Flip Books!

 I’m wrestling with flip books.  I was making animation books for my Biology Co-op class.  Wouldn’t it be fun to make flip books with Bible stories?  Look to Him and Be Radiant has Bible Story Post it Flip Books.  I just tried a simple flip book with Post-it notes and was unsuccessful. However, I only used nine images.  Several sites say that you need 20-30 images.  I had to dig to find a few ideas.  Here is a video tutorial for the Ascension of Jesus.  Here is Bartimaeus.  (BTW you should look at the craft section at Jesus Without Language’s web page and Craft Gallery.  I’ll update this post as I find more flip books.

Make Chaplets!

 These Chaplets are so fun!  Rob and I subbed for CCD this morning.  I’ve made these bracelets during Faith Camp; they were a hit during VBS this past summer, too.  I still like to field-test activities with kids to gauge difficulty and time involved.  After our lesson, we had 30 minutes.  All 24 kids finished at least one Chaplet.  A few finished two or three. I buy beads and religious medals in bulk.  The kids love the freedom to make as many little Chaplets as they desire.  These simple bracelets can be used as Sacrifice beads or to pray a decade of the Rosary.  One tip: put a little nail polish on the ends of the yarn to make it easier for kids to thread the beads.  Take a look!

Buy Costumes!

I have a few costumes for VBS and Faith Camp.  The kiddos love to dress up as angels and the Blessed Mother for prayers.  I like to have simple costumes for Armor of God or to act out the Good Samaritan story.  I’ve been comparing prices for costumes and props.  Boy, you can’t beat Temu!  My Armor Of God set is missing a sword.  I had to borrow one the last time I used it.  I ordered a basic black and another white graduation gown to use for skits, along with a Pharaoh costume.  I can add a head dress, veil, or halo to embellish the gowns.  See what the thrift store or bin store has.  Be sure to see what the Halloween stores have after Halloween on clearance.

Foil Crafts

Another craft I’m dying to try is  this Miraculous Medal Craft and the St.Benedict Medal Craft.  Here are St. Benedict medal templates.  You need to use foam. I plan to use the foam as backing for the aluminum craft.  Based on my experience with younger kids—7-9 years old, use simple symbols for success.

More about DIY Scapulars

 I was inspired by Saint Martha’s Guild DIY Scapulars and tried making a few.  I bought some fabric from Spoonflower, shown below.  The scapular I wear has a St. Benedict’s Medal; one of the fat quarters from Spoonflower is a panel of medals.  The only requirement for the Brown Scapular is that it be brown wool and rectangular.  I’m excited!

Mini-notebooks

 I finally found the box of mini-notebooks I bought for Fathers Camp last summer.  I want to use them to make Quiet books for Mass.  I started with a Catholic Scavenger Hunt as inspiration.  I’m using Catholic catalogs for items.  However, you can print and cut any Scavenger Hunt.  If you use black and white images, kids can color them, too.  Leave blank images for kids to draw the items, too!  I bought the mini notebooks from Temu for about $0.25 each.  (Another lot of 120 notebooks is on a container ship.  It won’t arrive until November.  Keep transport in mind when you order.)  I’m getting excited to field test the mini books.