1. The floor: Lay down a green tarp, taping down the edges with shipping tape.

2. Backdrop: Create the DIY Starry Night Backdrop as described. Hang on a pole and drape system.

3. Bible Story Posters: Mount the Bible Story Posters on cardboard or foam core.

Starry Night Storytelling

You Need: • DIY Starry Night Backdrop• pole and drape system• Decorating Poster with animals• cardboard or foam core• Bible Story Posters• Jesus Stand Up• green tarp• shipping tape• a telescope• storytelling props• DIY Cloud Props

You Need: • 3 light-blue king-size flat sheets• 128 oz. blue and turquoise tempera

paint• 1 gallon flat black latex paint• 1 quart white paint• 2 handheld spray pumps• paint trays• paint roller• round or foam paint brushes• sewing materials• a plastic drop cloth

DIY Starry Night Backdrop

1. Making the backdrop: Sew to-gether the three king-size sheets. Most sheets come with a pocket at the top of the sheet. If yours do not, sew on a top pocket BEFORE you sew the sides together. Start sewing at the top, just below the pocket, and work your way down.

DIY Starry Night Backdrop

2. Preparing the backdrop: After laying down the plastic drop cloth, stretch the sheets on top of the drop cloth. They should be as straight and wrinkle-free as possi-ble.

3. Preparing the paint: Add one part blue paint to five parts water to one of the handheld spray pumps. Add one part turquoise paint to five parts water to the oth-er spray pump. Shake well. Make sure you test your color and spray-er before using on the backdrop. Adjust as needed.

DIY Starry Night Backdrop

4. Painting the backdrop: Stand-ing at the top of the backdrop, evenly spray the turquoise paint across the center section of the sheet. Leave the bottom 2 feet unpainted.

5. Painting the backdrop cont.: Spray the blue paint starting from the top of the sheet. (It should appear darker at the top and lighten as you get closer to the bottom of the sheet.) Leave the bottom three feet of the sheet unpainted. Let each coat dry, adding more coats until you’re satisfied with the color.

6. Finishing the backdrop: Once the “sky” is finished, use the roller brush and black latex paint across the bottom of the sheet to create grass. Angle the edge of the roller to get smaller wisps of grass. Use a round or foam brush for details.

7. Adding stars: Add stars to the sky using white latex paint.

DIY Cloud Props

You Need: • white sheets of foam core • fiber fill • glue• foam brush• white poster board • clear shipping tape • scissors• a utility knife• a pencil

1. Creating clouds: On the white foam core, trace clouds of various sizes. Cut them out using a utility knife.

2. Adding fluff: Using a foam brush, spread glue on one side of the clouds. Attach fiber fill until your cloud is satisfactorily fluffy.

DIY Cloud Props

3. Handles: Cut 2 × 12 inch strips of poster board, two for each cloud. Cov-er the strips with shipping tape to make them sturdier. Attach strips to the back of each cloud.

Starry Night Storytelling

Completing Your Site Decorations:• Mount the camel from the Decorating Poster with

animals onto cardboard or foam core.• Include the Jesus Stand Up in the space.• Add other props such as a telescope or storytelling

props you may have used in previous years, such as a tent, mountain, or empty tomb for the

appropriate days.