briefcases

[Anne]

I don't know if anyone else has this resource, but our elementary school participates in the Staples school supplies in that you just write a check to the school and all the supplies your child requires for school is delivered to the school in a handy cardboard box with a handle. These boxes are a couple of inches bigger than a school notebook and are about 3 inches thick. I thought they would make perfect briefcases for the kids! I will have to spray paint them ahead of time and then the kids can decorate, and can keep their code books, spy glasses, whatever we come up with in them.

As school is going to be starting in two weeks, I am working on getting these boxes from my school as the teachers just throw them away.

I am very excited about this theme!

Anne

[TrinityJen]

That sounds cool. My kids are still young so I will have to ask around about that. What a great idea.

I also have a briefcase 'craft' where you use a file folder w/ the tab in the middle. The TAB becomes the handle. I don't have the notes on how to make it. It is a members only progect from 'The Resource Room'.

Here is anouther http://www.dltk-bible.com/crafts/mpromisesuitcase.htm

[NormaVK]

I found the instructions for making a decoder that they wear around their neck, but I can't for the life of me remember where I found it. Luckily I printed the directions and made a couple and they are cuter than anything!! And, they work! The first one is a bit labor intensive, but they get easier and I will probably only have to make 35 or 40. There is my winter project! I must buy a circle cutter, and that will make it lots easier too.

[TrinityJen]

De-Coder, that sounds like fun!

I found 2 sites.
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10392
http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=channel380036&catid=cat21424&navLevel=3&site=#

Now I have an excuse to buy the circle cutter I wanted. Yea!

[NormaVK]

Thanks, Trinity Jen! The family fun site was the one I found and made a couple. They look so cool. But the other site will be easier cause the increments are already measured and that is the hard part. I think I will make them to look like the first one but work like the second one.
Norma

[TrinityJen]

We usually make our own guide books. I think we will need something to 'de-code' each day. Then we'll put it in their briefcase.

[Anne]

I am definately making the decoder rings, however I better get started now because we have over 200 kids at our VBS.

I bought a book titled "Top Secret" and it is filled with different types of codes and ciphers and invisible ink. I have been testing some on my 1st grader and she is loving it.

I want to do a different kind of code each day that they will learn in probably the theme room and each day the code they will "de-code" will be the Daily Mission and part of the bible verse.

Anne

[NormaVK]

Oh my gosh! 200 decoders is going to be quite a challange! I have been thinking like you, each day they will have to "break" the code and discover the memor verse. I hadn't figured out where in the program we would fit this in, but I like your idea of doing it in the theme room.
Norma

[TrinityJen]

We usually have a 'Pocket Lady' that re-tells the Bible Story each day. The time is shared w/ snack. I think I will have this be part of her time. I want to change her focus from Bible Story to Memory Verse and Theme. Of course This will have to be 'her' idea.

WE had 86 kids this year so I am planning to make 100 de-coders. Luckily I am part of a monthly scrapbooking group. So only 10 each month. With help we might have these done REALLY early. I better look for the supplies now.

You should ask for Scrap******s in your churches to help. They usually have the cutters to use. You could also talk to the scrapbook supply stores to see if they have die-cutters or circle cutters that you could use.

I like the idea of using a different type of code each day. But with all the work for circles we will be using those each day.

Anouther 'secret message' is to use white crayon on white paper then color over w/ a marker.

[NormaVK]

When I mentioned using a different code each day, I was taking the idea they suggested on the web site--for instance, if it is Monday, set the "M" on the small ring under the "A" on the large ring and decode the message. On Tuesday, the "T" would be under the "A", etc so there would be a different code each day. Like you, Jen, I would want to use the decoder every day after all that work getting them made.

[TrinityJen]

Ahhh! That makes since. When we make the codes we should make more than one. So 1 answer is not for everyone.

How can we attach these to the name tags?

[karenedits]

Here's a preview of something coming in the Director's Guide: We have a pattern for making a briefcase from card stock! It will be available in the "Intergenerational VBS Guide."

Karen McGraw
Editor, Gospel Light VBS

[NormaVK]

I haven't figured out the name tag thing yet. I'm thinking this year instead of something around their neck, I might make an "official badge" of some kind that they could wear on their shirts. I don't want two things hanging around their necks, and the decoder would be on the little chain around their neck. Something to ponder! This stuff is all I think about. I need to ponder how to get my house cleaned up again!!
Norma

[TrinityJen]

I bought some name badge holders and lanyards (100/$30). The pockets seem large, I might make the decoder to go in the badge holder. Hmmm, but then the wear and tear might not be worth it.

