Grab your glitter and glue guns, fellow craft crusaders!

It’s that time of year again when Vacation Bible School turns your church into a whirlwind of creativity, laughter, and glittery chaos!

We've seen our fair share of VBS shenanigans, and let me tell you, there's nothing quite like watching a group of kids transform a pile of popsicle sticks into a masterpiece fit for the Louvre (aka their parent's fridge). So we've compiled our favorite VBS crafts you can use for VBS 2024!

VBS Craft #1 - Frisbee Tic-Tac-Toe

Grab an old bed sheet and some duct tape! Have the kids create a simple three-by-three grid on the sheet. Then hand them frisbees to play Frisbee tic-tac-toe!

This article has lots of other great ideas. The toppling tug-of-war is great for a small classroom with only a few kids. But the squirt bottle tag is hilarious and a very low-cost option for when you need to get a lot of kids active!

VBS Craft #2 - Stained Glass Window Suncatchers

This fun VBS craft for kids is perfect for getting them to sit quietly for a while. Hang these in the classroom window to add a pop of color throughout the rest of the week!

Take this craft up a notch and pick designs that go with the VBS theme so that kids will be reminded of the lessons they learned during their time with you!

VBS Craft #3 - Tin Can Bowling

With just some old tin cans, your kids can hit the lanes and take a shot at the pin cans! For extra fun, have the kids paint the tin cans beforehand to add a pop of color to game time.

There's a fun, outdoor activity for everyone in this article!

VBS Craft #4 - Hula Hoop Bean Bag Challenge

What do you get when you mix a room full of kids with hula hoops and bean bags? That's right! A fun game of hula hoop-bean bag tossing Bible trivia!

Place hula hoops on the floor, mark a starting line, and place point values inside each hula hoop or ring. Ask the teams your top Bible trivia questions, and when someone answers a question correctly, they get to toss a bean bag at the rings for points!

VBS Craft #5 - Pipe Ball Toss

All you need for this one is some CVC pipe and zip ties. I promise it's more kid-friendly than it sounds!

Just cut the piping into various heights (optional: paint them fun colors), connect them with the zip ties, grab some tennis balls, and the kids can take a shot at tossing tennis balls into the pipes for points!

VBS Craft #6 - Garden Windchime

Ting-ling-ling! This is a great activity to get kids excited about displaying their artwork outside their homes or even in the church garden.

Take it a step further and incorporate colors or themes from the VBS lesson so the kids are reminded of it every time they hear it chime in the wind!

VBS Craft #7 - DIY Obstacle Course

From pool noodles, cones, and hula hoops to logs, tree stumps, and stepping stones you can create an obstacle course right outside! The great thing about this option is you can DIY obstacles, but also find them right in your church's own backyard.

Create a course for the kids to run, jump, and crawl through. The fastest person to complete the course, or the first team to complete it wins!

VBS Craft #8 - Playdough or Sidewalk Chalk Pictionary

This is where your kid's inner Picasso will really shine! I'm picturing playdough Goliath, chalky Jonah, the whale, and so many more fun, creative, designs right on your church's sidewalk.

While teams draw and create Biblical stories, teams earn points by guessing each illustration correctly.

VBS Craft #9 - Pool Noodle Jousting

Maybe this is an activity they would have done at a VBS in the Middle Ages?! You can host your first VBS jousting competition with just some pool noodles and sturdy stools or boxes!

Each player will stand on their box and joust with the other team. The player who falls off of the stool first loses the round. May the best jouster (not to be confused with jesters in those days) win!

VBS Craft #10 - Prayer Jars

Grab the glitter, ribbon, stickers, and paint... we're making prayer jars! This is a great indoor activity to help kids understand the importance of prayer, and maybe even use this time as an opportunity to pray together with the kids.

All you need is mason jars, jumbo craft sticks, and all the decorating essentials. Check out this article for other unique ideas like gratitude and blessing jars!

VBS Craft #11 - Water Balloon Toss

Who doesn't love a good ole' water balloon toss? Well, probably every kid's ministry/VBS leader out there! But what if I told you there's a way you can use a water balloon without at least one kid getting hit in the face, or some other likely injury in the name of fun?

This water balloon toss contest is safe and plenty of fun! All you'll need is a foam board from the Dollar Store, and some lids to trace for targets. Once you have your supplies, you can DIY your target board with markers or paint.

Then let the kids take turns and let the balloon fly for the most points!

VBS Craft #12 - Indoor Beach Ball Games: Catch and Do

Imagine one kid jumping up and down, another barking like a dog, and one hopping on one foot... ALL at the SAME time!

Write instructions on each different color of the balloon and have the kids toss the beach ball back and forth. Each time they catch the beach ball they have to act out the instructions on that color!

