Hey VBS friends! That wonderful, slightly chaotic time of year is almost here. We all know VBS is such a meaningful ministry… and also a huge investment of time and energy.
I’m gathering and sharing a bunch of resources that I hope will make planning Illumination VBS a little easier and a little lighter. Scroll through and see if anything here saves you time or sparks an idea.
I’ll keep adding more as we head into spring, so check back when you can. Everything below is available to download as a PDF and/or image, and in many cases I’ve also included a Canva template link so you can easily tweak things to fit your church and your crew.
Please give me feedback regarding any issues with these resources as well as any additional resources you would find helpful.
We all know that covering VBS in prayer is key to its success. Inviting our church families to pray helps align our hearts with God’s plans and reminds us that he’s the one who changes lives. There are lots of wonderful prayer guides and calendars out there, so it’s really a matter of letting God lead you to the one that is right for your congregation. Here is a simple weekly prayer guide that allows people to pray for one aspect of VBS on each day of the week. This can be repeated until it’s time to launch VBS. The Canva Template link below will allow you to edit this according to the needs of your own church.
I saw these glow in the dark bracelets that say “Let your light shine,” and I couldn’t help but think they’d be a fabulous reminder for people to be praying for VBS. Their bright colors would pair perfectly with the prayer guide. Here’s a printable tent card that invites people to take a bracelet reminder.
Here are some glow-in-the-dark bracelets that would serve as a great reminder for folks to be praying for VBS. Best of all, they say “Let your light shine.”
100 Pcs Christian Bracelets Glow in Dark Let Your Light Shine Silicone Bracelets Religious Jesus Wristbands Bulk Inspirational Scripture Easter Party Gift for Baptism Church
Lifeway offers some really beautiful Rotation Signs, printed on nice, sturdy paper and priced pretty reasonably. If they fit into your budget, I definitely recommend checking them out (links are below).
Of course, it’s also true that most of us have to be intentional about what we buy and what we DIY to keep costs under control. We’re fortunate to have a great printer at our church, which makes printing in-house a budget-friendly option for us. If you’re in the same situation, feel free to use these 8.5″ x 11″ or 11″ x 17″ Rotation and Bible Study Signs.
I’ve also included a Canva link so you can easily tweak the wording if you happen to call a rotation something different at your church.
Lifeway offers some really beautiful Rotation Signs, printed on nice, sturdy paper and priced pretty reasonably. If they fit into your budget, I definitely recommend checking them out (links are below).
Of course, it’s also true that most of us have to be intentional about what we buy and what we DIY to keep costs under control. We’re fortunate to have a great printer at our church, which makes printing in-house a budget-friendly option for us. If you’re in the same situation, feel free to use these 8.5″ x 11″ or 11″ x 17″ Rotation and Bible Study Signs.
I’ve also included a Canva link so you can easily tweak the wording if you happen to call a rotation something different at your church.
Here is the Canva Template Link for the 8.5″ x 11″ Signs. The PDF is below the images.
Want bigger signs? Here’s a Canva file (and pdf below) designed as 11″ x 17″ posters.
This 11 x 17 poster highlights the Daily Points for all 5 days. I thought it would be a nice addition during VBS, but I’m also envisioning it up for a while after VBS as a reminder of all we learned about our amazing Jesus.
Staples and Office Depot are great go-to places for basic 11 x 17 paper, but if you are looking for glossy, heavier-weight paper for posters, I haven’t found a better deal than this.
Uinkit 11×17 100 Sheets Photo Paper Glossy Inkjet 48lb Single Side Print Poster Playbill Obituary Papers for Funerals Bulletin Gallery Show Photographic 11 x 17 Copy Printing A3 Value Packed
Need a quick, fun option for class signs? These play off alliterated names of bright and glowing things and add a little extra personality without extra work.
They work great as door signs outside classrooms or as handheld signs for teachers and crew leaders to carry along. Easy, flexible, and one less thing to think about!
If it’s still bothering you that there are no animals in the theme this year, look below these signs. I’ve also added some luminescent animals as an option for class names/signs.
Sometimes organizing by color makes things easier, so I’ve included a variety of colors for the grade level signs. All the signs are ready to go in the PDF below the images. Want to tweak the names or add your own flair? Use the Canva template link to customize!
Line-Leader Signs, the Easy Way: Just print your favorite designs on cardstock, glue the Grade Level side and the Alliterated Name side back-to-back, and tape or staple them to a painted paint stick. Boom! An instant line-leader sign.
It took me awhile to embrace the idea of a VBS without a bunch of animal friends throughout the decor. So I did a little research and came up with 6 luminescent animals that could also be fun for class names. If that strikes a chord with you, then feel free to download or edit these. I designed these to be in 6 different colors so they can still pair with the grade-level signs above.