Maybe I only need enough for 1 class at a time. If they do the de-coding in 1 place. But still to have enough to send them home with them on Friday. Or maybe a pocket/envelope in the guidebook, hmmm. I will have to look through my scrapbooking mags w/ new eyes.

[NormaVK]

Trinity Jen, the problem with changing the size of the decoder to fit your pockets is that you will have to figure out the increments on the circles again and they have to be very accurate or the thing won't work. It's been too long since I took geometry to refigure that. I've never played with a circle cutter--are they marked in any way that would help figure how to divide the circumference into equal portions??
Norma

[TrinityJen]

No Math! Ugh! Thanks for bringing that up. I will make the pocket for the guidebooks that will hold the decoder the size it is. .

I am not sure about the cutters helping w/ the circumference. Their are ones that allow different measurements.

I already have a large circle hole punch to use for the center circle then I just need the larger circles. Now I know not to mess with the sizing when I do them. I wonder if there is a way to do the printing on the computer? Hmmm... I will work on that.

[TrinityJen]

I might not do much math, but my husband is an engineer. Luckily this is similar to something he just did last week. He has started a diagram w/ a circle divided into 36 parts (26 letters + 10 numbers). I will let you know when it is ready. So far I am only to D. My DH said he has some tricks to align the letters. HE is not even giving me a hard time for working on '007. SO with this new diagram we can make the decoders ANY SIZE!!! :D

[NormaVK]

Hallelujah! An answer to prayer and problem solved!!
Norma

[TrinityJen]

Who has a circle cutter? I am going shopping tomorrow. I have my eye on one by EK Success (the Circle Scissor) that is a disk w/ allot of holes in it to choose the size. http://www.eksuccess.com/products_detail.php?product_id=739&sess_id=e5f42f751c82e037dc655c709e95848b
I will ask around to see what is a good cutter.

I am going to size my letters by the size the biggest circle will be. Any suggestions on size? I am thinking about 4" for the largest circle. Maybe a little smaller so it will fit in a 1/4 page guide book easily.

Really is it too early?

[Anne]

How funny, my husband also an engineer ( I actually used to be as well before I became stay-at-home mom) he came home yesterday with the circles and letters (I didn't do numbers) all evenly spaced. We are getting the circles to match the circle cutting patterns of the Creative Memories circle cutting system, which is what I have and luckly I have lots of scrapbooking friends who also own the CM circles. As soon as we get the sizes matched up I can see if I can post it. My husband did it in Autocad so I don't know if you can convert to a readable file (it's been so long since I've messed with that stuff).

I believe I will keep the decoders in their briefcases that they can pull out of each day.

Nametags... I am also thinking it has to look like an ID badge. I know they make the badge holders with the clip on the back that you can attach to the shirt. I am also contemplating the logistics of on the first day letting the kids put on a disguise (hat, glasses, wig, etc.) and take their picture that would be placed on their ID badge.

Anne

[TrinityJen]

I think our ID badges will have photos also. I will probably do them at a pre-registration station. So the benefit of attending our church or attending SS before VBS will be getting your photo. I don't think I want to do photos the week of. I might pick a few cartoon characters to put on instead or put "Master of Disguise" or "Secret Agent" on a box that would have the picture.

My DH did the circle in Power Point. Once it is assembled, I will 'group' it and it should re-size easily (if not pretty).

[Anne]

MY husband will email the file from work tomorrow as a pdf file and so it will be readable. The big circle is 4" and the little circle will be 3". However those are Creative Memories 3" & 4" which I found out if you measure them they are really a little bit less than what they claim. So if anyone has Creative Memories cutters I will have tomorrow the decoder file that will work.

I am planning to print the registration forms on file folders that will be cut down to 5 1/2" so that I can mail them. Out of the "wasted" half of the file folder I am going to cut out the decoder circles so that it is not wasted.

I thought about doing the photos for the ID before hand, and I still may do it, however we have ALOT of kids that do not attend our church that come to VBS so I think I will still have about half the kids to do on the first day.

Anne

[NormaVK]

The sample I made was the size suggested in the Family Fun website. The largest circle was 3 1/4 inches, I really liked that size. However a larger circle might be easier for the smaller kids to manipulate. I might make one that size and see what I think. Now you have me thinking it might be better to have them put it in their briefcase instead of around their necks, I just liked the little shiny chains!!
Norma

[TrinityJen]

Anne,
I would love to hear more about your registration forms on File folders!

NormaVK,
I noticed on the Family Fun sight that the chain was attached to a paper-clip taped to the back. I know this would not last the full week at our VBS.

