christiancrafts.net/thanksgiving-craft-banner.htm

Free Coloring Page for Pastor Appreciation Sunday

2010-10-22T21:53:00.000-05:00

Check out this free coloring page from ministry-to-children.com for Pastor Appreciation Sunday:

http://ministry-to-children.com/pastor-appreciation-coloring-page

Free Kids Church Curriculum

2010-10-08T15:45:00.000-05:00

Group Publishing is offering a free sample lesson from their KidsOwn Worship series. The samples include:

A 12-page Sample PDF Lesson: "God is Reliable" theme
Preschool skit: "Thankful Pie"
Three Mp3 recordings with kids singing

Love the Lord
Give Thanks
Praise The Lord

Check it out at: http://sundayschool.group.com/kidsown-worship and click on Free Offers.

Trunk-or-Treat Outreach Card

2010-10-07T20:32:00.001-05:00

Need some craft ideas for your Fall Festival or Trunk-or-Treat?
This outreach card is quick and easy plus a lollipop holder at the same time.

Since you will want to make a lot of these, try to get your youth group involved. The kids can talk and work at the same time. Buy extra lollipops!

View the craft instructions and printable download on our site

Book of Ruth Basket Craft

2010-09-27T20:33:00.000-05:00

Here is our second Book of Ruth Craft for this week. If you have limited class time, this is a quick and easy craft. Just prepare the cutting and marking of the paper bags and handles before class. All the kids have to do is color, then you can staple the handles on. Check out the free craft instructions on our website.

Book of Ruth Basket Craft

Book of Ruth Craft

2010-09-26T22:01:00.000-05:00

This is the first of four crafts and activities that we will be doing for our Book of Ruth lessons. Using the beautiful verse from Ruth 1:16 you can make a simple wall hanging just by using paper, glue, ribbon and a hole punch. This is a quick and simple craft that will go together quickly. The printable verse and instructions are provided on our website at: Book of Ruth Craft and Instructions.

Book of Ruth Wall Hanging Craft

Blessings and Happy Crafting!

Free Activities for your Classroom

2010-09-24T18:42:00.000-05:00

Find Free Activities at Discount School Supply

Free Bible Verse Coloring Pages

2010-09-10T21:50:00.000-05:00

We just added two new coloring pages to the website for the Fall season. Check them out at: www.christiancrafts.net/free-coloring-pages.htm We will be adding new pages every week.

Free Bible Verse Coloring Pages

Free E-Cards for Grandparent's Day

2010-09-10T17:37:00.000-05:00

Free ecards include your photos and videos, plus your own music.

Free Home School Resources

2010-09-02T20:35:00.002-05:00

To help out our home school moms, the free find for this Friday is a printable Home School and Menu Planner from www.TheHomeSchoolMom.com You can easily print these planners and keep them in a notebook or put them on the refrigerator. The key to success is organization and planning!

Have a blessed Labor Day weekend!

View Our Newsletter Online

2010-08-31T20:49:00.000-05:00

Our newsletter is back! Click here to view it on line. Each month we will be giving away one free craft book to a randomly selected subscriber. Click here to subscribe.

Blessings!

Free Educational Videos for Home Schoolers

2010-08-27T18:33:00.000-05:00

Looking for new resources to jump start your home school this year? Zane Education offers online educational videos for elementary, high school, college and even adult learners. Sign up for the free membership level and get access to videos and other resources. If you like what you see, they have plans starting at $5.00 up to $17.99 per month. You could easily spend that on one book. There is so much here, you will never run out of material.

Blessings!

Free Sunday School Curriculum - Calvary Chapel Children's Ministry

2010-07-01T21:48:00.000-05:00

I am always amazed that this wonderful resource is free: Calvary Chapel Children's Ministry. Each lesson contains a memory verse, study questions, coloring page, and word searches. I use these for our Inner City Ministry classes 4th and 5th grade. The kids love the word searches; it is always a contest to see who can find the answers first. I have used some of the coloring pages with 1st and 2nd graders. The lessons are also available in Spanish.

Thank you Calvary Chapel for this wonderful ministry!

Free Find Friday - ABCTeach.com

2010-06-26T12:17:00.000-05:00

Sorry this is a day late! My free find for this week is AbcTeach.com. If you are a home schooler, teacher or parent, you need to take a look. The site was started by Sandy Kemsley, in 2000. Sandy is a retired school teacher with a desire to continue sharing her love of teaching after leaving the classroom.

