I found this Christian stencil company online that sells a pineapple stencil. Go to:
https://www.faithfulleeyours.com/store/product.php?prod...16156&cat=250&page=2
for $15.00 you can decorate tons of backdrops. We are going to use it on muslin and decorate the back walls of our craft cabana and snack shack.

an idea came to me for a cheap backdrop too. an ocean scene would be fun to do too, especially in a hallway. you can buy cheap blue tablecloths at dollar tree and they even carry seashell and fish shower non slip pads you can use instead of paper ones. all you have to do is spray them with a little water and they will stick to almost anything. plus if kids pick at them they won't tear them up and preschoolers can't eat them either!

We have often used plastic colored tablecloths from the dollar store which are light weight. If you are not artistic, then photocopy a picture like the fruitstand from the downloadable files, onto a transparency. Then move your overhead projector back far enough to get the picture the proper size for the room and trace and paint.

I've never had any luck with painting on plastic tablecloths. I've tried acrylic and latex paint. The paint peels off when it dries. Any ideas on how to get the paint to stick? I've used permanent markers in the past, but it takes forever to do a backdrop.

Cardboard is great to paint. you can usually get it donated free from a local cardboard company and it comes in large sheets (10 ft x 10 ft).

quote:

Originally posted by chulabagula:
I've never had any luck with painting on plastic tablecloths. I've tried acrylic and latex paint. The paint peels off when it dries. Any ideas on how to get the paint to stick? I've used permanent markers in the past, but it takes forever to do a backdrop.

I use white sheets to paint on for backdrops. Buy them cheap at Big Lots,etc. or try thrift stores, yard sales, donations. Acrylic, tempera, spray paint and sharpies all work very well. Tempera will run however if it gets wet, the rest won't.
This also provides a very flexible work surface that is not big and bulky like cardboards. It can be folded up and put away easily when not in use.

Thanks Starry, I'll check out Big Lots. It would be nice to be able to save the backdrop for other occasions like a luau. Don't you just love this theme?

In His Love,
Chulabagula

I found a ocean backdrop at Pary City that was around $15.00.

This year I purchased lightweight canvas a fabric store. We used it for our Passion play backdrop and will use it for VBS WR backdrop. The ladies that painted it did an excellent job, and it can be rolled up and reused! It is a bit more epensive than the shower curtain idea/paper, but so much time goes into painting these backdrops--I figure yeah it's a bit more expensive now, but I can use it again in a couple years for an island themed VBS, other churches in my association will use it this year, if we do anything 'luau' we have a backdrop... (they use acrylics)

luvin-
That sounds like what I do- I paint with acrylics on white bed sheets (that are usually donated by medical place)... They are done in acrylic so as to be reused by any other thing with a similar theme. If I want to add the logo, I do it on a separate sheet pin it to the larger backdrop. It can be removed so the backdrop is reusable without a logo. This method has worked very well for us over the past few years..
And for fun I always ''hide'' a very tiny painting of the youth minister who once claimed he didnt notice a backdrop 5 sheets wide, somewhere in the painting to see if he notices. So far he has not and he stands right in front of his smaller self on the Sunday before VBS. Someone always has to show him.
I also hide a cross somewhere to see if the kids notice. I always ask them in crafts class if they noticed anything.. The kids really love this and think it is fun. They also often add their own crosses to their craft.

i ordered a cool backdrop and props from christianarea.com the backdrop was $11 i think which goes well with the lifeway backdrop. i also saw a bamboo backdrop which stirred around a lot of ideas. the dollar store has a few luau things too.

I've posted this in other places but it's a good deal in case you missed it: Party City has Scene Setters with a luau theme. They are 50 FEET long (4 ft tall) and are only $20. Designs are:
Beach
Tropical Paradise (sunset)
Beach with flowers/plants
Ocean water (Recreation Reef)
Coral Reef (Recreation Reef)
Bamboo (Bible Beach Huts !!!)

they also have the window views that can stick on the bamboo to make the Bible Beach Hut.. 2.99/pk 3... We plan to cut the bamboo so we can do several rooms.
These are great backdrops with no painting!!

Help! I'm not a good decorater...this is ALL so overwhelming to me. I am doing 5th graders this year for the first time. For the past several years I did 5 year olds...so they were happy with any kind of decorating. Can anyone help me get my creative juices flowing for decorating the BIBLE BEACH HUT for a 5th grade classroom. Also, if you have any tips for dealing with this age group...I would love to hear from you. Thanks!!!

quote:

Originally posted by starry:

quote:

Originally posted by chulabagula:
I've never had any luck with painting on plastic tablecloths. I've tried acrylic and latex paint. The paint peels off when it dries. Any ideas on how to get the paint to stick? I've used permanent markers in the past, but it takes forever to do a backdrop.

I use white sheets to paint on for backdrops. Buy them cheap at Big Lots,etc. or try thrift stores, yard sales, donations. Acrylic, tempera, spray paint and sharpies all work very well. Tempera will run however if it gets wet, the rest won't.
This also provides a very flexible work surface that is not big and bulky like cardboards. It can be folded up and put away easily when not in use.

quote:

Originally posted by miles1:
Help! I'm not a good decorater...this is ALL so overwhelming to me. I am doing 5th graders this year for the first time. For the past several years I did 5 year olds...so they were happy with any kind of decorating. Can anyone help me get my creative juices flowing for decorating the BIBLE BEACH HUT for a 5th grade classroom. Also, if you have any tips for dealing with this age group...I would love to hear from you. Thanks!!!

Love 5th& 6th graders!!! How about decorating your doorway as an entrance to the hut. Inside use beach towels on the floor for seating. have some windows on the wall, looking out to the ocean. Have a tape player in the corner playing ocean sounds very low. If you have to use tables, put them on the floor or on concret blocks, so they are also low.

This age group loves to help. Decide what you are doing each day and have a "helper" for everything. They love "rewards", gum, candy, stickers. Have fun with them. Let them act or draw or whatever. They love it. Let them laugh at you for doing something silly. Hug them often, look them in the eye, smile a lot. They will love you!!!

Thank you so much for your help! This is exactly the information I needed to know. I am getting SO excited! Our VBS starts next monday. Thanks again...May God bless you for your goodness!!!

This is also info other people need

THANK YOU FOR SPARKING ALL OF OUR CREATIVE JUICES!!!!!I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT V.B.S. TOO!!!
GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOUR DECORATING

I wish all of you the best of luck to all who have not had there vbs