Aryn Henning Nichols

Get silly – and have some fun – with these super easy DIY gnome photo props.

Get your supplies together. You’ll need:
• Gnome hat & mushroom template download
• Gnome beard template download
• White card stock
• Three longish sticks (we used shish kabob sticks here)
• Packing tape
• Scissors
• Willing photo participants!

First, download and print (we suggest printing on card stock for durability) the two pages of DIY gnome photo props templates (hat + mushroom & beard). Then get to cutting them out!

Follow the dotted line along the bottom of the beard (unless you want a different shape or something!).

Once you’ve got them cut out, you are ready to tape on the sticks!

Think about where you want the sticks to be positioned when you hold them up to your face and head. If you’re using both (or all) props at once, you’ll want to put the sticks on opposite sides of the cut-outs so you can hold one with one hand, and one with the other. Use your packing tape to attach sticks to the props.

Like so! (As you can see, my taping wasn’t the best, but it sure doesn’t matter – you can’t see it on the other side!) FYI: The mushroom is a bit hard to handle with the beard at the same time, so you decide whether you want to use it or not.

And now you’re ready to take some silly photos! We suggest you go outside and find the best gnome background for your photoshoot, and make sure to have fun!

Love this project? Check out all our other Paper Projects here!

Want to get us word about a place we missed?
Send us a note and your link details through our contact page!
Thanks!

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Northeast Iowa

Cresco Theatre & Opera House – Cresco, Iowa

Decorah, Iowa:

Convergence CiderWorks – Sunday live music

Impact Coffee

Lawn Chair Night – seasonal outdoor series

Luther College Center Stage Series

Nordic Fest – annual fest last full weekend in July

Pulpit Rock Brewing Co.

Seed Savers Benefit Concert – annual summer event

Toppling Goliath Brewing Co.

Elkader, Iowa

Elkader Opera House

Turkey River Cabin Concerts – seasonal outdoor music series – rural Elkader, IA

Southwest Wisconsin

Aendre Art – Ferryville, WI

Driftless Music Gardens – rural Yuba, WI

Larryfest – rural La Farge, WI

Prairie Dog Blues Festival – Prairie du Chien, WI

The Tavern – Prairie du Chien, WI

The Drake Piano Bar – Prairie du Chien, WI

Trempealau Hotel – Trempealau, WI

Viroqua, Wisconsin

Driftless Music Festival – annual fest in July

Live in Viroqua – free summer concert series

Historic Temple Theatre – Viroqua

Vernon Co Music in the Parks- every Wednesday June / July / August

Viroqua Night Market – second Fridays, May-September

La Crosse, Wisconsin

Cavalier Theater

Concordia Ballroom

Funke Friday @ The Charmant

Huck Finn’s on the Water

Leo and Leona’s

Moon Tunes – seasonal outdoor music series

Mid West Music Fest – La Crosse, annual November

Popcorn Tavern

The Root Note

The Warehouse

Southeast Minnesota

Apollo Music Festival – Houston, MN

Big Turn Music Festival – annual winter festival – Red Wing, MN

Lanesboro, Minnesota

High Court Pub

Rhythms on the Root – annual summer music series

St. Mane Theatre

Winona, Minnesota

Boats & Bluegrass – annual September fest

Mid West Music Fest – Winona, annual May event

No Name Bar

Rochester, Minnesota

Down by the Riverside – free summer concert series

Forager Brewery

Mayo Civic Center

Thesis Beer Project

Our Faves Beyond the Driftless:

Englert Theatre – Iowa City

Codfish Hollow Barnstormers – seasonal, rural Maquoketa, IA

CSPS – Cedar Rapids

First Ave & 7th St Entry – Minneapolis

Mission Creek Festival – annual spring event – Iowa City, IA

“Just do the next right thing” is a quote from Anna in Frozen that I like to bring up a lot around here. (It’s a hazard of raising a kid through the Frozen era, but honestly, I’m totally good with it.)

The next right thing is what comes to my mind when I think about Living in the Now. Sometimes when we zoom out so far, we see mistakes in the past and mountains in the future, and moving forward feels impossible. But you are here. Now. Do the next right thing.

But how do you focus in like that? How can you remain present in the moment and in your current choices? Mindfulness (another popular word in Inspire(d)-land) is one of the most helpful tools for living in the now, and it’s a habit and practice in which we can all find rewards. When you’re mindful of your breathing, your shoulders relax; your stress eases. When you’re mindful of the food you’re eating, it becomes more enjoyable, and you’re more in tune with your body. When you’re mindful of your time and habits, you become more engaged and engaging with your loved ones.

Spring feels like a great time for mindfulness. It’s my favorite season of all. I love noticing the little green shoots that start poking out of the earth. I love the first 50-degree day that somehow feels like summer. I love the light that lasts just a little longer each day.

But if we aren’t living in the now, we won’t take note of these things we love. And then our lives pass us by. The only thing we can be certain of is this moment right now. What are you going to do with it? Regret something from yesterday? Worry about something for tomorrow? Or find something to be joyful about today?

I’m going for the latter. And while it might seem like that’s something I, as a “positive person,” do all the time, I can tell you: It takes work, every day. It’s worth it though. 

In addition to this infographic below, Mental Health writer Olivia Lynn Schnur walks you through some ideas, practices, and tools to help engage your mindfulness and senses in her column for the Spring 2023 Inspire(d). Let’s get out there this spring and live in the now. You are here. What’s your next right thing? 

XOXO – Aryn