Here are some nametags that are designed to match the class signs above. Of course, they can also be used independently as well. You are welcome to edit them in Canva using the template link…or download the pdf or Word file below.
Use the PDF file below if you would like to print the labels and then write in the names. Nametags are sized for Avery 5395 labels, but they can also be printed on cardstock and cut apart.
This is a box of 200 sticker labels, enough for 40 kids for the week. These labels work with the Avery 5395 templates above.
Adhesive Name Tag Stickers, 8 Labels per Sheet, 3 3/8″ x 2 1/3″ – 25 Sheets / 200 Labels – White Matte Finish Printable Badges for Inkjet/Laser Printers
Prefer Lanyards? The nametags are a great fit for these name badges.
100 Pack Lanyards for ID Badges with Clear Name Tags, Reusable Lanyards Horizontal ID Card Badge Holders Plastic Name Badges for Men Women Kids Business School and Office Supplies (Green)
Ctosree 50 Set Vbs 2026 Name Tags with Lanyards Christian Bible Name Badges Religious Theme Label with Activity Rope for Vacation Bible Church Summer Camp Supplies $16.99
These teasers and Save-the-date flyers were designed to give away after VBS last summer. I’ll be updating these soon with flyers that are better suited to advertise all your details this year. In the meantime, feel free to use the Canva Link to modify these to suit your needs. Brighten the kiddos’ day even further by attaching a glow stick or disco ball!
Don’t have Canva? I’ve got your back! Just click on any of the images below and then right click to download the jpg file. You can then insert it in a program of your own to edit.
Want to make your card even more memorable? Add a little glow with it! They are surprisingly affordable! Hand it out with the card, or you can cut 2 slits in your card and slide the glow stick right through the slits to attach it (of course, you don’t have to get that fancy…tape and glue dots work too!).
SpringFlower 100 PCS Glow Sticks Bulk Party Favors, 8″ Glow in the Dark Party Supplies, Light Sticks for Party Favors Glow Necklaces and Bracelets for Kids or Adults
For a little bit more, you can gift each kiddo a mirror ball to whet their appetite for summer 2026.
48 Pack Assorted Color Disco Ball Necklaces 70s Disco Party Necklaces 1.57 Inch Mirror Disco Ball Costume Necklaces For Birthday Parties, Festival Accessories Disco Party Favor Decoration
Full Disclosure: While I am committed to keep everything on this site completely free, as an Amazon associate, I earn a commission on qualifying purchases.
ILLUMINATING JESUS COLORING FLYERS
We are “Shining a light on who Jesus really is”! So what better way to remind kids that they are invited to VBS than to give them a coloring sheet all about Illuminating Jesus. You can use the Canva link to edit these. Not a Canva user? Just download the jpg images by right clicking on them. Then you can use your own program to add your church info.
Banners make a big impact for the price! We use one out by the road (4′ x 8′), but we also love using banners inside…especially in our registration area and sometimes as part of the décor.
Walgreens and CVS (nope, not an affiliate 😉) run crazy good deals on 2′ x 6′ and 2′ x 8′ vinyl banners. There’s usually some kind of sale going on—often 40%–70% off. The 70% deals are rare, but 50% or 60% off pops up pretty often. Depending on the size and the sale you catch, you can usually snag a banner for around $15–$25.
The vinyl isn’t the thickest out there, but plenty of churches have shared that they’ve used these banners outdoors for long stretches with great results. I often use them indoors for our volunteer and registration area.
Below you’ll find 12 different banner designs that you can edit in Canva (sized for 2′ x 8′). Not a Canva user? No worries! Scroll down for banner starter images you can download as PNG files and use in whatever program you prefer (InDesign, Publisher, Word, etc.).
Below are the images that can be used as banner backgrounds in order for you to customize them in the program of your choice. CANVA TIP FOR USERS WITH A FREE ACCOUNT: If you do not have a Canva Pro account, you can also upload the background image into a 12″ x 48″ Canva file and use it without contending with any water marks.
Prefer 6′ banners? Here are some 2′ x 6′ designs along with the Canva link. Not a Canva user? The banner starter images for these are below.
Below are the images that can be used as banner backgrounds in order for you to customize them in the program of your choice.
BANNER STARTERS
Don’t have Canva? No problem! You can still use these banner starters as backgrounds for your own designs. They’re JPG files, so you can drop them into whatever program you like, then just add your text and/or images.
To download one, click the image you want, right-click on the enlarged version, and choose “Save Image As.”
And for my Canva friends, don’t worry! I’ve still included the Canva link over on the right if you’d rather use one of these backgrounds there.
