Decorating for VBS week on a budget?

[LoveBWVVBR]

My friend and I have been tasked with decorating for VBS at the church where our kids are in preschool. We're definitely on a pretty small budget (like maybe $100...youth minister hasn't given us an exact figure yet). I *think* that the curriculum is called "Kingdom Rocks" and I know that it's brand new this year so borrowing decor from a church that did the curriculum last year isn't going to happen. Our decor needs to be of the middle ages, and we need to decorate the vestibule (fairly small), Sanctuary (absolutely huge!), and several classrooms (small). Any ideas of how we can do this on a very small budget? Thank you!

 

[pklein09]

Did your church buy the "kit" for VBS, i.e. VBS in a Box? When I was involved with VBS, there were years we used a kit and years we didn't. It seems to me, the kit came with a lot of stuff - from the banner outside to posters to stuff to give the kids. Without knowing the exact focus of the program, I'm at a loss for specifics, but I would try to find out if it's a preplanned program.

Best of luck!

 

[patsal]

When I was doing a Midieval ages unit I found some ideas on ehow, maybe give that a try?
http://www.ehow.com/how_4686734_plan-fun-medieval-theme-party.html

Perhaps you can refine the seach to better meet your needs.

 

[nonstopdisneymom]

I have the same kit and idk how many kids you are planning for but "kingdom rock" is a very expensive vbs to do. I am actually reconsidering doing this publishers vbs for 2014. I priced out buying everything from them and it will run right at $1000 for 150 kids. That's not including te fact that we already have a lot of the game supplies, decorating supplies, and have already purchased the kit ($150). In years past Group (pub of this vbs) has always given alternatives to their crafts. This year, although the crafts (imagination station) range from 60¢- 80¢ per kid per week it really adds up quickly. Plus this year we have omitted using the "dog tag" bible buddies to hand out to he kids. Those alone were going to be $5-600!!

I'll get off my complaint box. I've used them for years because their vbs is the easy and very explanatory. To save money contact some other churches. Sometimes churches in our area plan around each other and pass around the decorations. That alone will not only save you money (appr 2-300) but will save you A LOT of time!! Idk when your vbs starts but you prob need to begin looking at the kit because there's a lot of good information in there about donations, registration, decorations, etc.

 

[lady9]

First decide what you need. Then ask the church members to donate some of the items. My first thought with middle ages is a stone castle back drop. You could make a "stone wall" with paint and a few bed sheets. A wooden frame would support it. You will be amazed at the talent of members of the church, just ask and see who is able to help. Many people can't volunteer the entire week but would be willing to help set up and decorate.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

I have the same kit and idk how many kids you are planning for but "kingdom rock" is a very expensive vbs to do. I am actually reconsidering doing this publishers vbs for 2014. I priced out buying everything from them and it will run right at $1000 for 150 kids. That's not including te fact that we already have a lot of the game supplies, decorating supplies, and have already purchased the kit ($150). In years past Group (pub of this vbs) has always given alternatives to their crafts. This year, although the crafts (imagination station) range from 60¢- 80¢ per kid per week it really adds up quickly. Plus this year we have omitted using the "dog tag" bible buddies to hand out to he kids. Those alone were going to be $5-600!!

I'll get off my complaint box. I've used them for years because their vbs is the easy and very explanatory. To save money contact some other churches. Sometimes churches in our area plan around each other and pass around the decorations. That alone will not only save you money (appr 2-300) but will save you A LOT of time!! Idk when your vbs starts but you prob need to begin looking at the kit because there's a lot of good information in there about donations, registration, decorations, etc.

Oh boy! That is not good news. We are doing VBS the first week in June, so I think we'll be the first ones in the area to even do this curriculum. It's a BIG VBS too. Yikes.

 

[disykat]

We usually only decorate one kind of backdrop spot, either in the sanctuary or area that is used for opening and/or closing, or in a storytelling area.

Then we put some sort of cardboard cutout, prop, or scene near the front door. Some years we've had someone do a plywood scene with cut-outs for faces for a photo op. That's always really popular.

It will be very busy and lots of decor would just get lost in the shuffle, so concentrate on those main areas!

 

[mrsklamc]

I'd think large pieces of cardboard could easily & cheaply be made into stone walls...Also check oriental trading.

 

[FortForever]

I agree to check Oriental Trading. I didn't see that specific theme there, but they they do have Mighty Kingdom stuff that may tie in.

Even if you don't end up buying stuff, it may give you ideas of things you can make.

Also, check out these photos for some ideas.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We don't over decorate for VBS. We would rather redirect that money into other parts of the program. With 100.00 you are going to have to think small scale. Still look to borrow anything you can. Churches in the area may have done a similar themed program in the past. Ask schools and local theaters. Look to church members that might have contacts. Ask anyone with talent to draw murals, ask for donations from church member's and be creative!

 

[soccerchick]

Do you have a pre-school at your church? Could you ask them to do some sort of craft that could double as a decoration? What comes to mind is a block/rock per kid. Sunday school classes could also help with this. Make it like a count down calendar - each week the wall gets higher.


Our church plans with others in the county to use the same program and share props. we also use Oriental Traders to save money on crafts.

