Does anyone remember the paper mache giraffe?

[Dingle]

Nearly 5 years ago I had to make an animal with my DD as part of a school project. It was a bit of a challenge and took us / ME ages. Although I didn't expect it, at the end of the Summer term that year Gerry Hula Hoop the Giraffe came back home.

I was browsing back through my blog the other day and had to laugh at the amount of times Gerry pops up in the background. He has been moved around the house, garden and play house and over time has become a bit tatty.

Gerry is currently standing amongst the clutter in a half decorated dining room and to be honest, he sticks out like a sore thumb.

Should I.....

a) Throw him away
b) Strengthen him up a bit and refresh his paintwork
c) Give Gerry a complete, wild and wacky makeover

You can see Gerry
HERE

[NeoMaxiZoomDweebie]

I don't remember him but he's fabulous. You need to give him a wild and whacky makeover.

He's unmistakably a giraffe but what about some more colorful markings? Or decoupage?

[rockinhippy]

Øøøø, he's lovely, :) you must refresh him with a make over!!

[rockinhippy]

Where did I get those strange Ooos from

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

OMG he's enormous!

Don't get rid, he's amazing! Keep him and spruce him up a bit. He should be a family heirloom

I don't know where you got those funny ooo's from rockinhippy but I want some

[Dingle]

Thank you for the replies. We don't really want to get rid of him but he is so large, he hasn't really got a suitable "home!"

He was tucked away around the side of the dresser in the corner of the dining room, but now my walls have been painted in Duck Egg Blue and Gerry doesn't blend in! (LOL, as if a meter tall giraffe would blend into a dinning room!

I was thinking a new paint job and perhaps some decoupage. I did consider a pwetty beaded tail too but I may need to change Gerry's anme to Geraldine!

[SoupDragon]

Paint him duck egg blue :)

As an aside, you can buy plain cardboard giraffes just like that in Hobby Craft. I've always wondered who on earth buys them - know I know: untalented parents who have to make animals with their children!

[NK346f2849X127d8bca260]

Yes go for the sex change!

[Molehillmountain]

He is amazing! Could there be a new trail around whichever city/town you live in with Gerry the giraffes decorated by different artists? They've done gorillas in Bristol - can't remember what it was in London that I saw.

[Dingle]

Right, it seems a sex change and a wacky make over is the way to go! Another job on my very long "to do list!" LOL

Thank you. xx

[MimsyBorogroves]

He's amazing!

I'd decopatch him, but that's because I'm unreasonably addicted to sticking gluey paper on stuff.

[Dingle]

My only issue with decopatch is I wouldn't have a clue how many sheets of paper I would need, so I would have to reinforce him/her, the repaint, then do a couple of decopatch papers at a time in a complete random fashion.

Any other ideas please?

[Dingle]

I've thought about painting "it" a nice toning colour to my duck egg blue walls, then painting flowers all over. I have this sort of japanese style or enamelled egg style image in my poor little brain. IYKWIM.

[Gales]

When I my children have to make something, I'm usually quite pleased with the results.....until I see the others, but that one's just not playing fair

[Jellykitten1]

Did you see Cow Parade... pick one of these!! I very dare you! How about a Pop Art look... or just spray plain gold (Gerry the Gold Giraffe?)

[Dingle]

LOL, how fab are they....although I don't think many of them would "blend in" either!

Going back to look some more. Thank you for the link! x

[SoupDragon]

There was an Elephant Parade too :)

[Dingle]

Something more subtle perhaps?

like this

or this?

Oh goodness me!!!! LOL

[rockinhippy]

& I spotted weird Banana type things whilst passing through Liverpool one time :)

I think he would look great in any of those, but how about trying to get a denim effect, complete with top stitch, they you could add all kinds of hippyesque decor, from embroidered look flowers, to studs & bells - it would go well with the blue of your room too

I'm getting carried away now aren't I

[TomDudgeon]

I was thinking about the elephants too.
Pick your favourite artist and use it as a theme

[rockinhippy]

Superlambanana - [http://artupclose.org/artists/glass/ HERE] this is one of the Liverpool ones, this blue mosaic style could maybe work for you ??

[rockinhippy]

WHOOPS HERE

[Dingle]

LOL. Oh dear, perhaps it would just be easier to throw him/her our to the binmen!

[PeterParkerSays]

Dingle I took my hat off to you when your original link got to "Gerry Hula Hoop was carried to school this morning and is now safely re-homed with a wide range of other animals in the school hall". How did you carry it to school? Did you have a wide load sign for when you went around corners? and are you glad that you got the giraffe and not an elephant or crocodile

One of the cows you linked to has wallpaper pattern on, so you could use wallpaper samples, or just knit him a duck egg blue scarf to go wit hyour room. Even if you can't knit now, you'd be a dab hand by the time you'd done 7ft of rib.....

[PortBlacksandsInkyWater]

Do you have a busy roundabout nearby that you cna rehome him too - overnight like. Could cause quite a stir

[Bluebell99]

Oh wow, he's amazing. I would keep him as he is, he looked great in the photo by the dining table.