How to make DIY silhouette portraits
November 18, 2008
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How to make sweet silhouette art of your family for next to nothing!
Silhouette portraits are classics -- they'll never go out of style. These are SO easily done at home, I think you'll be surprised at how quick and inexpensive it is to make them.
There's something so sweet about the profiles of children. You can make silhouette portraits of the animals!
I started with an old Goodwill item frame. I love the shape and saw it's potential:
Ohhhh, dahhhhling, is that puke green you are painted with? Yes, I think so. I've been a little obsessed with trying to make my own silhouette of my son. I found numerous people online who I thought did them fairly cheap -- $20 to $30 each. Now I realize how that is highway-freakin'-robbery.
All you need to do is take a picture of your subject from the side. (This is NOT an easy feat with a two-year old.) Print out said picture, place black paper behind it (I taped it on) and then use an x-acto knife to cut it out. I am in love with the black and white linen scrapbooking paper right now.
I spray painted the frame, touched up the raised parts with my bronzey paint, and I ended up with this...
A-dorable.
I did another one with a .99 frame from Goodwill -- spray painted it black, found a photo mat in the basement, enlarged the side shot a bit, and cut it out again:
I may put my son's name at the bottom with the date or year, but I don't trust my handwriting. Do you love it or what?? You can't beat the price, seriously. They both cost less than $3 bucks!
I may put my son's name at the bottom with the date or year, but I don't trust my handwriting. Do you love it or what?? You can't beat the price, seriously. They both cost less than $3 bucks!I grabbed a round cardboard box at the craft store and some paint:
I saw this in my Christmas magazine and have been thinking about trying it for at least a month now. I painted the box white, then cut out this pattern they gave in the magazine and sized it to my size.
Traced it, then filled in with red paint on the top and sides.
It was pretty darn cute by itself, but I wanted to make it even more precious:
What a great package for a gift! I have a plant ledge I put candy swirl stuff on, so I may make more and put them up there or I may use it for our annual ornament exchange. Close up it's far from perfect. And after doing one...I may not do more, or I will find an easier way to paint the red (spray paint.) There you have it...two easy gifts and a not-so-easy-but-cute package. All cheap!
OMGosh, that is too freaking adorable! A peppermint! SOOOOO CUTE!
ReplyDeletei really like that! think I'm gonna use that
ReplyDeleteI have that same magazine....rofl...Better Homes and Gardens....it has a lot of awesome ideas in it this year. My friend was gonna do some of those and our stores are out of those boxes. cherry
ReplyDeleteSo you mean all these yrs people who have done silhouettes and you always thought how talented they were and yet it was this easy!LOL!
ReplyDeleteMy fave is the box and never would've guessed what it was going to become in the before pic. The wrapping definitly "made" it!!
You crack me up.....I love the caaauuuuuuuuutttteeee! I always go overboard on my desciptions and Im sure people get annoyed by me being silly too. I LOVE THE peppermint...OMGosh...I want to copy.
ReplyDeleteAbout Biggest Looser....was it not vicious tonight!Wheeeew!!!!!!!
But everything on here IS caaauuuuuuutte! So you're perfectly justified in saying it.
ReplyDeleteBoth projects are awesome! Love them! Yes, I have been to HL and will probably be going 2 or 3 more times this week. I'm addicted!!!
ReplyDeleteOH MY WORD!!! Did I ever tell you you're my hero? You're everything I wish I could be! (sorry about the Bette Midler reference) Those two projects are so stinkin' CAUUUTE! Obviously, I have taken a liking to "your word"...definitely keep it. I want to make a whole slew of those peppermint box thingies. Where did you get the pattern? Also, you've inspired me to try the siloettes (can't spell). I have been super intimidated to try them, but I think I can do that! Plus I got some great 8x10 frames at a yard sale recently and need something fab to put in them. My 4 little cuties heads would be perfect. Although quite a challenge...2 of the 4 are under 3...aaahhhh. Hey, I'm up for the challenge.
ReplyDeleteThat's like the greatest idea ever with the silhouette! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteNot that a crafty lady like yourself needs the BH&G Christmas Ideas Mag, but I'm giving one away on my blog if you'd like to come enter to win :-)
I love your website. You and several others have inspired me to do the same. I have so much to learn about this. Can't wait!
