Customized Water Bottles for Jungle Safari VBS

I have now been the VBS Coordinator for my church three years and I have learned a lot and mostly the hard way.  The first year, I kind of followed what the previous Coordinator did and when it came to the snack site, we had giant drink coolers with the little spigot that would leak and cups.  My experience was that it would make a huge mess and never mind the trash!

So last year I bought plain white water bottles with orange caps from Discount Mugs and used a sharpie to write on the child's name.  Then they were sorted into buckets and refilled each afternoon and kept in the fridge over night.  The kids loved them and didn't make any mess or trash.  They also got to take them home at the end of VBS.

This year, I had Miss V pick out a smaller sized bottle and the colors.  She picked out teal bottles with black caps.  When I opened them, I had a small panic attack....Black Sharpie would not show up on the dark bottles.  So I went to googling ideas. I have a Cricut Expression 2 and looked at hundreds of blogs to weigh the pros and cons.

Well I concluded that using contact paper instead of expensive vinyl would work for our bottles.  I also saw that using cheap dollar store clear shelf liner works just as well if not better than expensive transfer tape.

Now....for the contact paper, I thought of just plain white and I know I have a roll somewhere.  Well....I cannot find it anywhere!  So off to Walmart we go and I found Zebra striped adhesive contact paper!  Woo hoo!

So I downloaded and installed Cricut Craft Room and got to playing. 

I used my Mickey Font since it is a nice thick font and will show up the zebra pattern better.  I then took a deep breath and cut a 12x12 sheet and started cutting....

Looks good so far!  Now time to transfer the names to the water bottles.  I just cut a strip of the clear contact paper and used my Cricut tools to scrape/press the names on.

This went very well, but....I used Standard Grip mats (the green ones) and it was a bit hard to get the extra paper off of them.  I went to Hobby Lobby and picked up a Light Grip mat (light blue) and that worked so much better!!!  I will go back and pick up a few more.  

Each group had their own bucket with their water bottles.  The kids really enjoyed the water bottles and one mom even told me how her son couldn't wait to come back because he had his own drink with his name on it. 

As much as I would love to have the bottle imprinted with the theme logo and church info, it is just to expensive and I don't have that kind of extra money in my budget.  I do think this is a great alternative.

Jungle Safari, Registration area sign

So this morning, I am working on signs.  The first one is our registration sign in/out table.  This is also where kids will be picking up their t-shirts.

I wanted something that goes along with the theme, so I figured Base Camp would be good.

You will need:
Foam Core Board (can be used or dirty)
Roll of brown paper (found at Dollar Tree)
Roll of wood looking shelf liner (found at Dollar tree)
Funky paper
Cricut (optional, you can cut letters out manually)
Tape
Black Sharpie
Scrapbook Glue stick, my favorite is EK Success ZIG Glue

First cover one side with the brown paper and wrap it onto the back and use a good strong clear packing tape to tape the paper to the back side of the foam core.  Then cut strips of the wood looking shelf liner.  Place it on the paper to make it look almost like and old shipping box.

I used my Mickey Font and cut the letters out at 4.25 inch.  I used some animal print scrapbook paper.  Since the letters were 4.25 inch, it required two sheets of paper.  When done, I glued them on the brown paper.

With a black sharpie add four little dots on the strips to make it look like nails.  You can also outline the vertical strips with the sharpie.

VBS Themes....smells and sounds

One thing I love about Standard Publishing is each year's theme.  They are always so easy to work with.

The first year that I volunteered, was Inside Out and Upside Down on Main Street and I ran the Brown Bag Bistro site, which was the snack site.  Maybe because I am a Disney freak, when I think of something the idea of what it smells like comes to me. When I leader for the Brown Bag Bistro, I had a tart warmer in the window of the church kitchen.  Kids couldn't get to it and it was electric so there wasn't a flame.  I had a blueberry scone tart and the whole area smelled like cute little bistro.

The second year was Adventures on Promise Island and I had a coconut tart in the Coconut Cafe' and kids kept saying it smelled like a tropical island.  I loaded up my little Sansa Fuze with all sorts of tropical bird sounds.

