Our Decorations

[whitehart]

Our VBS started last night! Here are some pictures of our docorations. We have big spaces, but not much money, so we borrow what we can, and make the rest out of cardboard, paint, and tablecloth plastic.

I can tell you how we made any of these, if you'd like. Maybe these will help some of you.
Merri

[Tlynne]

Our VBS started last night! Here are some pictures of our docorations. We have big spaces, but not much money, so we borrow what we can, and make the rest out of cardboard, paint, and tablecloth plastic.

I can tell you how we made any of these, if you'd like. Maybe these will help some of you.
Merri
Merri,
Your decorations are FANTASTIC! I especially love the fireplace in the Hungry Bear Lodge and the waterfall. I was wanting to do the fireplace and now I have a great visual. What did you use for the waterfall and how did you attach it to the wall?
Tess

[whitehart]

The waterfall is free-standing. It is attached to a banner stand we made with a closet-rod pole for the upright and a shorter cross-piece attached with a PVC plumbing "T" fitting. It is just set in an iron patio umbrella stand to hold it up. (For banners, we attach a small curtain rod to the cross-piece.)

The "water" is three colors of the rolls of tablecloth plastic (dark blue, light blue, and white) stapled together at one end and then cut in wavy strips. It is just taped to the back of the cross-piece at the top, and hangs over it and down. (We originally made it for a water park theme VBS several years ago and have found uses for it just about every year. It looks just as good after being shoved in a plastic storage bag for a year or more.) A couple of other sections of the same stuff are draped over a few small tables of different heights (under dark blue tablecloth plastic), over some flat painted cardboard "rocks," and around the edges of the raft.

I didn't do a fireplace. That must be somone else's.

I hope this is helpful.

[Judy N.]

Your decorations are great! Our VBS starts next week, so this helps me get some last minute inspiration!

[Tlynne]

Thanks for the instructions. I think the way you did the waterfall is very clever. I am definitely borrowing that idea.
Tess

[whitehart]

Just FYI:
The big, colorful banners are tablecloth plastic, too. We just cut sections and folded a few inches back as a sleeve at the top (and bottom for balance), taping it with clear packaging tape. The big logo pieces are printed out (from the Gospel Light downloads) on paper and taped on, too. The banners are just hung on a piece of cord run between eye hooks on our columns. We've used the same plastic with new logos for the past few years. You could use this idea to add a big punch of color with the posters from Gospel Light, too.

The big "sycamore" tree (back, left in the full-stage picture) is supported by our other banner stand (like the one I described for the waterfall) and can be moved around easily when it is needed for the skit. We used brass fasteners to put sections of painted cardboard together, but I wish I'd had those cardboard rivets I've seen mentioned on these forums. We'll get them for next year. The cardboard leafy sections are re-cut and painted palm tree tops (from SonTreasure Island) turned upside down.

"Reduce, reuse, recycle" was my personal theme for this year. The cabin is even the back side of a barn we had for SonHarvest County Fair.

Can you tell I love this stuff? I think my ideal job would be to work for Gospel Light planning theme decoration ideas.
Merri

[whitehart]

Your decorations are great! Our VBS starts next week, so this helps me get some last minute inspiration!

Thanks! I was hoping it would help somebody.

[whitehart]

I was asked to describe the design of the cabin.

We actually just painted the back side of a barn set a friend had made for another event a couple of years ago. It is made from cardboard mattress boxes she got for about $5 from a moving company. The front and back are cut in the shape you see in the picture. The sides are attached to the front, and just folded back. They are about 2 feet wide and the height of the lowest point of the roof. The roof is a couple of smaller boxes about six inches wider than the sides (to give overhang at the front), opened out and bent to lie flat up and over the other pieces. (This would be easier with pictures. I'll try to lay it on the floor and take pictures so you can see the pattern.)

We painted the front, roof, and sides, but we didn't bother with the back. The logs are just painted brown with a few "grout lines" and details added. My 6-year-old is very proud of having painted the yellow on the door, and my 10-year-old painted the "cabin8" sign and the curtains.

When we painted it, the cardboard started to warp. It was lying flat on a garage floor, so I just put some small paint cans around on it to weight it down until it dried completely, and it is just fine.

The pieces are held together with pipe cleaners stuck through holes in adjacent pieces and twisted snug. It is easy to take apart and move around. The roof just lies on the top.

For storage, we fold the front and back pieces down the middle, and it all folds really flat for next time we need a barn or cabin.

Merri

[bkna2t]

We set the stage as a camp site. Left half being a forest with the animals and the right being a camp site.

[faith]

Merri, you do a FANTASTIC job! Never thought of the plastic table cloths until your idea.

[Sherri in GA]

Okay, I was pretty much through with making decorations until I saw your waterfall, Merri! Now I have to do it. We have the banner stuff, so it shouldn't be too hard. I just found out that I can borrow a kayak, so this is perfect! Thanks for sharing - your ideas are great!

[mackeymom]

Merri,

Your decorations look wonderful! I hope am I able to recreate the waterfall. I LOVE IT!

[marion]

I must agree your waterfall is wonderful. Nice Idea, may I take it for a week. :)

[whitehart]

bkna2t: Your stage looks great. I bet the animals got lots of attention.

[whitehart]

I just found out that I can borrow a kayak, so this is perfect! Thanks for sharing!

You're all welcome!
By the way, we're using the inflatable raft to collect the toys and books the kids are bringing in for a local homeless shelter. It is pretty full, now.
Merri

[PJBelew]

Thanks for the waterfall instructions. I hit my director with this on the same day we were setting up for VBS (yesterday) and we pulled it off. Once I take pictures I'll share them, but the waterfall is right inside our front door and looks great. Our VBS start tomorrow Sunday June 21. Looking forward to a good time.

[CEmom]

Our VBS started last night! Here are some pictures of our docorations. We have big spaces, but not much money, so we borrow what we can, and make the rest out of cardboard, paint, and tablecloth plastic.

I can tell you how we made any of these, if you'd like. Maybe these will help some of you.
Merri

I love the waterfall.!!! How did you do it? Lots of details as I'm not great at this!

Alissa

[whitehart]

By request, here are some pictures of the back of the tallest part of our "waterfall," so you can see how simple it really is. The description of how we made it is elsewhere in this thread.

There are also some showing the cabin construction. The picture of it on the floor shows the front/side piece and the "roof" just lying flat above it. The slots along the top were cut for "beams" to go in it when we used it for a barn, but they aren't necessary for the cabin, so I just ignored them.

Hope this is helpful.
Merri