Scripture art is a great way to help your kids memorize scripture and place subtle reminders of important Bible verses around your home. When kids make their own scripture art, it works even better. If they like what they made, they may choose to display in their rooms, where it will be seen multiple times a day. The very creation of the work of art can engage them with the scripture in such a way that it moves into their long term memory – ready to be retrieved the moment it is needed.
There are multiple creative ways to create scripture art with your kids. Here are some of our favorites.
- Decorative throw pillow. This is a project I have used with various groups over the years. It’s always a hit with the kids and I love the stories parents share of pillows going on family vacations and their kids memorizing the verses without trying. The simplest version requires two squares of muslin. For the original, we drew a fruit basket with each piece of fruit labeled with a fruit of the Spirit on one side and a cute drawing of a child in a suit of armor with each piece labeled with the armor of God on the other side. The kids colored the drawings, stuffed the pillows and hand sewed the small opening to close the pillow. (Note: Use fabric markers for more durability and place cardboard inside of the pillow while decorating if the marker bleeds through your fabric.)
- Decorative wooden hanging pieces. Full disclosure, the piece in this photo was purchased at a craft fair. Some balsa wood, acrylic paints and stencils if desired and your kids can make something similar. Craft stores often have aisles of precut wood items that could be decorated in a similar fashion.
- Clothing items. When my daughter was younger, we had a pair of white sneakers decorated with a favorite scripture. She never wore them, but displayed them as art in her room for several years. Craft stores have tee shirts, aprons, tote bags and other fabric items that could be decorated with scripture art.
- Journaling. Normally done in wide margin Bibles, your kids can use drawing pads or notebooks or even typing paper or card-stock. There are tons of free ideas and even patterns online for illustrating specific verses in the Bible or your kids can create their own. Looking back through their collection of drawings can help them review key verses.
- Found art. For found art, you will need cardboard or other base that can hold some weight, a strong glue and various random objects. To illustrate the verse above for example, your kids may use four sticks to create the rough outline of a house and stones of various sizes to represent the members of your family. The verse itself can be written above or below the stick house. You can find lots of ideas online or your kids can create their own.
- Temporary scripture art. Craft stores now carry markers and crayons that can be used on windows and mirrors. Chalk can be used on sidewalks and driveways. The art will only last until it is washed away, but it gives you a very inexpensive new canvas for every new scripture.
Have fun with it, but surround your kids with scripture art they have created. It’s a great way to help imprint important scriptures on their hearts.