[NormaVK]

Trinity Jen, you are probably right. I have almost put that idea on the back burner already.
Norma

[lavrn]

I was thinking about a sturdier briefcase that the kids could take home and continue to play secret agent with-- I found this link to a place that sells boxes -- They come in lots of different sizes, and I especially like the ones in the "die cut" section- they are sturdy and I like the closure. All I'll have to do is make some sort of handle and let the kids decorate them. Only problem is , you have to order in lots of 50-- that's ok for us, because that is what I would probably be ordering anyway.

Here is the link if anyone wants to check it out.

http://www.papermart.com/Pages/hello.htm

Lisa ( lavrn)

[NormaVK]

Lisa, what are you going to put in your briefcases? I'm debating whether I need a sturdier case but haven't decided what will go inside the case.
Norma

[lavrn]

hi Norma!

Well, let's see....I'm thinking maybe use them all week to store everyone's
guides and decoders.. We usually have around 35-40 kids, so that's a manageable number to buy little things for, as long as I keep it cheap like Oriental trading stuff-- I've already found sunglasses for them, little magnifying glasses (dirt cheap, got a gross for something like 6 or 7 bucks!)
maybe go to Sam's Club and buy little notebooks for all their important "clues", etc. To be honest,I really am not too sure just yet! I read the threads about using a file folder, but that just didn't seem too sturdy, or look too much like a briefcase- my kids used to have plastic cases that I bought years ago at Big Lots, so I started looking on line for those, and came across the boxes-- the ones I found were about 51 cents each for a shipment of 50 boxes. The boxes are white, so they could decorate them however they choose--I've already bought a rubber stamp that says "top secret" and one that says "confidential" that they can use. I just think if the kids really get into it, they may want to continue to be "little agents" at home, too! I love having access to this board, I did VBS this past year for the first time and it went great, but it is WONDERFUL to share ideas with other people that are as excited as I am-- my family ( home AND church family) think I'm NUTS for already starting!!!! Just can't help it!! Let me know what your thoughts are, ok? Thanks!:p
Lisa

[NormaVK]

Lisa, Thanks for sharing! I was thinking along the same lines about what to put in the briefcases, just wanted to see if I was on track with anyone else. I am the VBS fanatic in my church, it is so much fun and it all pays off when the kids get to enjoy the fruits of the labor. I really liked the looks of the boxes and now need to figure out how to put a handle on them. Where did you find your rubber stamps? I will keep an eye out for those too.
Norma

[agentinnc]

I heard that someone has bought plastic cases from OT, I am sure they will come out with something because they have the theme already. For the badges/name tags I have an idea to do them in day one crafts-have the kids write their names & agent code name, then stamp their fingerprint onto the badge, last using silouettes of a spy(long hair, short, girl, boy, hat, no hat, etc) let them pick a spy pic to be on the badge. Or if you have an IZone polaroid camera you can take the pic of the child & use the sticker film to have small pic that is a sticker. I had thought of using a luggage tag or zipper pull type badge from OT. (most of these came from a birthday party site looking under spy parties.http://http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/spy_party.html

[lavrn]

Hey Norma! I'm glad you liked my ideas-- the stamps I bought online from an ebay store called Melrose Stamp co. They were only about $6.50 each, and I received them just a few days after ordering. Here is the address if you want to check them out.

http://www.melrosestamp.com

I'm also looking for some type of sign to buy that says "restricted area" - I found one that was really cute ( it was a real sign that you could personalize)
and I put SONFORCE AGENTS ONLY on it-- it looked really neat, but when I clicked to buy it , it was around $50.00-- WAY too much for one sign that was "cute"! If I find something along those lines but cheaper, I'll let you know. Did you look at the boxes in the "die cut" section? Wonder what we could do for handles if we used those?

Lisa

[lavrn]

Good ideas! I'll have to remember the IZone camera-- we used one several years ago- that would be the perfect size picture to put on a badge!
Lisa

[TrinityJen]

hi Norma!

Well, let's see....I'm thinking maybe use them all week to store everyone's
guides and decoders.. We usually have around 35-40 kids, so that's a manageable number to buy little things for, as long as I keep it cheap like Oriental trading stuff-- I've already found sunglasses for them, little magnifying glasses (dirt cheap, got a gross for something like 6 or 7 bucks!)
maybe go to Sam's Club and buy little notebooks for all their important "clues", etc. To be honest,I really am not too sure just yet! I read the threads about using a file folder, but that just didn't seem too sturdy, or look too much like a briefcase- my kids used to have plastic cases that I bought years ago at Big Lots, so I started looking on line for those, and came across the boxes-- the ones I found were about 51 cents each for a shipment of 50 boxes. The boxes are white, so they could decorate them however they choose--I've already bought a rubber stamp that says "top secret" and one that says "confidential" that they can use. I just think if the kids really get into it, they may want to continue to be "little agents" at home, too! I love having access to this board, I did VBS this past year for the first time and it went great, but it is WONDERFUL to share ideas with other people that are as excited as I am-- my family ( home AND church family) think I'm NUTS for already starting!!!! Just can't help it!! Let me know what your thoughts are, ok? Thanks!:p


Lisa,

Where did you get your sunglasses and magnifying glasses???