And here are the 2′ x 8′ Banner Starters (more on their way soon)…
DOOR BANNERS
I made another banner to highlight the daily points and verses for the week. It’s sized for a 2′ x 6′ banner, which fits perfectly on a standard door. And if you catch one of those Walgreens or CVS banner sales, these are SO affordable!
Download whichever version works best for your church…Or if you’d like to tweak the wording or layout, you can jump into the Canva link and make your changes it there.
If you’re ordering through Walgreens or CVS, be sure to grab the “sideways” version below. Their banners are set up horizontally, so uploading the horizontal file makes the process a lot easier.
BOOKMARKS
These also make a great bookmark! Just print the page that matches your schedule on some cardstock and trim and slice to separate. You can laminate them if you’d like, and if you want to get real fancy, you could punch a hole and add a ribbon.
Here’s a fun little boost for your volunteer recruitment table. There are so many great reasons to serve at VBS, and this flyer highlights just a handful of them. Bonus points, they spell out ILLUMINATE.
You can use the Canva link if you want to tweak anything to fit your church…or just download the ready-to-use versions as is.
If you’d like to pair it with a small giveaway, a light-up pen or led flashlight keychain would be fun options. That said, the flyer works just fine on its own too. No extra purchases required!
This little keychain is an inexpensive little light that would be a nice addition to the card if you are looking for a little giveaway for your volunteers.
Hicarer 42 Pcs Mini Keychain LED Flashlight Badge Lights for Nurses Key Ring Light with White Beam
These pens are another fun option to attach to the front of the card. They have an led light built in, so they go right along with the theme.
Thenshop 32 Pieces Lighted Pen LED Flashlight Writing Ballpoint Bulk Glow in The Dark Pen Colorful for Night Writing, Back to School Gifts, White, Red, Green, Blue Lights
Glue dots are the easiest way to adhere to attach the pen (and they work for the keychain too). Here are some with good reviews (since all glue dots are NOT created equal!).
Full Disclosure: While I am committed to keep everything on this site completely free, as an Amazon associate, I earn a commission on qualifying purchases.
PRESCHOOL READINESS HANDOUT
What’s the youngest age we should allow for VBS? It’s a question many VBS directors have wrestled with, prayed over, talked through with their team and pastor, and then wrestled with some more.
We love our littlest ones and want them introduced to Jesus as early as possible. We also understand that families with multiple children hope their preschoolers can participate. At the same time, volunteer capacity and resources can limit what a church is able to offer. And let’s be honest, when a child isn’t developmentally ready (physically, emotionally, or socially), VBS can be challenging for them and disruptive for others.
The truth is, there’s no single “right” answer. Pray. Consider. Discuss. Pray again. Then decide what’s best for your church.
For churches that do offer a preschool VBS—especially those welcoming 3-year-olds—this resource may be helpful. It clearly and kindly sets expectations for parents regarding a child’s readiness to attend VBS. You’re welcome to use it as-is or hop on the Canva template to adapt the wording to fit your needs. Helping families thoughtfully consider readiness can truly be a win for everyone.
Hi,
Last year for Magnified VBS you had dot to dot pages. The children really loved them. I used them for fillers when the children were done with their crafts. Will you be providing something similar for Illumination station? Thank you so much!!!
Oh no! I’m sorry that happened! Canva itself is free, but I do have a Canva Pro account, which means my designs may include Pro elements. When that happens, Canva asks free users to upgrade before downloading (or to change the images to free options).
If you let me know which design you were trying to use, I’d be happy to take a look and see if there’s an easy workaround. Also, in case you’re not aware, Canva actually offers Canva Pro for free for non-profits (including churches!): https://www.canva.com/canva-for-nonprofits/ (Definitely worth a look!)
Whenever I can, I try to include PDF or JPG versions too, just in case Canva isn’t the best option. I hope one of those works for you!
Wow! These are so helpful and generous to share with everyone. Do you have any daily posters with the Bible reference? Thank you so much! I will be checking back frequently.
Thank you for being so kind and helpful. I haven’t been the VBS director in a while and a lot has changed. Your materials and designs have been a life-saver! Bless you.
You just made my day! I’m thrilled to hear that the resources are helpful! That’s exactly what I hope for when I post them. Thanks for taking on the critical role of VBS director…soooo challenging, but also soooo worth it!!!
Thank you, Stephanie! For the door banner, the images are provided (or the Canva link). If you plan to use the image as is, just click on the “sideways” image so it is large on your screen. Then you can right click it to save it to your device. Once that’s done, it’s all ready to upload to a site like Walgreens or CVS to make a banner. Hope that helps!
When I right clicked on the VBS save the date there was no option to save as jpeg – only a webp file . I was still able to bring into powerpoint but they were really low resolution.
I’m so sorry that is happening. It appears to have changed after an update. I’m working on getting it fixed so the png or jpg files are all downloadable like they used to be.
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