Bulletin Board Burdens, Blunders, and Blessings

Over the past two days, Rachel F. and I have been working on bulletin boards around the church/school. Either there had been nothing up on the board for awhile, or what had been up was getting kinda old. Decorating these five boards had been added to my "summer job list" so I decided that this week was the perfect week to "get-er-done!" Thankfully, Rachel was quick to offer her help seeing it was originally her suggestion that they should be re-decorated (which they definitely needed to be!!).

So between yesterday and today....

• - We spent lots of time just figuring out what should be put on the boards.
• - We then had to find the right pictures on the computer (Google images anyone?!).
• - We dealt with uncooperative printers.
• - We spent lots of time selecting the correct font, and then printing it out only to discover we didn't really like the font.
• - We cut out the pictures.
• - We eventually realized that some of our pictures were too small/big so we had to spend time resizing, printing and cutting again.
• - We used some cut-out letters but then we had to figure out which letters we needed for which verse (thanks, Chanel, for all your help with this!).
• - We had to measure out the bulletin board paper.
• - Of course, we needed to take a break and walk to Dunkin Donuts for iced coffees, and then walk back in the pouring rain!
• - Did I mention the fact that we had to deal with uncooperative printers?
• - We said "Of course!" and "This printer hates me!" at least 10,000 times.
• - Because the pictures were printed larger, they were stretched out on multiple pages so we had to spend time putting the pictures together like puzzle pieces.
• - We had to then glue the pictures on the boards.
• - We had to glue the letters on the boards which required a lot of centering (this is where my "perfectionist" tendencies REALLY began to show!).
• - The list could go on and on and on!
  

We had some stressful moments, but altogether it was a fun two days working on bulletin boards. We definitely learned that NEXT time (if there is indeed a next time!) we will DEFINITELY be more organized and have a plan ready, pictures figured out, and so hopefully five bulletin boards won't take us 12 hours like these did!!!

Oh well...it was a memory!

So here are the 5 boards. We tried to center the bulletin board themes around our VBS theme this year which is Operation: Sword and Shield.

This one is the verse from Ephesians where we are supposed to take the shield of faith to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Many, many thanks goes to Jen who made our fiery darts for us!!!

This is the verse, of course, about the word of God being quick, powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. Again, much thanks goes to Jen for making the "starburst" and for giving us the idea in the first place to highlight the fact that the Bible is powerful - which is more on a child's level!

I look at this next board and the main thing I remember is me "overseeing" Rachel glue on the letters and telling her whether they were crooked and spaced right...aaaah, yes..this is where my "perfectionism" really showed. If I learned anything from this experience it is that you can't be a perfectionist when it comes to bulletin boards!!! However, this board turned out nice with the red fabric draped over it for the "border".

I really like how this next one turned out. Simple, yes, but the colors - gold and blue - have that "regal" look and I like how the verse, pictures and blue fabric go together.

(*Commercial Break* If you ever need gold paper - see me! - There is a TON of gold paper in our art closet!!! *Commercial Break over*)

This was our last board, and by this time our brains were fried, and we really didn't feel like doing bulletin boards anymore. However, I think it still turned out pretty good. Rachel had the inspired idea to add the silvery paper behind the shield which really added to it. And of course, the draping red fabric helps too!

So I hope the Scriptural messages behind these bulletin boards will leap out to both children and adults alike! When you really stop to meditate on them, they are soooo powerful filled with so many promises and guidance for the Christian!