Monday, December 21, 2009

Silhouette Art


I have seen DIY silhouettes all over blogland and have been itching to make my own. The tutorials I have seen involved taking a photo, cutting it out and coloring the back with a black marker. That probably would have been easier and faster but I decided to take a different route so I could put the photos back in the albums I took them from. My first step was to search my photo albums to find profile pictures. Here are two of my daughter that I decided to use:

I taped them, one at a time, to a window (it was a nice rainy day craft).

Then I taped a sheet of printer paper on top and traced the profile. I had to improvise a little with the top of her head for this one since it was cut off in the photo.

Next, I taped black cardstock onto the back.

...and held it up to the light to make sure the profile fit and didn't overlap any of the holes on the edge.
Then I cut it out

I was lucky in that the frame I put my silhouettes in came with inserts that are white on the back. I just flipped the inserts over and used double sided tape to stick the silhouettes to them. If your frame didn't come with an insert that is the color you want for the background, you can use either the glass or the backing of the frame to trace the right size on the paper you want to use.

Then I repeated the process with the photo of my daughter standing up and one of my husband and I on our wedding day. My hubby bought me this awesome frame set one year for my birthday. The fourth frame is very small so I drew a bird silhouette to go in there. I am very happy with how it turned out and that it cost me $0 because I already had everything I needed!


DIY Day @ ASPTL

Funky Junk's Saturday Nite Special

13 comments:

Bananas and Damask Interiors said...

So pretty. I can't wait to see them. I'm thinking I need to try it!

Decor To Adore said...

Your DIY is DE liciously lovely!

Have a merry and bright Christmas.

Simply Jessabells said...

wow, thanks for posting this tutorial. I always wonder how to do silouettes.

Charity said...

I have always wanted to know how to do this, Thanks for sharing. MERRY CHRISTMAS

Donna said...

Love how your silouettes came out and the frame is a perfect style for this! Great job! I have a friend who loves this kind of thing and it would make a perfect gift for her.

Thanks for posting...Happy Holidays!

Kasey at Thrifty Little Blog said...

Those turned out great! I like that your collection combines a classic profile with more interesting couple and standing shot.

nest of posies said...

something similar is on my list to do in 2010. i too, have seen these all over blogland. i love the entire profile with body & all for the sihouette. so unique & fun.
visiting from the nester.

Amy @ Design-Aholic said...

Love it!

I made dog silhouettes too recently. I did mine with foam though... Check them out here:

http://design-aholic.blogspot.com/2009/11/modern-dog-silhouettes.html

Funky Junk Interiors said...

Nice!! Love how you framed them out as well. And never having seen a tute on these, I'm glad to finally see how it's done.

Thanks for linking up to SNS!

FJ Donna

Elisa said...

I love it! I want to do some of these your way.

Sweet Momiji said...

Thank you so much for this tutorial! I had been wanting to do some of these! Now I can without damaging my photos!
Love your blog and all the inspiration that I am finding here!
Hugs,
Hollie@ Momiji's Madness

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

LOVE this tutorial. :) Thanks for sharing it!!! I really thought they were professional before I started reading the post. :) Thanks for the visit...I hope you will join up for the DD party. :)

FrouFrouBritches said...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT! They turned out so cute! I have to give that a try!