Cheap idea for I See Jesus sign

[MommyRat]

Just found a REALLY cheap way to do the "I see Jesus" sign for a large group. Instead of reed/sticks like are called for, we will be using coffee stir sticks. They are the right diameter & will be easy for the kids to cut with scissors. I can get 1000 for around $15. I have 100 kids doing it. So with the craft foam sheets to glue it to, I think I can get out at around $35 total. Not bad! I'm just trying to decide on the best quick dry glue to use, will have to experiment & get back with you on that!

[Mari-Jo]

Thanks for your information! I want to do this as a craft but was struggling with what to use. This is awesome!

Just found a REALLY cheap way to do the "I see Jesus" sign for a large group. Instead of reed/sticks like are called for, we will be using coffee stir sticks. They are the right diameter & will be easy for the kids to cut with scissors. I can get 1000 for around $15. I have 100 kids doing it. So with the craft foam sheets to glue it to, I think I can get out at around $35 total. Not bad! I'm just trying to decide on the best quick dry glue to use, will have to experiment & get back with you on that!

[eyaple]

Just found a REALLY cheap way to do the "I see Jesus" sign for a large group. Instead of reed/sticks like are called for, we will be using coffee stir sticks. They are the right diameter & will be easy for the kids to cut with scissors. I can get 1000 for around $15. I have 100 kids doing it. So with the craft foam sheets to glue it to, I think I can get out at around $35 total. Not bad! I'm just trying to decide on the best quick dry glue to use, will have to experiment & get back with you on that!

When you find out what glue works best, would you please post all the info on here. I too love this craft! We're going to have one of our guys who works with wood make us one that we can always have hanging above the door to our Children's wing. Thanks for sharing this coffee stir stick option, this will be cheaper and easier for all.

[iloveVBS]

You might want to try "Tacky Glue". It is much thicker than the regular stuff and doesn't run. It should hold the sticks in place without them sliding around. Dries clear.
Good Luck!

[jamqueen]

you know, you could have older kids pre-cut brown fun foam into "sticks" too, and then they could add glitter glue for some 3-D effect. but stirrer sticks would do it--REALLY well! good thinking~!~!

[darrylgonzalez46]

Try white glue for more effect.

[Mari-Jo]

We ended up using craft foam, transferring the template ahead of time and cutting the sticks ahead of time. We used waxing sticks from a beauty supply store.

[MommyRat]

The stir sticks worked great for us! We always make copies of the template in advance, I've never understood the 'let the kids transfer it' idea. We used colored cardstock in the copy machine so I was able to get 2 signs per sheet. I used the large cutter to cut the sheets in half & left them that size. That way the kids weren't trying to pick it up by where they had just glued when they were done. We let the kids cut their own coffee stir sticks with regular kid scissors. We used Allene's glue in the gold bottle. It worked pretty well, but not perfectly. I agree with the tacky glue, I'd use it next time. But all in all, the kids like the craft & it was SUPER cheap. I think I was out about $18 for enough supplies to make 100! Can't beat that! I'll try to update better next year with the modifications we make to crafts for large groups. I always have to modify them or pick others that fit our group better. Glad to hear others like the idea & I hope it works as well for you as it did for us!