The best part is that they have to keep acting until they catch the ball again!

VBS Craft #13 - Mosaic Cross

What a fun craft to serve as a beautiful reminder of God's love for us! These mosaic crosses are a very low-cost option and easy for all ages. You can find the mosaic glass tiles and wooden crosses at any local craft store or even Amazon.

The kids can paint or color in the crosses with markers and then use glue to place the tiles! Makes for perfect "stained glassed" crosses to display in the classroom for the week.

VBS Craft #14 - Button Cross

You can't have too many cross crafts! If you can't find any mosaic tiles, you can create a similar masterpiece with just some buttons.

You can print out some crosses beforehand, or have the kids draw the crosses on construction paper. The kids can color the crosses with markers, crayons, or even glitter, and then fill the cross with the buttons!

VBS Craft #15 - Hidden Words Bible Memory Verse Game

Think of this like a fun treasure hunt for the kids (after all, doesn't the Bible say it's more valuable than gold?)!

Before the kids arrive, write out the Bible verses on different colors of paper (one for each team). Cut the words apart, fold them up, and hide them around the room.

Review the verses with the kids and then send each team to search for their verse's keywords. The first team to put their verse together correctly wins!

VBS Craft #16 - Wet Sponge Over and Under Relay

This one is sure to SOAK the kids so plan accordingly and have towels on standby! Divide the kids into two teams and form two lines: place a bucket full of water in front of the first kid and an empty bucket at the end of the line.

The first player fills the sponge and passes it over their head to the next player (and then under, over, under, over) until it reaches the last player who squeezes it into the bucket and then assumes the front of the line. The first team to fill the empty bucket wins!

VBS Craft #17 - "Go!" Bookmark

You're probably familiar with the game red light-green light which could be a great precursor to this craft! This "Go!" bookmark is a great way to teach kids about the Great Commission!

Just grab some construction paper (black, green, yellow, red), scissors, glue and markers. Cut out different colored circles and rectangles for the stoplight, and then have the kids put them together. Have them write "Go!" in the green circle and on the back of the bookmark, note Matthew 28:19.

The kids can place these in their Bibles or notebooks as a reminder to share the gospel wherever they go!

VBS Craft #18 - Joseph's Coat of Many Colors Game

This game is a Biblical take on the wrap-your-teammate-in toilet paper like the Mummy game but way more COLORFUL!

All you'll need is some streamer from the Dollar Store. Divide the kids into teams, select judges, set a timer, and let them start wrapping. These kids will wrap faster than the elves at the mall during Christmas!

Once the timer rings, the judges will pick the most fashionable coat of colors.

VBS Craft #19 - Gospel Bracelets

Now, wait a second; this jewelry isn't just for the girls! The boys are sure to want a part in this VBS swag too.

A popular adaptation of the Wordless Book, Gospel bracelets are a great way to introduce kids to the Gospel. The different colored beads (black, red, white, yellow, and green) all represent an important Biblical truth about salvation.

As the kids place each bead on their bracelet, briefly explain what each color represents. Now each time they wear their bracelet, they'll be reminded about the VBS lesson and the message of the Gospel.

VBS Craft #20 - Days of Creation Craft

This is a great way to teach the creation story. As you go along each day of creation week have the kids color in (or use stickers) to illustrate each new thing that God created that day.

Picture cotton ball clouds, animal stickers, glitter stars, and so much more!

Top 7 VBS Craft Hacks

• Plan Ahead: Create a list of materials needed for each craft and organize them by day or session.
• Keep it Simple: Choose crafts for children of all ages and easy to understand. Simple crafts will keep kids engaged and not frustrated. 
• Use DIY materials: Get creative with recyclable materials such as cardboard, paper rolls, etc. This is a great opportunity to get the kids involved!
• Incorporate Bible Verses/Stories: Integrate Bible verses/stories into the crafts to help children remember the theme of the VBS.
• Encourage Teamwork: Assign different roles to kids, such as cutting, gluing, and coloring, and teach them the importance of sharing and working together.
• Include Mess-Free Options: For crafts involving messy materials like paint or glue, offer alternative options such as stickers or markers for children who prefer cleaner activities. 
• Display Finished Crafts: Showcase completed crafts in the VBS area or during closing ceremonies. This not only provides a sense of accomplishment for the children but also reinforces the lesson for others to see (and adds to your decorations!).

VBS Crafts for Kids

Summer is quickly approaching, so it's time to pick your theme/ curriculum, gather the supplies, and get your crafts and activities ready!

From getting creative with these activities to seeing the joy on children's faces as they bring their crafts to life, there's sure to be plenty of excitement to go around.

So, what are you waiting for? Let's dive in, get crafty, and make memories that will last a lifetime!

Matt Church Engagement