I personally use the site to print worksheets for my daughter. She loves them and so do I! You will find free printable downloads for grades preschool to eighth grade covering a wide variety of subjects. While on the site, don't forget to sign up for the free newsletter to stay on top of new added materials and updates.

In addition to all the free printable worksheets, the site offers a paid subscription to even more resources at a reasonable price. Click here for more information. You will find this to be a great bargain. I know the last time I visited our local parent teacher store I left with a big case of sticker shock and a very small bag of books.

View the following video for more information:

Vacation Bible School Permission Forms

2010-06-21T20:15:00.000-05:00

Permission forms are a must for any Vacation Bible School for safety and planning purposes. Did you know that they can also be used as a follow-up contact source for your outreach committee? Don't throw them away after your VBS is over. Sometimes a friendly phone call or note is all it takes to get a family to start coming to church.

It is a good idea to offer preregistration to your church members well ahead of your kick off date. Many of the VBS packages offer online registration tools as part of the purchased package. Offer both online and paper registration - don't leave anyone out.

We have provided a Free VBS Permission form on our site. Use the Word format if you want to edit the form or just use the PDF if you like it as it is. If you make your own, be sure to include a section for allergies or special needs. If a parent indicates that their child has allergies or special needs, make sure that this information is passed along to all of the teachers or workers who will be supervising that child.

Free Find Friday: Father's Day Cards and Coloring Pages

2010-06-18T15:30:00.000-05:00

The free find for today is from ActivityVillage.co.uk. This site has many ideas to keep kids busy plus lots of free printables. Visit the Father's Day page for printable cards, diplomas and much more. Be sure to sign up for their free newsletter.

Have a great weekend and Happy Father's Day to all the dads!

LifeWay's 2011 VBS - Big Apple Adventure

2010-06-16T09:28:00.001-05:00

For a list of craft kits and ideas, go to: ChristianCrafts.net/vbs/big-apple-adventure.htm

More to come about this one later, enjoy the video:

Cokesbury VBS Theme 2011

2010-06-14T20:41:00.006-05:00

If you like puzzles and guessing games, this will be fun for you: Cokesbury VBS 2011 Theme Puzzle. Each week until July 1, 2010, Cokesbury will present a new puzzle clue to their 2011 Vacation Bible School Theme. If you just don't have time, scroll down the page and a button will complete the puzzle for you. I can't wait to find out what it is, I just can't figure this out.

Here is the clue for week number 4: http://www.cokesburyvbs.com/vbs-2011-theme/index.php

Clues for Prior weeks:

Week # 1
Week # 2
Week # 3

My guess is something about nature and junk food. Maybe this is a theme to fight childhood obesity?

Free Find Friday - Fight Childhood Obesity

2010-06-11T08:27:00.000-05:00

Does childhood obesity worry you? The statistics are heartbreaking. We can make a difference in the lives of our children and students. NourishInteractive.com is not only educational but fun and FREE! Here are just a few of the great resources offered on the site:

Free online games children can play and learn about exercise and proper nutrition
Free Meal planner nutrition tool
Free printable information to send home to parents

Last Minute Vacation Bible School Craft Ideas

2010-06-10T19:02:00.002-05:00

Time has a way of creeping up on us and even passing us by. Maybe that is your situation or VBS got thrown into your lap at the last minute. Here are some quick and easy craft ideas that you can use:

Make jewelry out of pasta. All you need are different shapes of pasta and some yarn
Sculpting with Clay. Get some quick dry clay and let the kids create something based on your lesson
Bookmarks as a craft. You will need construction paper, stickers, hole punch and ribbons.
Woven paper mat. Cut strips of paper and weave them together to form a mat. Secure the ends with tape

In these last-minute situations, craft kits can be a true life saver. Check out the 5 Day VBS Craft Kit pack. You get enough crafts to last five days for up to 24 attendees. This craft pack is only recommended for children six years older and up.

Happy Crafting!

