DLTK's Bible Crafts for Kids
Angel Messages in a Jar

There are a lot of uses for this craft.  Here are just a few thoughts:

• An idea for Valentine's Day is to use the same angel template as a small card using the angel quotes to give to school friends on Valentine's week - these can be used to create book covers or fridge magnets.
• give as a Mother's Day/Grandmother's Day gift.
• make as a Sunday School class and read one quote each week.  The Sunday School can even make it for the main congregation to read during church (a great way to keep the children in their hearts).  Once read the quotes can be hung as a border on the bulletin board.

There are a few ways to do this project, depending on the age of your child.  I've provided some blank templates so that children who are able to write can put their own quotes on (good for writing and spelling practice).  I've also provided some pre-written templates for younger children to practice their cutting and coloring skills.

I prefer the B&W template, as it gives the children the chance to showcase their coloring skills.  But if one child is preparing a whole batch of them on their own, you might want to print one color template and one B&W template (there are 6 angels on each template) so the child doesn't get tired of coloring angels *grin*.

Materials:

• Printer
• Paper
• Clean Jar (or use our angel coin holder to hold angel messages instead of coins)
• scissors
• OPTIONAL:    something to color with

Instructions:

• If only one child is doing this craft, you'll want to make 12 angels (one for each month).  
  • If a group, like a Sunday School class, is doing the craft, you can try making 52 (one for each week)
  • Or you can just do one or two quotes per child and read them One per week in church until you run out.  If the children are fairly brave, you can have them take turns reading out the quotes to the congregation.
• Print the template(s) of choice.  There are 6 angels on each template
• Color, as necessary, and cut out the angels.
• The first 3 templates have pre-written quotes.  
  • The last template is blank allowing children to write on their own quotes.
  • Children can choose from the angel quotes on this site or can come up with their own.
  • Write a different quote on each angel.
  • If doing this with a group, you can write the name of the child on the back.
• Insert the angels into a clean glass jar and paint lid or or cover with a large doily, or tissue paper and use yarn or ribbon to tie it on
      or 
  use our angel container craft to hold your angel messages
• For an extra touch some potpourri or candy could be added or spray the
  angels lightly with fragrance.
• Attach a small card that indicates that the recipient should open the angel jar and read one angel message a month (or a week if you do 52 of them).
  • On the card, ask the recipient to share and pass on the angel message to somebody else during that month.
  • The idea is to spread angel messages to brighten another person's day.
  • If doing the craft for the congregation, pre-select the quote and print it in the bulletin with a reminder to share it with someone during the week.

Templates:

• Close the template window after printing to return to this screen.
• Set page margins to zero if you have trouble fitting the template on one page (FILE, PAGE SETUP or FILE, PRINTER SETUP in most browsers).

Template 1 (6 quotes) (color)   or   (B&W)

Template 2 (6 quotes) (color)   or   (B&W)

Template 3 (6 quotes) (color)   or   (B&W)

Template 4 (BLANK)   (color)   or   (B&W)

Here's an additional idea contributed by Cindy, Michael, Sarajane, Elizabeth & Rebekah:  

Our K-5 evening group at church hasn't met for 3 months because the leader had to resign.  Last week someone new was going to help. She said she could do the music if I came up with an activity for the 2nd half hour. I searched my favorite kids sites and found the angel hearts.  They were great. I traced a large heart cookie cutter and we put two together to make an "envelope" to hold the angels. We folded the front one down in half and used glue stick on the edges to hold them together. We used other smaller hearts I cut out to decorate the envelopes and then the kids took them home. Even the boys liked the craft and sometimes they are hard audience. In fact I think the 3rd grade boys liked it better than any of the girls. I read them the story of St. Valentine also.  This week I am preparing to send care packages to the college students from our church who go to school out of town. I am going to include some angel hearts in their boxes also!  Click here for the size template they used for the envelopes.

Printable version of these instructions