Last year was God's Backyard Bible Camp Under the Stars. Oh this one I had fun with!  I would switch between Campfire Treat, Summer Scoop, and Green Grass.  I found all sorts of bird calls, crickets, bat, owl hooting sounds and loaded my Fuze and had it hidden in some greenery near where the Backyard Food and Fun site was.  Kids would look all around for the birds and other animals.

This year's theme is Jungle Safari, Where Kids Explore the Nature of God.  I haven't decided what what kind of scents to use. I have found more jungle sounds like frogs, monkeys, orangutans, macaw and toucans.

Feel free to check out my Jungle Safari board on Pinterest.

VBS Jungle Safari Binoculars for our Bouncy Beetles

I am the VBS Coordinator for my church.  I love finding cute DIY ideas to go along with the theme.  Pinterest is my FAVORITE place to find inspiration.  I have a Board dedicated to Jungle Safari, Where Kids Explore the Nature of God.

This year's theme is so fun!!!

I found a cute idea on how to make Binoculars.  I am always saving toilet paper tubes and I think it drives my family nuts.

Anyway you will need:
Toilet Paper Tubs
Black Spray Paint
Black Yarn
Funky duct tape
Hot Glue Gun

First you want to glue two tubes together and let dry.

Then spray the tubes with black spray paint.  I just did a quick single coat.  They weren't as dark as I liked and you could still see where the paper was attached.  I don't really think it will matter to the kids and I even asked my trusty assistant Miss V and she said it was fine.

I then measured out a piece of yarn and glued it to the side of the tubes and let cool.  Then take duct tape and wrap it around and smooth the best you can.  I found that starting it in the crease between the two tubes was best and ended it there too.

So now I have 23 pair of binoculars!  Miss V thinks they are adorable!  I guess you could paint them any color and even fun bright colors to go along with the Jungle Safari Logo!

Thanks for Helping Me Grow Teacher Gift

Miss V has a Resource Teacher who is beyond incredible.  She has worked with us for many years and we just love her so much and appreciates how much she goes above and beyond.

Miss V wanted to get her something different than the other teachers.  She finally decided on a plant and we walked around Home Depot for 30 minutes looking for the perfect "happy" looking plant.

Miss V spotted this lantana, I think it is called Dallas Red Lantana.

The pictures are really dark since it was still dark out when I took the picture.  The ribbon around it is actually neon pink and lime green.

The saying says:  Thank you for helping me grow this year.  I forgot to go to the dollar store to pickup a a cheap ruler to attach the note to.  So I quickly used a digital scrapbook kit and printed one out and attached it to a bamboo skewer.

Miss V's teacher loved it and has started planting flowers that will attract butterflies.

Teacher Gifts for Year End

Miss V loves giving her teachers homemade gifts and I think her favorite is a cup filled with drink mixes.

The cups are only about $4.97 at Walmart and we bought a bunch of boxes of the individual drink powders.  She loves picking out different patterned cups.

This year for the saying I used a digital scrapbook kit that had a cute little composition book.  I added the text layer in different colors picked by Miss V.  I printed them on a 4x6 photo paper and trimmed off the white edges. Punched a hole into it and used curling ribbon to attach it to the bag.

Now the bags...don't go crazy finding gift bags.  Hobby Lobby sells bags in the paper crafting section.  There are a dozen for I think 9.99 and they are pretty!!!

American Girl Doll Chef Set #2

Miss V loved the Chef set that I made yesterday for Kathleen and then asked where Marie-Grace's was?  I explained that I would make one for her today.

So here she is and I think she looks like she is ready for a backyard BBQ.

I made sure the pattern on the oven mitt would look ok.  No cut off Mickey Mouse.

 Here are both girls with their new chef sets.  Looks like I might have to make some new foods for them and even a cookie sheet or something.

So how do you think they came out?

American Girl Doll Chef Set

So earlier this year, I joined a Sewing Group for American Girl Dolls on yahoo.  Well they have a monthly sew along and this month was an 18 Inch Doll Chef Set.  The pattern is a freebie.

It has finally warmed up and my thumbs aren't hurting so I decided to get going since there are only a couple more days in January.

I actually had a hard time picking out what fabrics that I wanted to use.  At first I was going with an apple and solid red and it just wasn't working.  It didn't look fun...