Maybe you coudl start a new thread for people to list sites to shop from.

Thanks!

[lavrn]

hi Trinity Jen!

I buy probably 90% of my VBS stuff on line, and most of it comes from Oriental Trading. If you have never used them, you are really missing out!
They have numerous specialty catalogs, plus a big online store-- they are easy and CHEAP,and I have found their staff to be extremely friendly and cooperative is there is an error or if you are unhappy with your order. I have already received the magnifying glasses, they are small ( only about 2-3 inches long), but perfect for little fingers. I bought a gross from them for only $7.95!:D I have not ordered the sunglasses yet, but they have black lenses with neon frames for $7.95 /dozen for the older kids, and for the little ones they have bright pink, red, blue yellow, orange and green sunglasses that are all one color, lenses and all-- they are only $5.95/ dozen! I sat down with my catalog the other day and found over $200.00 in merchandise that I would love to order ( and probably will!) I told my pastor I would be happy to direct again next year, but I'm not the one if he is looking to save money!!
I think the decorations are very important to #1, create excitement, and #2,
get the kids into the theme and make them want to come back! So, needless to say, I do all I can to transform everything into whatever theme it is. My rubber stamps that say TOP SECRET and CONFIDENTIAL I bought online at a place called Melrose Stamp co.--- http://www.melrosestamp.com
As I find other things that we could use, I will be happy to post my findings! I appreciate all your great ideas, too-- I check daily to see what you, Norma, Ann, and agenttinc have to say! Thanks!!!!:)

[JenT]

Lisa,
I agree with Trinity Jen. It would be wonderful if you started a new thread for everyone to post shopping information. Web addresses, stock/order numbers, prices, and phone numbers would be great information to have. I find everyone's help to be invaluable; but I hate to search the posts in each section when I'm looking for specific information. Please consider doing this; I know that I cannot possibly be the only one who would find this helpful.

[NormaVK]

Lisa, I am still trying to figure out how to attach a handle to those cases. I wish I could see one and then could get a better feel for what would work. Could we possibly cut a handle from a plastic jug and grommet it on?? That may be far-fetched but without seeing the box, its hard to come up with an idea.
Norma

[lavrn]

Norma,

I still haven't figured that part out yet, either--the boxes I looked at said they were 3 layers thick, I'm wondering if there is some way to partially cut thru the layers and fold out the handle ? Or maybe we could even buy some nylon rope or heavy cord, punch holes and just knot it?? I'll keep thinking, we will come up with something!
lisa

[Anne]

Norma and Lisa,

Just wanted to let you know that there are manufacturers that make boxes with handles. I think I saw some on www.papermart.com which is where you were looking. I believe www.uline.com has some as well. The boxes that I was talking about when I originally started this thread can be found at www.schoolkidz.com but you will see that unfortunately you can't just buy the box. School has started here and so far I have collected 60 of these boxes but I need at least 200, so I will probalby be buying some to make up the difference. I am also going to see if I can get our local Staples to donate them.

Hope this helps!

Anne

[lavrn]

hi Anne-- thanks for the box info and the links--- I checked out the Uline link, and they had a box that looks like it will work great- handle included. If I
figured it correctly , by the time I get 50 boxes shipped to my address, the boxes will end up costing somewhere around $2.00 each. The others were about half as much, but like we mentioned before, we would have to fashion some type of handle, so all in all the cost would probably end up about the same. I just emailed the papermart site and asked if they would ship me ONE of the boxes I thought might work, so I could check for size and see better how it is made- I think I may do the same with the box from Uline and see what they say-- I'll let everyone know if they will send it to me and what I find out about each. Thanks again! Lisa

[ana]

If anyone has an Office Max in their area--they are using a self standing back to school display that is a full set of full length lockers that open. I asked them what they do with them when their done and they throw them away!!! not anymore they are giving them to me I'm going to use them in our entry way or something and label them Agent K, J etc. kind of like the men in black locker room---Anyway I just want to give you guys the ideas of looking at store displays we have gotten some AWESOME decorations in the past from things stores were throwing out

[CammieSue]

Good ideas! I'll have to remember the IZone camera-- we used one several years ago- that would be the perfect size picture to put on a badge!
Lisa


That would be the perfect size - however poloroid does not make the izone film anymore. I tried to get it last year for VBS. I have books that I wanted to put the kids pictures on and couldn't get film. It was either expired or WAY too expensive. :mad: