A few weeks ago, I got an email from a friend telling me about a cool online project: One Million Giraffes. Someone has started a website where he has the goal of collecting, as you might guess, one million giraffes. What you might not guess is that he is trying to do so by 2011, and that he wants all the giraffes to be created by participants without using a computer as part of the creative process. (For the full rules and more details, check out the rules page. There’s even a blog featuring favorite giraffes.)
Whereas my immediate response in learning of this project was to make some giraffes, it has taken me over a month to actually send mine in. But I’m happy to say that I uploaded my photo of 6 giraffes last night, and they now appear on the site. They are currently on page 2 of the site, but I expect they’ll be bumped down pretty fast. For the direct link, go here.
Here are the giraffes I cut out the same night I got the email–I took a piece of orange construction paper, folded it into 6, and cut the giraffes in a stack free-form. Then I taped them to the window.
Phoebe observed, very observantly, that my giraffes had no tails, and that giraffes have tails. She was right, and my giraffes looked more llama-like than giraffe-like. So, I retrieved them and retooled them to be tailed.
I also liked this picture of their shadows.
collecting tokens 
Oh, without using a computer. I read that wrong the first time and thought, well, that lets me and the dozens of giraffes I’ve made in the last five years out. Maybe I will send him the giraffe “pinata” I made a couple of years ago out of an empty oatmeal can and some paper towel rolls. That is, if Lorenzo will part with it.
Well, you can use a computer to send the image, just not to create the giraffe. It’s all digital in the end, but the guy wants the giraffes themselves to be made by hand. A photo of your pinata sounds perfect! And Lorenzo won’t even need to part with it.
Gee, I already have pictures. I’m in! (this is kooky, you know.)
This is really cool! Thank you for sharing. My 7yo is already very excited about this. Giraffes are easier I would say since you can always add the “spots” to highlight the fact that it’s a giraffe and not a horse.
I’m so glad you’re into this, subWOW! Yay, giraffes!
Yay! I’m so glad that (a) you’re participating in this and (b) you’ve posted it on your blog, which will hopefully inspire more people to make giraffes and submit them!
Giraffes are so cool. :)
You should submit the photo of the shadows, too.
I’m pleased to report that quite a few giraffes have now been submitted as a result of this post. That, my friend, is the power of giraffes.
so fun! MQ just came in and asked “what is that?” I bookmarked it so we can come back… giraffes are her favorite animals, so maybe it will give us some craft ideas, AND she already said she wants to make one (or more) so we can send some pictures in! fun!! :)
I hope you share your giraffes, Painted! I’m glad you feel inspired by the project.
I just want to thank you again. Giraffes are my favorite animals. I love watching them. After I read your post, the boys and I have uploaded 7 pictures to the site. :-) It was nice to hear the boys say, “Wow, mom. You did a great job!” for once. :-) Thank you!
Woohoo! You did do a great job, subWOW.
Cool! I thought the first picture was a mobile until I saw the later window shot.
Ah, I hadn’t thought about making a mobile, bshep. But I did like the way I got them to look like they were up in the trees.
Yes, I also thought it was a mobile in the first photo. Very cool.
Thanks, az! Maybe I should make a mobile for my next trick.
Love that shadow pic!!
Thanks, Kyla! I was a bit sorry that you can only see 5 of the giraffes clearly, though. Maybe I’ll try for another one in the morning when the sun’s coming though the window again.
Huh. This sounds like fun.
I hope you play along, magpie! I’m sure you could make some nifty giraffes.