Have your participants craft and personalize Bible covers to keep their Bible protected. For a simple craft, purchase pre-made canvas covers and have kids color them with permanent marker or decorate with fabric paint. If you seek a trash-to-treasure style craft, have them use paper bags and create Bible covers by sizing them to their Bibles and wrapping the paper around the cover as they would a textbook. Supply contact paper to cover the paper creation, and use stickers for decorative purposes.
Engage your participants in the creation of wearable crosses. Purchase some pre-made wooden crosses and drill holes so you can string them on rope or necklace chains. Have the kids paint beach scenes on the crosses, which are perfect for summer vacation. Supply them with glitter, sequins or ever petite seashells to add some style to their crosses.
Let your vacation Bible studiers create new garments by assisting them in crafting T-shirts. If you have computer access, allow them to create designs on the computer and print these designs onto t-shirt transfer paper in mirror image. Help them iron these designs onto their shirts. For a tech-free way to create engaging shirts, have them tie-dye shirts, then use fabric paint to include Bible verses.
If your vacation Bible study involves an extensive amount of reading, a bookmark could prove the perfect craft for your participants to produce. For a quick and inexpensive craft, cut cardstock into bookmark sized strips. Have each child decorate the strip with his name and symbols that represent him. If you want to introduce kids to a more classic bookmark, teach them how to cross stitch. Supply counter-cross stitch fabric and a pattern with a religious theme to stitch onto a bookmark.