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| |  Posted 7/1/2007 10:59:28 AM | |
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| | Amen!! These characters are actually started in May and that photo I just shared was a little old. Currently, there are 3 characters paper mached and when I have the other two done, I'll be sure to post a pic! Beth |
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| | | Posted 7/1/2007 12:04:49 PM | |
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| I have a crazy question, what do you use to stand your foam buddies up, this is the first year for me to do the buddies on styrafoam. Teresa <><
Teresa from Ohio |
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| | | Posted 7/1/2007 12:25:21 PM | |
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| | We put our characters in front of the sanctuary in the vestibule. When it's a particular bible buddy's day, we move them to the stage and the people in charge of the dancing, singing, and acting can then encorporate them into the story. By the last day of bible school, all of the characters are on stage. We do have a big church though and it may not be possible for everyone. We had 550 kids last year and of course this year we are hoping for much more! Beth |
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| | | Posted 7/2/2007 1:24:39 PM | |
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| | Since a lot of people are PMing me about how to make these characters, I thought I'd just share here on the message board. Here are the steps to creating these characters: First, I take an overhead projector and transparencies of the characters and trace the character images on plywood. My husband cuts them out with a saw and a first layer of foam is added. Several other layers of foam are added in places according to what area it is. We use "Great Stuff" spray foam to glue the foam layers to each other. I found this in the paint aisle but I think it is also in the insulation aisle. I cut the foam with a hot knife and just kinda "eyeball" it to make sure it looks like the character. Then after all of the areas are cut, my newest step is to sand it with a belt sander so that it is extra smooth. Paper mache is now added to the foam exterior. Getting this as smooth as possible is my goal. If there were another way to cover the foam instead of paper mache, I'd love to know! I make paper mache out of 2/3 part elmer's glue and 1/3 water. You can make it thicker or thinner if you want. Too watery and it won't stick well and will be too weak. Too thick and it will be too hard to work with. My husband makes the stands out of 2"x2" boards. He uses 3 boards and 2 hinges for each. I have no idea how he does this, he just does! He tries to hide the stands behind the characters whenever possible. I then spray paint the bigger areas and for the smaller ones, I paint with a paintbrush and acrylic paint. Again, I kinda "eyeball" it to make sure they look like the real characters. I seal it all with clear spray paint. This whole process takes about a month to do and with my bad back, I have to take several days in between to recouperate. I actually start this in May to have it completed by July! It is all done outside with the mess, fumes, etc so I have to do it according to the weather as well. Hope this helps! Beth |
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| | | Posted 7/2/2007 2:40:25 PM | |
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| | Absolutely beautiful! I can't imagine how much work goes into it. What happens to them when VBS is over? |
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| | | Posted 7/2/2007 2:52:35 PM | |
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| | We've got them in various places in the church. Someone else painted a nature scene behind the ones for Serengeti Trek and they hang in different places in the hallway in the pre-school wing. The ones from Fiesta are also in that wing but a different part of it. We have something called "Sonrise" for the 4 year olds through Kindergarten which is a child sized version of our worship service - geared to fidgety kids! The Sun was an obvious choice to decorate the outside of that room. We lent the Lava Lava Island ones (the first year's characters) to 3 other churches. Unfortunately, they didn't come back to us in the same shape they went out! Pastor Billy still uses these as target practice for the kids when they have water gun fun. At least they are going to good use! We are really hoping that Group does a beach themed one next year. Our 1st-3rd grade wing is called the Coast and we already have a surfboard on the wall. We'd love a seagull, etc to decorate it more!! C'mon Group!!  Beth |
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| | | Posted 7/6/2007 7:15:37 PM | |
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| | | Posted 7/7/2007 9:51:36 AM | |
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| | I finally have an update photo or two for you on the progress of the characters. We are having our bible school on July 23rd-27th so we are heading into home stretch. On to the spray paint! Here is paper mache in progress: 
Here they all are with paper mache completed! (Shadow is still drying) 
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| | | Posted 7/7/2007 5:38:00 PM | |
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| Those are really cool! Do you keep them each year and your garage gets smaller and smaller?  I would hate to get rid of them after all that work! |
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| | | Posted 7/7/2007 7:01:14 PM | |
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| | LOL! No, the church pays for all the materials and then they hang them in different parts of the church. I actually got to spray paint two of them today between rain showers. Boy we really needed rain here in Va Beach! I didn't mind stopping for that a bit! Beth |
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