decorating idea

[lavrn]

I just was online looking for nothing in particular- just anything that may fit in with the secret agent theme-- Oriental Trading(orientaltrading.com)
has fake security cameras that are motion/light activated-- they are plastic, run on batteries, and are around $6.00 each-- I think that would be cool to have a couple in the areas that are "restricted" to special agents only--I also love the idea of stamping their hands, and using the black light to gain access to the different areas- Maybe use an invisible pen and write the key words each day , like TRUST, LEAD, etc? I found a place online also that has black light wands for only about $6.00 each- sorry but I didn't write that address down- I'll look again.

lavrn

[lavrn]

I was looking thru my new catalog, and found mini flashing beacon lights in red, purple and blue for 3.95 each, also a mini strobe light for 12.95-- I think someone mentioned in an earlier thread about a "time warp" room that transports the kids back to the Old Testament-- thought maybe the strobe light would be cool for that. I liked the metallic door curtains and table cloths, too-- especially the silver looks very modern and futuristic. The same catalog ( Oriental Trading Main 2006) has metallic 3-D stars that I think would be neat to hang from the ceiling. I think my best bet for decorating is not to look for anything in particular, just keep my eyes open and see what might would fit into a space or spy theme. With SonTreasure Island, copied a coloring sheet onto transparancy plastic, then put it on the overhead and traced it onto a bedsheet and painted it-- it made a wonderful backdrop-- I'm thinking I may do more of those this year, when I get the materials from GL-- I already know I have to start early!:cool:

Lisa ( lavrn)

[Teresa Peters]

I am sure other people have thought of this, but in case you have not. I had alot of fun downloading real pictures of various place from the net and using them in the Earth Cam Clip Art. For example I downloaded a photo of the Eiffel tower and put it in the Earth Cam instead of the drawing. This is nice becaue you can use a place that is important to your VBS students!:)

[KarenF]

One thing I thought of, too was getting the satellite shots of these particular areas. I forgot the specific websites, but I know there are many. Are these pics printable?

[Teresa Peters]

Karen,
I didn't use satellite images. So I don't know if they are printable.
Sorry I can't help maybe someone else knows.

[houseparent]

You can print satellite images for sure off the big three (Google Earth, Yahoo and MSN Maps) I am also pretty sure there are government sites that you can print from.

[KarenF]

Thanks, I'll look.

[TrinityJen]

I am going to print a satellite image of my church too! That might make a cool invitation or background....hmmmm.

[KarenF]

I got on Google Earth and checked out a few locations. Some have better pictures than others. Our town is very clear. We can actually tell about when the picture was taken because of the time of year and by the fact that my car is in the driveway at my old house. Fun to look at!
Apparently, higher risk locations can't be zoomed in as well. My sister lives in a high-risk oil area (with perfectly clear skies most of the time) and the picture cannot be zoomed in as much.
Anyway...back to VBS...it makes sense to use satellite images since the SonForce team is on a satellite, right?

[JulesEC]

Here is a picture of a robot I made to collect the registrations from the kids in.

http://www.anenlightenedjourney.com/robotftp.jpg

It was fun to do, and I had most of the stuff around the house. I hope you like it!!

Jules

[KarenF]

:cool: Great idea and really cute. Good job!:cool:

[TrinityJen]

Here is a picture of a robot I made to collect the registrations from the kids in.
It was fun to do, and I had most of the stuff around the house. I hope you like it!!

Jules

It looks great Jules! Is it spray painted? I haven't started a robot yet.

[KimR]

GREAT ROBOT!!! We haven't started ours but I think that yours really makes an impact. We have a huge gathering area and it needs to be large enough to draw attention.
I believe we are going to have a robot to collect information and donations plus a huge shuttle with many "windows". Each window will represent a volunteer position. As they are filled, a smiling face will be looking out the window. The caption will read something to the effect: "Don't miss the shuttle to SonForce Kids" or "Come blast off with us this summer!" We can then use it with a count down to VBS also as time grows near.

[stephsmith]

Your robot inspired me. Our confirmation class is going to have a get together on the Saturday before Palm Sunday, and we are going to make robots. I think the kids will have a great time trying to outdo each other. We can then use them throughout the church for decorations. I will post pictures if any turn out cute.
Stephanie
Edgeboro Moravian Church

[Team 4 Immanuel Baptist]

Your robot was inspiring! I'm going to try to copy it, any suggestions how your did it?:)

[JulesEC]

The head of the robot is actually a metal electric box that has a strap already made into it. The front of the box comes with pre-cut circles that you knock out to run wires through. I poked them out and got two parts that are made to connect electrical conduit together. The parts have threads and a washer thing on them, and they are the size to fit the holes in the electrical box. I just attached them through the holes and screwed the fittings in.

The strap on the electrical box comes with three holes already drilled into it - I just got a package of screws long enough to fit down through the box and poked holes through and bolted the metal box down to the cardboard box.

The "neck" is just a plain white base that you buy to screw a single light bulb into. It was less than $2 - it is like the lighting fixture that is usually in your garage with your light bulbs in it.

The eyes were just two little copper fittings that I had already in my box of "junk" screws. I just laid them in there and glued them in.

The mouth is just several washers that are glued down. I got them in the specialty fitting drawer at Lowe' - they have a "gear" look to them - they are not just plain washers.