ReplyDeleteLOVE LOVE LOVE your creativity! I look forward to coming to your site often. Thanks for all the great ideas and inspiration!!
those turned out great! if you get the southern living mag. check out the silhouettes they have displayed in it. great job:)
ReplyDelete~nicole
For me the silhouettes would be more difficult than the candy.
ReplyDeleteI love how you find so much potential in things and then follow through on the projects. I find the potential and just hang on to the items without the follow-thorugh!
Oh, wow...I LOVE the silhouettes!! I am definitely going to have to try those! The way you've displayed them in the frames is the perfect finishing touch, too!
ReplyDeleteI, also, LOVE the giant peppermint candy you made...too cute! Hobby Lobby, here I come!!
Oh, wow...I LOVE the silhouettes!! I am definitely going to have to try those! The way you've displayed them in the frames is the perfect finishing touch, too!
ReplyDeleteI, also, LOVE the giant peppermint candy you made...too cute! Hobby Lobby, here I come!!
The silhouettes are fabulous! I had one done of my children many years ago. I've tucked them away but I may bring them back out now that they are in style again.
ReplyDeleteThe candy package is adorable ~ what fun!
Jo
Ever since I say NieNie's if anyone hasn't heard of NieNie e-mail me NOW) silouhette wall of her family I've been wanting to do it. See! I told you MORE tutorials...I constantly need to hear it's okay to buy an ugly old frame and spray paint it. That's a hard concept for me for some reason. The box is cute...a friend of mine uses colored celophane (sp) and covers those cheap styrofoam rings and circles. That'd be cute on a candy ledge too.... Have a good day! Oh and I did get profiles a few nights ago of two of my kids watching "MONSTER TRUCKS" on TV. The Baby and the Oldest! It was TOO funny...I'm planning on posting them... THANKS!
ReplyDeleteLove these things...I wouldn't want to give any away either! I have been spending way too much time at Hobby Lobby. I think I need to stop preparing for Christmas and get a jump on Christmas shopping! Thanks for the award...I am a little behind this week but will post about it soon.
ReplyDeletehttp://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteIf you havn't been GO!
Huh-neeeee! When I saw that first Goodwill puke green thing I was squealing because it was crying out with potential! Glad to see you did it a great service. Silhouettes are sweet. My MIL had a lady do all three of her children way back when and the things are so good they even have eyelashes! Eyelashes, I tell ya! The peppermint candy thing was genious too.
ReplyDeletep.s. I like your cauuute - makes me giggle cause I can imagine someone saying that outloud. ;)
OMG those are BOTH Caaauuute! LOL
ReplyDeleteI was at HL the other day, but didn't have much time to spend there
I. MUST. GET. BACK!!!
~Tidymom
Wow, those are super cute! I wonder if I can convince my 3 year old to sit still for the silhouette project. I may have to try this! :)
ReplyDeleteGirl, you absolutely ROCK!! I never would have looked at that first frame and seen the potential you did--it turned out awesome!!
ReplyDeleteThat peppermint is to die for! Love it!
OMG - I am in LOVE with both ideas!! That peppermint had me at...hello?!?
ReplyDeleteLove it! The peppermint is so cute!
ReplyDeleteOk, so I am in love...in love with your site! You are so creative. Thank you for sharing; I'm always looking for new ideas! I think I may head to HL today and try to find something that will work for the peppermints...I LOVE them! They are so CAUUTE! (BTW the cauute thing is awesome...kindof a signature for you.) I have one question on the pepermints...how many coats of red did it take you to cover the white?
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas & yes, they are cute! I've seen lots of the silhouettes done lately & if I had a little one, I'd have to try it too.
ReplyDeleteThat peppermint is too cute!!!
ReplyDeleteYou just induced a mini panick attack in me. 36 days?? Fo' realz?! Geezy-kreezy.
ReplyDeleteI love both projects! Really though, the candy thing was on the difficult side? Dang. I may try anyway.
Hearts!
Peppermint cuteness doubled when you wrapped it up! What a great gift idea.
ReplyDeleteOh I LOVE it all! I know a certain little granddaughter that will soon become a silhouette real soon...if she'll be still long enough for the photo.
ReplyDeleteAnd am loving the peppermint! What fun that will be to have around.
This would totally be a great gift for grandparents! And love the new take on wrapping gifts!
ReplyDeleteLovin it, I totally am going to do that with my sweet little boy. Cuuuuute!
