Here is our advise.

• Don't trace and cut out each individual beaker from foam.  There are 80 total to create the wall as shown on the dvd and we spent at least an hour for each individual beaker.  The time to 1-trace with the overhead, 2-cut it out with the hot knife, and then 3-painting each one, was way more time then we ever would have committed to, had we known what we were in for starting out.  I would create the same look on a flat backdrop and eliminate all the cutting and edges around each beaker that need to be painted.
• The sizes of the beakers made them difficult to project to the correct size using an overhead projector.  An overhead projector works best for items that need to be blown up larger.  We had 3 projectors to choose from at our church, and only one was able to focus as close as we needed to get the right size, and then we could only use it for the very tallest images.  We created templates on 11x17 inch paper using the copy machine to enlarge the images to the correct size.
• Don't waste time painting white foam with white paint as recommended in the video.  Once it is outlined in black paint or black sharpie pen the color "pops".  We used a black jumbo marker to fill in all the black on the fronts, and used black paint on the edges and where-ever a marker couldn't reach.  We used several markers since they dry out quickly, but saved a lot of time.
• For the beakers on the table we just painted photocopies and will spraymount them to foamcore and stand them up with a cardboard stand, similar to a cardboard photo frame.
• Buy as many posters as your budget will allow, since you have now used all your decorating time and energy creating the stage.  The classrooms, hallways, and entry will have to be simple and easy!!

Have you had problems printing off the clip art CD?? I've had numerous issues with printing--it asks me to save in a new type of file but still won't print.

Hands on ideas are great.  they hit home so much better than words alone.  Touch feel hear smell taste.  let them get involved!

big beakers at the entrance, if you cannot afford the foam cardboard would work.  you can kinda curve it to give it some dimension.  bubble machines inside like they are bubbling over.  they are rather cheap right now.  you could also do a big sign with an arrow

^ life change area ahead

i see people purchasing the twist (dna strands)  you can also make you own by recyling bottles and cutting circular spirals down the container.  or use sturofoam balls and pipe cleaners to make atoms.  with a little imagination and paint the options are limitless really.  in college i was an art major and our teacher would send us to the local newspaper to get the ends of the rolls they used for printing.  they were free at the time.  that was only 5 years ago so i cannot imagine that they would charge a fortune.  paint murals to hang up temporarily.  use crayons if paint is not an option.  i love this age group because they are so easy to wow.

  if you have someone in your church that works for a flooring company or a hardware store they are often able to get their hands on what would other wise be thrown out. pallets boxes cardboard tubes from rolls of carpet(i used to work at menards can you tell?).  garage sales are also great along with city clean up days.

just make it your own.  we shaped the beakers on the shelves to be like the character for the day.  the bottles for day one are test tubed shapes like fizz.  day 2 an upside down lightbulb, day three a curved flask day four looks like just a beaker with a spout on top and day five a flat bottomed lightening bolt with spray foam pouring over the top.  you do not need the expensive foam.  we are using 3/4inch foam core (once they are on the shelves you cannot tell anyway.)  we are also putting a stand on the scientists table(just using the communion table nothing special made) and attatching one of each of the five bottles like they are pouring in to a big bowl.  you need all the qualities expressed to have a complete life. you need thankfulness and helpfulness you need to be brave and believe that He does give eternal life-and you need to tell others the good news too.  the older kids are having work days and coming to paint.  it is fun to see them get excited about it too.

we have about 3 weeks left, but the excitment meter is about to burst.  i am thankful for this website.  people sharing-take the ideas add your own.

Cassandra

Fashion is General-Style is individual!  Use the talents God has blessed you with. You might suprise yourself!

I haven't had any problems...it downloaded straight onto my desktop and everything has been accesible. 

I'm sorry for all of you that have had problems...it really has been a fun tool for me this year.

Here is what we did for our main area (located in our church gym):

1.  Shelves made out of 4' by 8' and 1 1/2" styrofoam.  We cut out rectangles to give the "shelf" look.  Painted the shelves a bright purple.  I know some people painted their shelves and beakers "flat"--but this didn't really take much time and looks great.

2.  Took the rectangle cutouts and made our beakers out of them--painted them similar to the dvd recommendations but only used 12 per shelf.  Painting them went very quickly.  Then to attach, we used liquid nail. 

3.  Made the words (eternity, etc) out of scrap styro and attached with liquid nail--we did paint the white styro white because it really does look better.

4.  For the table, we cut styro to fit, and painted it orange.  For legs, we use the cement cardboard tubes, sliced in half, and painted white.

5.  We made both signs (warning & power lab) as recommended in the video.  They look fantastic.

6.  We purchased the tin paper from Group and will use it behind our shelves and to the side of the lab.  When I saw people in the video carry tin with heavy duty gloves I knew right away that was not for me!

7.  We painted all 5 characters on large styro sheets and they look great.  We like the posters but everyone at our church is use to these characters painted.

8.  We have old rolling blackboards at church that we painted with tinted chalkboard paint--they will be on either side of our stage.

9.  We always hang our crew station numbers from the ceiling in our gym.  This year we made 36 lightbulbs in 6 different colors (for 36 crews).  We made them out of poster size foam core, cut them out, and painted them.  We put huge eyeballs, gl, crazy hair, and bow ties on them (like the little craft shown at Oriental Trading).  Very easy, cheap, and dramatic.

So, our main area is done.  Our VBS starts on June 23--we are so far ahead and very happy about that.  Everyone who comes into our work area loves the set.  Even our church administrator.  So dramatic.  Really not much time or money--and easy enough for anyone.

I hope next year's video is much simpler and uses easy to find items.  I just don't understand why they had us build a table.  What church doesn't have an old table to cover!

Suebeth in Edina