This week’s Dare to DIY theme is Be Thankful, and you know what I’m thankful for? Woodland animals. Because they are adorable.
(Really, this week I’m thankful that we appear (knock wood) to be ALL DONE WITH DIAPERS around here. That’s right: my just turned 22 month old is a potty training prodigy. At least compared to his brothers. Nothing to do with Thanksgiving or Dare to DIY. I’m just excited about it. Someone’s getting a stocking full of underwear for Christmas!)
Okay, so my banner is not terribly Thanksgiving specific. But 1. it has a turkey and 2. it’s one of those things that can easily transition from Thanksgiving decoration to Christmas and then stay up all through the winter. At least. Or all year, because of the adorable.
The string stays up all year, and we change out what we hang from it regularly. It’s had a more conventional Thanksgiving banner for the past two Thanksgivings, a spooky anatomy banner three Halloweens running, vintage flower prints, an advent calendar one year, and pages from an old kids’ science book. It’s fun having something that’s so easy to change up on a whim. This time around we went really crazy and switched out the string, too. It used to be plain brown twine, but for this we put up some black and white jute cord. Extra fun!
All the images for this came from the Biodiversity Heritage Library, which is my very favorite source for printables. Usually I want to print animals, so it works out really well. But also they have lots of plants. The easiest way to find what you want is their flickr stream; just type what you’re looking for into the search window in the upper right, and make sure to specify on the pull down menu that you only want to search Biodiversity Heritage’s stream.
I came up twenty woodland animals, but it took some doing, two different owls and two different birds, and googling, “what animals live in the woods.” I saved them all to my computer (you can download different sizes, but I used original size for all of them), then used the “combine” feature on Photoscape to put four to a page, and printed them out.
I used kind of a cream colored cardstock, but the images are usually kind of that color in the background anyway, because they’re from old books. Some people with awesome photoshop skills, like my friend, Katja, can take all that yellow-y background right out of there, but I just leave it and pretend that’s how I wanted it all along.
Those pictures make them look kind of hazy and weird. I don’t know why. It rained all day and made photography challenging.
Anyway, then we (well, Dave. He’s taller. I’m really thankful to have such tall people around to reach things for me) hung them up. And now we’re ready for all the holidays. Plus winter.
I’m linking up with the fabulous Dare to DIY link party. Hop over and check out all the other thankful projects! Today the aforementioned Katja, from Shift Ctrl Art, is hosting.
First I’m jealous of Abe being potty trained. That truly is something to be thankful about…then realize you need another one to fill that void in your life. I mean all the free time you’ll have now from not changing diapers seems like it should be channeled into having a newborn.
That banner is wonderful!! It’s also so Boxy Colonial. If I saw vintage cards like that I would immediately think Gretchen! It’s holiday decorating but still completely your style! Bravo!
It’s okay, because I’m spending all that free time hanging out in the bathroom with Abe now. I think he pretends that has to pee again just because he likes to wash his hands. So, what I’m saying, is that I don’t need another baby after all! phew!
Animal decor!!! Of course I love it
Can’t go wrong, right? 🙂
oh my lord you know i love this!!!!!!!! all. the. animals.
we should make a brass animal banner, but with fake brass plastic because brass might weigh too much.
Brilliant!!
I knew Abe was a prodigy all along 🙂 Yay for being almost diaper free. What a great Christmas present! Let’s talk about your fabulous animal banner. I just love the woodsy feel it has. I have thinking about how I could do something woodsy for Christmas this year. Oh and that moose. He is totally calling my name!! I just love your banner Gretchen, as you probably knew I would !! Oh and thanks for being tall Dave!
That’s really why I picked him….the tall thing. Ari’s got a good 6 or 7 inches on me now, too, so I can get high things even when Dave’s at work! Which is the real reason we homeschool 😉
I’m sorry, I just cannot get over my jealousy of Abe being potty trained. At the rate we’re going, Henry will be going to college in diapers.
Love your banner. It’s great for thanksgiving and all year!
Thanks for linking up!
Well, it took me four tries to get to an under 2 potty trainer, if it makes you feel any better. You may still be changing diapers, but at least you don’t have FOUR BOYS 😉
This fits your house perfectly! ABE IS POTTY TRAINED?! YOU JUST HAD HIM! But really, Boxy Colonial was MADE for Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving decor.
Right?! I would say that it makes me sad because it means he’s growing up too fast, but…..nah 😉
I love these, but I would not be mature enough not to put all sorts of little photobomb images behind the animals. “Why, what a lovely picture of a deer, but is that a tiny Bigfoot in the background?”
ha! That would be incredible! If only I had thought of it….
Loving your woodland animals friend! They are PERFECT for Thanksgiving!!! And look so beautiful set against your wall! And are you kidding me??? He is potty trained already!?!?! How fantastic is that!!!!! Many things to be thankful for indeed! Wishing you a wonderful week! Nicole xo
Yay for potty training! This banner is super cute too!
HUGE congrats on the potty training–such a big milestone (and such a relief for mom)! And your animal banner is so fun–I love that it doesn’t scream Thanksgiving, so you can leave it up longer, but it still feels very ‘fall’ to me. So cute!
So really, Abe did your Dare to DIY project this week. Seems like cheating. I guess your banner counts. BUT CONGRATS!!!
Gretchen, you are the queen of crafting fantastic banners! I love how this turned out!
I love the pictures you found and used! I love not too themey decorations and you’ve done wonderfully here!
Thank you, Corinna!
I love it! You know I am the same way about squirrels and foxes and such. Congrats on Abe’ undies too. I am going to take approximately 10% of the credit, for paving the way. Elimination communication WORKS, everybody! 😀
Abe is living proof that it even sort of works if you do it totally half-assed and lazy! Better than nothing, at least 🙂 He’s even staying dry at night consistently. It’s spooky.