ReplyDeleteGirl, you amaze me with your creativity! Great job on all of these....caaauute!!! ;o)
ReplyDeleteHugs...Anita
I know whatchya mean about selecting/making a gift for someone and then wanting to keep it. Last year I made clear glass ball Christmas ortaments for some people. I loved them so much that I wanted to keep them!! This year, I made more and vowed that they would be all mine.
ReplyDeleteLoved the candy box idea!! I think I'm going to snag that!
Oh my, what great ideas...and it's a good thing we don't have a hobby lobby within 100 miles or I'd be there! :) Thanks for sharing all your caaaute ideas (and I like the word)!
ReplyDeleteNicole
you are amazing!!!!
ReplyDeleteThose silhouettes are A-mazing! Love them! And the candy. . . .ca-ute! love, love!
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh! That little mint candy you made out of the hat box is so stinkin cute! I love the silhouette picture too! You are just too amazing! Please do tell me where you find all your creative time!
ReplyDeleteCute I love the peppermint I kinda do a candy theme in my kitchen at Christmas! Oh did you get my email?
ReplyDeleteWow!!!! You are so creative! Love these projects.
ReplyDeleteOh My Goodness...we must be craft project sisters. I went to our local Goodwill yesterday during lunch and found to large cute wooden plates (with an u-g-l-y design of course) and I purchased them for 99 cents each to do a silhouette of my daughter for each of her grandmothers for Christmas. Great minds think alike! I wouldn't blame you for keeping the top one for yourself though - too cute!
ReplyDeleteBoth projects are just adorable. That peppermint is superb!
ReplyDeleteI am cracking up at you.... You did an excellent job on the silhouette of your little guy. I am so impressed. I have a two year old little guy too. I think I will try this. Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteLeslie
Okay...I'm a fellow Indiana mom who found you through Blogs around the World...and can I just say I LOVE THAT PEPPERMINT?????
ReplyDeleteTOOOOOOOO CUTE!!!!
Glad you enjoyed my moment of insanity! =)
ReplyDeleteActually, my daughter is my BFF most of the time...she's an insanely good kid without much of an attitude until Mr. Nokitov shows up ;)
BTW~ we're about 20 miles south of Bloomington... in Bedford (south-central part of the state)
Fabulous!!! I hope you'll join the party on friday!
ReplyDeleteWOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteM ^..^
That big candy is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteShannon
Stupid old me...I paid $36 + (got extras for the grandparents) to have one of those done about 5 years ago...just imagine how much money you saved now. I love the frames too & the peppermint box too! A-dor-able!!! You can use caaute however many times you want, I agree & it doesn't bother me!:O) A store owner once told me that she scrunched up that plastic stuff you have around the box & put it all over her tree. It reflected the light and was beautiful, so she said. I thought it might be a fire hazard?! Have you ever tried it? And by the way, anytime you're on the east coast, I'd be happy to go shopping with you. I could go everyday....even if it's just to thrifts! LOL!
ReplyDeleteRan across your blog today by way of SITS. Love, love, LOVE your blog!! Can't wait to see more! Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteLove the ideas on your blog! Keep them coming - they are tooo CAUUTE!
ReplyDelete1. i have hobby lobby 1/2 off love. never buy anything full price there.
ReplyDelete2. in total love iwth the frames and sil's...too much!
3. love the cauuuuute! don't stop.
4. i want to decorate for christmas this weekend...i'm still talking hubs into it!
5. i love easy fun and cheap...my kind of gifts.
6. gotta head to s's nursery. she's up and fired up!
Son of a gun! If that isn't the cutest thing I ever saw. You are so darned creative. :-)
ReplyDeleteLOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE oh and LOVE both projects!
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by my blog & the kind words :)
ReplyDeleteThat $1.99 picture is amazing sprayed painted black, oh my adorable!
ReplyDeleteI am in love with that peppermint, gift box. I'm seriously thinking about doing that for my girls!
I AM SO GLAD I FOUND YOU!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou can say "CUUUTE" as much as you want as far as I'm concerned, because your things are cute, (and it's one of my fav. words too.)
More to see!
Barbara Jean
I love the peppermint candy box! You mentioned you traced a pattern, do you still happen to have the pattern? I looked online but couldn't find the craft to get the pattern. Yeah, I am so bad I can't even draw a swirl!!
ReplyDelete