#KidsMin from A to Z: Do It Yourself

It's Friday, and this is my 5th day in a row to have a blog post ready!
Bring on the weekend!  For one thing I get to see my fiance' (saying that never gets old).  After two weeks apart we are so ready to see each other.  We will also get to spend Sunday getting to do fun wedding stuff like picking a date (officially) and deciding on a wedding venue.  Two things that all of our loved ones are getting pretty desperate to know.  And let's be honest, this Bride is ready to get into full fledged picking out flowers, designing centerpieces, and buying a dress wedding planning.  I will promise to not let the blog get to overrun with wedding stuff between now and wedding day, but a girl has to be able to share something.  

Speaking of sharing something... this is a letter in my new series that you do NOT want to miss.  

A is for Attendance and Awana

B is for Butcher Paper and Bibles 
C is for Curriculum and Communication

That's right, today I'm talking all about ways to cut costs, get creative, and do things yourself.  One thing that I is very important to me is running my ministries on cost-effective budgets.  I'm very aware of the fact that I am using God's money to minister and I want to make the most of it!  One of the biggest ways that I do that is by doing things myself.  I think it's great if you have a large budget and you can buy things already made and put together, but that just doesn't work for me.  

Here's a great example... VBS and crafts.  When I was coordinating my VBS this year I began investigating the cost of crafts.  Just to give you an idea I had an average of 110 kids every night.  Now, to buy the craft packs from the distributor (which again if you can afford to do is great) would have cost me close to $1,000!  When I saw that price my jaw dropped.  However, what I chose to do instead was to gather the supplies myself to still make the same crafts from my local craft stores.  By shopping smartly, using coupons, and throwing a craft prep party to pre-package our crafts I cut that $1,000 estimate into a third.  

I know that so many times we want our ministries to be fabulous and we think that means everything must look top notch and professional.  While it is important that we do things with excellence, that doesn't mean that everything has to look perfect.  Does your nursery need a new paint job?  Head to your local hardware store, buy your paint, and throw a painting party for your volunteers.  Have them help you do it yourself.  You'll save money just by not paying for a professional painter.  Have you been wanting a puppet stage?  Build one for yourself. 

Here's what is important to remember about doing it yourself... Everything is possible!  If I looked at projects and believed that I couldn't make them happen then I would never get anything done.  I would have to buy everything and my budget would be shot for the year.  Do you need new postcards or promotional items?  Design them yourself.  Are you looking for new and creative crafts?  Scrounge around in your resource or supply room and get creative.  It's nothing for our staff members to come into my office once a week and see me sitting on the floor surrounded by a glue gun and craft supplies working on a new project.  

The important thing to remember is that you don't have to buy everything new and to get creative!  Don't be afraid to think outside of the box and use what you have laying around.  One of the questions I get asked the most frequently is... Did you make that?  When I say yes people are often amazed at what I can come up with.  Bottom line... if your looking to cut your budget do less buying and more making.  

For more ideas on ways that you can Do It Yourself feel free to visit my Pinterest boards here! 

Next week I'll be talking about:

Expectations

Flexibility and Follow-Up

Games

Holidays

Ice Cream

Those are going to be super fun days that you don't want to miss!  

Have a fabulous weekend! 

Top 5 Easy DIY Musical Instruments

Coming up this Wednesday my kids ministry will be themed around Music night. 

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.  Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs."  -Psalm 100:1-2

I thought I'd put together a craft post of some easy instruments that every kid can make at home. 

Last summer, I hosted a music night and we made a lot of the instruments right there at the church.
I love music and it is very important to me that my kids learn at a young age how important it is to worship the Lord through music.  Every kid can make a joyful noise to the Lord with both their voice and an instrument.

Here are some simple musical instruments that your kids can use to sing and dance to Jesus.  

Egg Shakers

We all have old Easter eggs sitting in our closet and a bag or rice or dry beans in our kitchen. 

Scoop a small handful of rice (or the food or noise maker of your choice) in your Easter egg and you have an instant shaker. 

If you don't want rice all over your house I suggest taping or gluing your egg shakers closed.  

Shoe Box Guitars

Need an idea for all those old shoe boxes sitting in your closet?  Make shoe box guitars. 

Grab some markers, crayons, wrapping paper, etc and let your kids go to town on decorating the outside of the box. 

After your kids have decorated the box, find some string or yarn. 

Use a hole puncher to punch holes in both sides of your guitar and tightly string your yarn across. 

Make sure that your string is pulled as tightly as it can be so that it will make a noise.
If you want to have a neck on your guitar use an old paper towel roll.
Hot glue* it to the shoe box and you have a complete guitar.  

Paper Plate Tambourines

This is also another super easy do it yourself instrument.
Much like the egg shaker, all you need is a paper plate, rice or beans, and a stapler.
Let your little one's decorate the backs of their paper plates however they wish with markers, crayons, etc...
After they have finished decorating fill the plates with whatever you want (different foods make different sounds) and staple it shut.
And just like that you have a tambourine.

Drums
This is by far the easiest instrument of all to make.
Grab some pots and pans, and a few cooking spoons or spatulas and you have an instant drum set.
I do recommend grabbing some earplugs for mom & dad before using this option though.
For a more complicated drum set you can use old oatmeal (or any circle) containers.
Cover the outside with construction paper, let your kids decorate, and go to town.

Microphone
When I was growing up I was the singer of my family.
My dad always says that I learned the words to the Disney songs faster than anyone he'd ever seen.
To make a microphone for the little vocalist in your family just save those empty paper towel holders.
Gather one up and decorate it however you want.
For the little girls in your family I recommend lots of sequins and bling.
She'll go nuts over her very own bedazzled microphone that she can use to sing to her hearts content.

Do you make any instruments with your kids?

Leave your suggestions in the comments! 

*Hot glue should only be used by adults or by those with proper adult supervision!