High Seas Adventure Vacation Bible School

2010-06-07T21:26:00.000-05:00

High Seas Adventure is Group Publishing's "Easy VBS" for 2010. The five-day VBS curriculum is based on the journeys of the Apostle Paul and utilizes a station concept. There are four stations which allow 20 to 25 minutes each and then on to the floating finale. Each station will reinforce the daily Bible point and story.The five Bible points are:

God's Word is true.
God's Word is comforting.
God's Word is surprising.
God's Word is life-changing.
God's Word is for everyone.

As always, Group Publishing has provided lots of on-line support and information. Visit the Podcast page for helpful training tips. The Group forum is another invaluable resource. If you have a question or problem, just post it and you will receive an answer from one of their staff or from another customer with a similar experience. The dates for their VBS U have already passed but be sure to start early next year and visit the Group site for a VBS U in your area.

One concept that may be new to you, if you have not used a Group VBS before, is mixing the age groups. For instance, at the elementary level you would have a mixture of all grades. Mixing the age groups supposedly cuts down on discipline problems because peers are not trying to impress each other with disruptive behavior.

The curriculum offers age-specific programs developed for the following groups:

Nursery
Preschool
Elementary
Youth

Your decorating focus should be nautical without bringing in beach elements. Many low-cost but effective ideas are suggested in the curriculum: blue tarp-like material for water, paper-bag blocks, cardboard box boats. You can also find a wide variety of High Seas Adventure VBS crafts and props at ChristianCrafts.net

View the Video for highlights and more information:

Free Find Friday!

2010-06-04T18:13:00.000-05:00

Check the blog every Friday afternoon for links to free stuff for teachers. We will search the web each week and find something for you!

This Friday our free find is: Free Sunday School Curriculum from PreSchool Sunday School Central. This is a great site, they offer many free resources for Sunday School teachers. If you would like access to more, you can pay a low yearly fee of $15.99 (as of this writing).

Have a great weekend!

ChristianCrafts.net

Hero Headquarters Vacation Bible School 2010

2010-06-03T07:40:00.000-05:00

Hero Headquarters is the 2010 VBS by Standard Publishing. The premise is that we can all be heroes in God's Kingdom. The curriculum outlines fictional accounts of heroes that are not in the Bible but still do wonderful things in the eyes of the Lord.

Hero Headquarters promises to offer:

Easy Planning
Powerful Projects to Make and Share
Flexible and Full of Options
Easy to Decorate
Relevant for All Ages

The snacks are quite creative. How can you go wrong with "Naaman Dippers" and "Miracle Man Salad"? The crafts and activities will keep kids involved and singing a tune!

For more information, go to the Free Downloadable Planning Book. This publication provides a wealth of information on everything from music, snack and activities. The program can be adapted for kids of all ages.

From all appearances, Hero Headquarters promises to be a lot of fun with meaningful lessons that kids will enjoy and apply to their lives. I give this one a thumbs up! My only reservation about this program is that it seems to promote teachers wearing capes tied around their necks. While this may be okay for adults, it can be a choking hazard for children. Standard Publishing offers a safe alternative on their website: http://www.standardpub.com Their VBS Hero's Cape has been fully safety tested and will not put pressure on the neck area. If you use home made capes as props, let children know they should not do this at home!

Links to Resources on ChristianCrafts.net

View this video for an overview of the program:

Vacation Bible School 2010

2010-06-01T16:06:00.000-05:00

It is amazing to me how Vacation Bible School has changed since I was a kid (that is longer ago than I care to mention). I remember that VBS was fun but I really can't tell you anything memorable about the lessons. The only difference from our Sunday School classes is that we would get to have a snack and go out and play when it was all over. If we did any crafting at all, it was a coloring page.

Today we are more focused on what kids like and what gets them involved and learning. Companies like Standard, Gospel Light and more have come up with wonderful theme-oriented teaching packages that take a lot of the work out of Vacation Bible School Preparations. I greatly admire those who can write their own lessons and come up with creative ideas - that is a great blessing. However, if you are like me and most people I know, you are pressed for time and need help in the creativity department.

Today Vacation Bible School has grown from a daytime program for children into a community outreach opportunity for churches. It is more important than ever to take advantage of every chance to reach as many members and potential members as possible. Getting it right takes planning and preparation.