I spray painted the light bulb base and the boxes with silver spray paint. I actually bolted the top box down to the bottom box for sturdiness - the head is just a little heavy and I did not think glue would be strong enough.

The "arms" are just the duct work that you buy to exhaust your dryer - I actually had some laying around the house that I did not need when I installed my dryer vent. Good thing I am a pack rat!

The tummy basket was just a wire basket that I got at the Dollar Store - I had it laying around the house also. I just cut out the bottom of it and stuffed it into the hole in the box. The cut edges can we sharp, so be careful. Inside the box I put tape over the edges to make sure no one got poked with the ends of the wires.

Here is a better picture of the head. If you have any questions, just let me know and I will try to help you out. The whole thing was pretty easy to make and it was a lot of fun to do.

http://www.anenlightenedjourney.com/RobotHeadWeb.jpg

[1united]

I was looking thru my new catalog, and found mini flashing beacon lights in red, purple and blue for 3.95 each, also a mini strobe light for 12.95-- I think someone mentioned in an earlier thread about a "time warp" room that transports the kids back to the Old Testament-- thought maybe the strobe light would be cool for that. I liked the metallic door curtains and table cloths, too-- especially the silver looks very modern and futuristic. The same catalog ( Oriental Trading Main 2006) has metallic 3-D stars that I think would be neat to hang from the ceiling. I think my best bet for decorating is not to look for anything in particular, just keep my eyes open and see what might would fit into a space or spy theme. With SonTreasure Island, copied a coloring sheet onto transparancy plastic, then put it on the overhead and traced it onto a bedsheet and painted it-- it made a wonderful backdrop-- I'm thinking I may do more of those this year, when I get the materials from GL-- I already know I have to start early!:cool:

Lisa ( lavrn)

I am thinking of doing a time warp room myself... I just want to throw out there that exposing kids (or adults for that matter ) to strobes is not safe in all cases. Strobes can cause seizures in some kids. We have a kid here with epileptic tendency and it would really be a problem for her. It is probably ok for most kids, but you may want to weigh the risk.

[KarenF]

I am thinking of doing a time warp room myself... I just want to throw out there that exposing kids (or adults for that matter ) to strobes is not safe in all cases. Strobes can cause seizures in some kids. We have a kid here with epileptic tendency and it would really be a problem for her. It is probably ok for most kids, but you may want to weigh the risk.
How about a tunnel with different color rope lights (non-bllinking).
That is what I plan to do just for that reason.

[lavrn]

hmmm.may have to re think the strobe thing-- no kids in my church have any seizure problems, but there are usually more than we DON"T know anything about than ones we do! thanks for the input!!!!

Lisa

[NormaVK]

Has anyone started working on back drops yet? I have the "throne room" painted and it looks pretty nice. I added fake jewels and that makes it lots more interesting. For the Mission Control, I bought two presentation boards (the tri-fold kind). I traced the "windshield" on the boards and will get them painted soon. I will stand them on a small table so they curve a bit to look more realistic, put a couple old computers and keyboards on the table, and cover the front of the table like they suggested in the material from GL. Behind this "space ship" I am going to hang black plastic table cloths, paint on some stars with glo-in-the-dark paint, and hang some planets, comets, etc from the ceiling over the whole thing. I think I have most of my extra decorations made so I have a good jump on my decorating. Now to concentrate on the music!
Norma

[Michie]

For the missions control room I'm actually using some black fabric that I found that has gold specks on it that kind of look like stars. We're making panels to cover an exsisting white board. With the doors to the white board open it gives the same effect of the tri-fold presentation boards. On the monitor above the material we're hoping to play a loop of the screen saver that looks like you're travelling through stars? (don't remember the name of it). Hopefully it will really give the effect of looking out into space.

[J2911]

Hey, did everyone see Oriental Trading's latest catalog? It FINALLY includes two pages of Detective VBS products. :D

[TrinityJen]

I haven't even looked at fabric this year. I was just at my new Wal-mart today and in such a rush I forgot to look again.

I have seen the detective stuff, I wish they had more space stuff though.

My son's school has a giant US flag in the hallway, the best part....4-inch STARS!!!! I asked if I brought my own paper, could I use the die cutter! YES!!! I have know idea what other die cuts they have, defiantly letters & crosses. I can't wait until after spring break.

I don't know what I will do with them, probably use them to list items to be donated. "Fill the sky...."

[lighthousecog]

I was looking through OTC and I came across metallic table cloths. I believe the price was $1.95 for 1 or $9.95 for 12. I was thinking that they could be used for decorating with. You know, some where were you want to have more shine. They also have metallic fringed curtains which would work good in door ways. I have included the links. Hope this helps.

http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=search&No=112&D=metallic&Ne=90000&Ntt=metallic&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%2bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%2bmatchallpartial&event=button.search&N=377320&origin=searchMain.jsp[U]

http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=search&No=0&D=metallic&Ne=90000&Ntt=metallic&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%2bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%2bmatchallpartial&event=button.search&N=377320&origin=searchMain.jsp

[TrinityJen]

I really like these curtains from SSWW, metallic fringed w/ stars.
http://www.ssww.com/store/product/sku=SL8655/cmc=SRCH/v=Y3VydGFpbg%3D%3D/p=1/

I am also thinking of this, we will have music in our movie room and I might just leave it.
http://www.ssww.com/store/product/sku=SL4353/cmc=CRS/