Dress Up Sparky Game

 I'm always on the lookout for more creative, cooperative, fun games for Sparks.  This year I saw a game on Oriental Trading for dressing up a character in the armor of God and thought, that would make a great Sparks game!

Several hours of work later and here it is - the Dress Up Sparky Game!

The concept is pretty simple - each kid gets a Sparky guy card, on their turn they roll to discover the category they will pick from to add a costume piece to their card.  If they roll a category they already have, they have the choice of swapping it out or keeping what they've got.  The game ends when all of them have dressed their Sparky guy.  I'm hoping it will be a hit.

Since I have a pretty large club, I made enough for 10 kids to play at a time on each team.  If you have a smaller club you won't have to print or laminate as much as I did.  I printed these from my local UPS store and it only cost me $5 per team, which I thought was pretty good.  I cut out, laminated, and cut out again for everything so it should last for years of play.

Want a set for your Sparks?  All the files I made are linked below :)

Sparky Guy Cards

Sparky Dress Up Outfits

Game Spinner

Awana Thank You Gifts

 This is my church's 25th year of doing Awana. Man that makes me feel old!

I figured we needed super cool Awana thank you gifts for directors this year, but it is really difficult to find Awana themed gifts.

So I got creative and here's what I came up with: EASY to make Awana themed key fobs!  All you need is 7/8" grosgrain ribbon (I used white, yellow, & patterns for Trek), light colored iron-on transfer paper, 1.25" cotton webbing (I used black, red, green, & blue), & the key fob hardware.  I got my ribbon, webbing, & hardware off Etsy, but I've seen it at Hobby Lobby and Amazon and anywhere you can get crafty stuff.

Cubbies isn't pictured here because I was waiting on the blue cotton webbing to finish it.

The process is pretty simple - you print out the logos on iron on transfer paper (I've linked the page I made which is already reversed so it's ready to print and go). Then follow the directions on the iron-on paper to iron the logos onto ribbon.

Here are some of my ribbons freshly ironed.  I should have cut the black lines off the edges of the Sparks one, but oh well.

Then, I stitched the ribbons down onto the cotton webbing with my sewing machine.  All straight stitches and very quick!  Then, stitch the two ends together to make a loop with the ribbon on the outside, and attach the key fob hardware with pliers over where you stitched the ends together!

Easy, Fast, But SO Cool Looking for a Special Thank You Gift for Awana Leaders or Directors.

Why Should I Memorize the Bible Scavenger Hunt

 

For a quick and easy activity for Sparks this week, I made this Why Should I Memorize the Bible Scavenger Hunt.  Just print the pictures and hide them around your room.  Then give each kid the scavenger hunt page and let them check off when they've found the picture.  You can go over each verse or just pick a couple to highlight for reasons memorizing Scripture is so important in Awana.

5 Ways We Can Have Joy Sticker Scavenger Hunt

 My Sparks group LOVES scavenger hunts!  I figured a sticker scavenger hunt would be even MORE fun so I made a page for each kid that includes 5 Ways We Can Have Joy and stickers for each one.  I hid an envelope with stickers in five different locations in our church and sent each Sparks group on a hunt with their leaders to each location.  When they got there they would read the verse and put the sticker on the correct spot.  I printed the sticker page on full sheet labels and cut them out ahead of time.

Gospel Wheel Bracelet Craft

I have been on the hunt for more Gospel Wheel related activities and crafts.  For this one, I wanted to combine the Gospel Wheel with the Wordless Book.  It took a while to find all the beads I had in mind (Etsy was a great resource for this!) in the quantities I needed them - I have fifty Sparks this year so I needed quite a few!  I put together each kit in a snack size bag so it was easy for the kids to put them together as their leader went over the Gospel Wheel with them.  I LOVE how visual and tactile this bracelet is in re-enforcing the Gospel message.

I got the chain in bulk from Amazon with the connectors and cut them to size for the kids (I did a six inch length and that was great for almost everyone.  I did bring the wire cutters to adjust for anyone who wanted that.)

Gold smile and gold beads for the character of God being holy.

Black heart and black beads for the character of man being sinful.

The metal cross bead with red beads for God's action of the cross. (I did have to drill the cross bead hole bigger to fit the chain)

White heart and white beads for man's action of trusting.

The green heart and beads for the heart of the Gospel message.