At ChristianCrafts.net it is our mission to gather as much information about VBS curriculum choices to help you make the wisest decision possible. If you are still trying to decide on a program, be sure to check out this blog in the next week as we review choices and curriculum. Not only will we give details about each package but we will also give price comparisons. It is more important now than ever to be wise stewards of church funds and we understand. We hope that our website and blog will be a valuable resource now and for years to come.

Blessings!

Quick and Easy Banner Craft for VBS

2010-05-31T13:16:00.000-05:00

A quick and simple banner craft will fit into just about any Vacation Bible School Theme. The great thing about banners is that you can make them with very simple supplies that you may already have in your craft closet. I have outlined materials and instructions for a "Craft Foam" banner at ChristianCrafts.net. The idea came to me because I have a lot of foam sheets and stickers left over from other projects. All you need to do is punch holes in the top for hanging and let the kids decorate them. If you want to get fancy and have time to let the project dry, you can add glitter glue for that extra sparkle. The best part of the project is that there is no sewing!

Read More About it at: www.ChristianCrafts.net

Saddle Ridge Ranch Crafts

2010-05-30T21:16:00.000-05:00

Are you doing a Western Theme VBS this year or are you using Saddle Ridge Ranch? Here are some videos with great decorating ideas. I wish these had been around years ago when I was trying to build a faux camp fire! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjjqEP9Veyc You can make the most wonderful decorations from items that you already have.

Check out the Saddle Ridge Ranch Craft Page at www.christiancrafts.net

Snack Ideas for Vacation Bible School

2010-05-25T08:35:00.000-05:00

Need some ideas for your Vacation Bible School Snacks? Read this article for some guidelines and suggestions. Vacation Bible School Snack Ideas. Feel free to share any ideas or suggestions you have on this blog.

Sunday School Valentine Craft John 3:16

2010-02-14T14:07:00.001-06:00

I have used this pattern in my classes for many years from second graders to fourth and fifth graders. It is fairly simple and the kids always enjoy it!

Just download the free PDF pattern and embellish with doilies, stickers or whatever you have. Patterns and instructions are located on our website at ChristianCrafts.net

ChristianCrafts.net

Cokesbury | Vacation Bible School 2012

Lifeway VBS 2012 Theme

Lifeway VBS 2012 Theme

VBS Decorating Ideas

Jesus Truth Seekers VBS Workshops

Easter Craft Pop Up Card

Pandamania Craft Idea - Jungle Drums

Hometown Nazareth VBS Crafts and Resources

New 2011 Big Apple Adventure VBS Resource Page

Pandamania Group VBS Crafts, Curriculum and Decorations

PandaMania Group VBS Easy Decorating

Free Craft Ideas for Sunday School and VBS

Joshua 24:15 Coloring Page

Free Bible Coloring Page for Isaiah 40:31

Sunday School Object Lessons

Valentines Day Banner Craft for Sunday School

Free Turkey Coloring Page

Thanksgiving Banner Craft for Kids

Free Coloring Page for Pastor Appreciation Sunday

Check out this free coloring page from ministry-to-children.com for Pastor Appreciation Sunday:http://ministry-to-children.com/pastor-appreciation-coloring-page

Free Kids Church Curriculum

Trunk-or-Treat Outreach Card

Book of Ruth Basket Craft

Book of Ruth Craft

Free Activities for your Classroom

Free Bible Verse Coloring Pages

Free E-Cards for Grandparent's Day

Free Home School Resources

View Our Newsletter Online

Free Educational Videos for Home Schoolers

Free Sunday School Curriculum - Calvary Chapel Children's Ministry

Free Find Friday - ABCTeach.com

Vacation Bible School Permission Forms

Free Find Friday: Father's Day Cards and Coloring Pages

LifeWay's 2011 VBS - Big Apple Adventure

Cokesbury VBS Theme 2011

Free Find Friday - Fight Childhood Obesity

Last Minute Vacation Bible School Craft Ideas

High Seas Adventure Vacation Bible School

Free Find Friday!

Hero Headquarters Vacation Bible School 2010

Vacation Bible School 2010

Quick and Easy Banner Craft for VBS

Saddle Ridge Ranch Crafts

Snack Ideas for Vacation Bible School

Sunday School Valentine Craft John 3:16

Check out this free coloring page from ministry-to-children.com for Pastor Appreciation Sunday:

http://ministry-to-children.com/pastor-appreciation-coloring-page