As we get closer to VBS, each group leader makes index cards of needed supplies. We display these on a board and church members take a card or two, buy the needed item, and return it for VBS.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I always love to decorate on a budget. I usually allot about $25 max for the room.

Reuse and repurpose. We are doing The Lifeway Coaster one so I know they have a lot of ideas already on their website and pintrest.

Look on pintrest. Also do you have a Midevial Times by you. I know we have lots of stuff from them. How about the old Fisher Price Castle, good room decoration.

Easier, grey paint and cardboard, etc. Look at the dollar store etc.
Grey plastic tablecothes etc.

Best of luck.

 

[carymomof3]

Check around your area and see if any other churches are using that curriculum for their VBS. At the end of our VBS week, other churches come and pick up our decorations for use in their VBS. It saves us some of the clean-up and everything gets more use!

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

When we decorate for VBS and other events, we use a lot of foam board - it's something like $30/sheet at Home Depot. We also use a lot of stiff brown paper - the kind you get on big rolls.

Some other ideas that came to me:

You could make a big "rock" wall out of styrofoam blocks- get church members to save packing material for you and carve them into rock shapes, paint with spray paint and make into a wall.

Check Lowe's or Home Depot for incorrectly-mixed paints. Sometimes they sell them cheap. Ask for paint donations from church members - odds and ends they've saved from home painting projects.

Beg and borrow. If you have a Hobby Lobby, sometimes they'll lend items for decoration. I know my sister needed a bunch of Christmas trees for a musical one year and HL loaned her quite a few for a mention in the program. The year we did Saddle Ridge Ranch (Lifeway), a local boot store loaned us their "covered wagon" replica to use on stage.

Good luck and have fun! We do a very big VBS every year, too. I fully expect to see a functioning roller coaster in our sanctuary this summer.

 

[jmartinez1895]

This is a popular theme this year. I am the children director at our church and this is the one we have selected this year. We are a good sized church and plan on about 200 kids and the church has given me 1500 for decorating.
If you have the option, plan you VBS for later in the summer or the first week of Aug. You will have higher attendance because most people are done traveling and all the other churches in your area will be done with VBS. Also, once you see a church that is doing your theme before you, call them and ask if you can borrow the decorations. We have a small church in our area that comes and gets our decorations and then brings them back each year. It is a win win. They get to use our stuff which cost them nothing and I don;t have to take it all down.

 

[nonstopdisneymom]

This is a popular theme this year. I am the children director at our church and this is the one we have selected this year. We are a good sized church and plan on about 200 kids and the church has given me 1500 for decorating.
.

You have 1500 for JUST decorating?? $1500 is my budget for the whole thing and we have 150 kids. Can I have your budget?

 

[jmartinez1895]

You have 1500 for JUST decorating?? $1500 is my budget for the whole thing and we have 150 kids. Can I have your budget?

This took a lot of begging to get. The church board said they wanted it bigger and better than before so I said ok, but .......

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

You have 1500 for JUST decorating?? $1500 is my budget for the whole thing and we have 150 kids. Can I have your budget?

I'd be willing to SPLIT your budget with the other poster and I'd still have more than enough If I had $1500 to decorate with, I wouldn't even be looking for "budget" ideas. I'd be ordering out of Oriental Trading and going to the party store

 

[ekatiel]

I second the idea of using foam insultation board from Home Depot. We are doing the Coaster VBS (and our church is hosting an area VBS preview in jsut a few weeks!!, so we've already been planning decorations). Here's a link to the kind of foam board we will be using for our coaster backdrop: http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/100572981?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=foam+board+insulation&storeId=10051&N=5yc1v&R=100572981#.UT8t5hyG2So --This stuff is sturdy, but we're going to have to prime it to take paint.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/100320356?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=foam+board+insulation&storeId=10051&N=5yc1v&R=100320356#.UT8uFhyG2So This stuff is flimsier, but you don't need to prime it.
Since we're using the board upright (8 feet high), we're going with the sturdier stuff we'll have to prime. Anyhow, you can do a nice 8X12 castle back drop for about $30 by putting three of these together. --Katie

 

[MichelleinMaine]

This is a popular theme this year. I am the children director at our church and this is the one we have selected this year. We are a good sized church and plan on about 200 kids and the church has given me 1500 for decorating.
.

Holy toledo! I run VBS (and Sunday school) for about 50 kids and my annual budget's only $2000. That's awesome you get that sort of backing. Definately a low budget production here.

OP- as an FYI, VBS kits always come out new each year (ie the various themes). I've also chosen Kingdom Rocks. I'm actually going to use some decorating materials I got last year for "Babylon". My assembly backdrop for that one was the palace, so the plastic stone "backdrop" is getting recycled to use as the Kingdom Rocks castle. The nursery school in our church also has alot of castle themed stuff I can borrow. I saw some decorating stuff in the S&S catalog today and I'm sure Oriental Trading will have some stuff. ("Kings and knights" a WHOLE lot more generic theme than some of the other ones!)
As for the cost of the program, I only get the starter kit. It has all the books, program guides, etc. (Usually a few samples of other things. Truthfully I've not looked at the KR one yet.) We buy craft supplies on our own (sometimes we need to adapt the craft). We do not get any of the themed take away items, just not in the budget.