Roar VBS: Giant Coloring Posters « Borrowed BlessingsBorrowed Blessings

ROAR into VBS with these giant coloring posters (free template downloads)… plus, find out how we ordered a 4′ x 3′ giant coloring poster for under $6!

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FYI: This method doesn’t lead to perfect images. My printed graphics ALMOST line up but not exactly… and two of my sheets from OfficeMax are slightly different sizes (probably 1/8″ difference in length). I don’t think you can really tell from afar, but I wanted you to know this is a DIY-level project, not professional quality. 🙂 I’m thrilled with the results for the price, but these may not be for everyone.

Instructions

Save the templates below.
Print templates as architectural prints (also called engineering prints) at a print shop (I ordered ours here at Office Max). Architectural prints are basically low cost black & white copies on giant heavy copy paper (similar to cardstock paper).
You can order the animal on one sheet (which is formatted to print at 2’x3′), or you can order each half of the elephant as a 2’x3′ print, which will make the entire elephant 4’x3′. I’ve also added the template for my giraffe, which is 3 sheets (total size 3’x6′).
When you upload to Office Max, make sure you choose the setting that says “Fit to Size” to ensure they print at the right scale.
The architectural prints cost $3 and change each. A lot of times, Office Max has a banner on the website advertising 20% off all regular priced items (which includes print shop items). Make sure to look at the top of the website. You have to click that banner to apply the coupon. With the 20% off, I paid $5 and change for both halves of the elephant (to make a 4’x3′ poster)!
The posters print with a small white outline. You’ll have to trim one side of the outline where the two sheets meet so you don’t have a white line down the middle of the elephant.

Hang the giant coloring posters in your VBS area (you can hang them and let kids color before VBS for advertising, or hang and let kids color during VBS as a time filler). Let kids color posters with crayons or markers.

The elephant above is available in the template section. It is split into halves (so you’ll order it as two architectural prints). The giraffe template is also available below (split into thirds, so you’ll order it as three architectural prints, final size 3’x6′). Fair warning: The giraffe is a bit pixelated from being printed that large. In our foyer pictured above, I covered the wall with orange paper, then hung some VBS prep crafts (lion head, fingerprint giraffe and decoupage rhino).

Giant Coloring Poster Templates

To save the giant coloring posters below, click each one and save it to your computer. Upload the template to Office Max to print as an architectural print. You could also print these on normal (8.5″x11″) copy paper if you want individual coloring sheets.