How to Decorate Christian Bulletin Boards

With a little creativity, you can transform your blank bulletin board into a valuable tool for your church.

A creative church bulletin board can transform a classroom, foyer or hallway into an interactive experience for students and parishioners. Bulletin board displays can ask thought-provoking questions, provide useful information or spotlight important church or classroom events. With a little planning, your board can get the intended results, whether you want to inform or inspire.

Things You'll Need

• Background material
• Border
• Large letters
• Stapler
• Transparent tape
• Thumbtacks

Instructions

1. Choose a theme for the board. Seasonal and holiday-themed boards are easy to decorate. If the board is in a classroom, use the theme of your current lesson series, such as fruits of the spirit or highway to heaven. Or use the board to spotlight student work or milestones, such as attendance and birthdays. Decide how long this theme will stay on the board.

2. Sketch what you want the board to look like. Draw in a space that has the same aspect ratio to the dimensions of the actual board. As you design, make the main phrase or headline easy to read from a distance. Brainstorm other decorations to illustrate the board's headline. For example, a board that reads "Fall for Jesus" makes sense when you add a paper tree with red, yellow and orange leaves.

3. Gather the materials you need based on your sketch. Buy or make the elements that will communicate the message on the board. Have your students or the church's youth group help make decorations. They'll enjoy seeing their artwork on display.

4. Cover the entire board with a background by cutting the material and stapling it to the board. Butcher paper or wrapping paper will get the job done quickly. Add dimension and creativity by using other backgrounds that have a subtle design, such as maps, fabric, newspapers or nets. For example, cover the bulletin board with comic strips from the newspaper to show "God Loves Characters," and display drawings and descriptions of each student.

5. Add a border to the perimeter of the board by cutting pieces of the appropriate length and stapling them to the board. Buy border or make your own by cutting strips of paper using scrapbooking scissors with creative edges. Don't be afraid to let other decorations overlap or extend beyond the border.

6. Affix letters to the board that spell out the main phrase. Use transparent tape or thumbtacks so you can easily remove the letters in case you encounter an unexpected space crunch. Once you have the letters in place, staple them to the board. Make the letters stand out on the background so they are easy to read.

7. Arrange the larger decorations first to ensure you have enough space. Again, use tape or thumbtacks to hang the decorations, then step back a few paces and observe the board from afar. Make any needed adjustments and then staple the decorations in place.

8. Add three-dimensional decorations. For example, if your board reads "Fishers of Men," use string and plastic fish. Embellish the board with smaller decorations, such as die cuts, photos and ribbon.

Tips & Warnings

• Let students help decorate the board. When it's finished, let them sign the bottom of the bulletin board to show their participation.

• Coordinate your classroom board with other teachers' boards. Rotate the ideas and supplies from class to class.

References

• Boards Galore: Church and School Decoration Ideas
• Classroom Displays and Bulletin Boards: Christian Boards Index