Then I remembered I had some cute stripe and polka dot fabrics left over from a project years ago.  I used to make some little embellished overalls for Miss V's JoJo Circus party.

Anyway here we go!

I think the set came out cute and I really can't wait for Miss V to see Kathleen in her new set.  This also means I need to make a set for Marie-Grace.

American Girl Doll Quilts update, five and they are complete!

So this weekend I finished both quilts for Miss V's American Dolls.  I used the tutorial from That's My Letter.

I used yellow binding on Kathleen's and orange on Marie Grace's.  Now I need to make some sheets and pillow cases.

Now that I am finished with these, I realized that are much easier to make than I first thought.  I think it would be cute next Christmas to make some Christmas themed ones.  I do think I would maybe make the squares 4 inches and make them a little larger.

Miss V was so excited to see them after they were washed and dried.  It certainly softened the cotton up a lot.  I was thrilled that they didn't shred in the wash and fall apart everywhere.  If that happened I probably would have fell apart too.  It was a lot of work, but so worth it to see how happy Miss V is with them.

American Girl Doll Quilts, update four

So I added an extra row so it would drape down further on the side of the bed.  I also cut out the batting and white flannel for the backing.  Assembled it all and now just have to add the binding, which I will have to get this weekend.  Miss V has been home sick since Tuesday.

 The backing kind of moved a bit so it is a little puckered in a couple places, but I don't think it really matters to much.

American Girl Doll Bed Quilts update, three

It has taken me almost all day but I finished the front part!  Woo Hoo!

Kathleen wanted to try it out for size.

Looks good, but not hanging over the sides enough for my liking.  I might see if I can add another column.  I think 8 squares by 8 squares would be better.

I still need to add the batting and backing tomorrow.  I am such a dope and used up the bias tape for the dog beds so I can run to Hobby Lobby and pick some more up tomorrow.

Miss V said it looks fantastic and even gave me a big hug and thank you.

American Girl Doll Bed Quilts, update two

Well I read and reread the first tutorial and that had me freaked out a bit.  I had pinned another tutorial and I read and reread that one and it made more sense to me.  You can find it at That's My Letter.

I cut all the strips out and before I cut them into the squares, I figured I could ask for opinions.  Which order do you think the squares should be in.

 I really would love to hear your ideas!

American Girl Doll Bed Quilts

So my next project is to make two quilts.  I found inspiration at BlogHer.  I had Miss V pick out 7 coordinating (or her version of coordinating) fabrics at Hobby Lobby.  Can I just say how much I love Hobby Lobby's Fabric and that calicos are 30% off?

Left to Right:
Solid White
Orange Brush Stroke
Orange with dark orange, yellow and white dots
Orange with white polka dots
Orange, darker orange, yellow and white chevron pattern
Yellow brush stroke
Solid yellow

Each quilt calls for 1/8 of each fabric and I bought 1/2 yard of each.  Now I have to figure out how to cut it all down.  ACK!!!!!!!  I am so nervous,  I have never quilted or done anything this hard before.

I am sure it is going to take me a few days to figure this out.

Does anyone have any advice?????

Snuggly Pet Bed number 2

I attempted to make another Snuggly Pet Bed last night.  I watched a great tutorial on Double Fold Bias Tape on YouTube.  Oh wow that made so much more sense.  By the way, I found some pretty awful tutorials, like the woman who didn't want her face on camera so she put her face on a sticker then glued it to a stick and narrated the video that way.

Anyway......

While I was sewing it started to get dark out and I don't have an overhead light in our dining room yet and Miss V saw that I was squinting and went and got a lamp from her desk.  She plugged it in and turned it on for me.  She is such a good girl.

Chocolate Chip and Meatloaf really like their new beds and Miss V is beyond happy that her doggies are happy.

Snuggly Pet Bed

Well I had been searching for a dog bed pattern for Miss V's little American Doll pets.  I found one but it is no longer sold on Liberty Jane.  I did find it on Etsy.

I had never worked with bias tape before and messed it up.  Of course afterwards I found some good tutorials and some wacked out tutorials on YouTube.  So I think the next one will look a little better.  Miss V said that Meatloaf really likes his new bed.