How to Make Old Fashioned Silhouettes
I partnered with Silhouette America for this post. They sent me a Silhouette Portrait for Christmas and I love it.
I’ve been wanting silhouettes of the boys for as long as I can remember. My mom has a few silhouettes of me when I was little that she had done down the Cape. They are hanging in her bedroom in simple black frames.
I’m sure you’ve seen the vintage silhouettes in design magazines. I LOVE this one from Country Living:
I knew this would be so perfect for our dining room and knew that a Silhouette Portrait would help me achieve this!
Wanna learn how I did this?!?
How to Make Silhouette Portraits
Materials
- Camera
- Photoshop or Gimp
- Black Construction Paper
- Silhouette Machine (I used a Silhouette Portrait but you can also use a Silhouette Cameo)
- Black Oval Frame (I got mine at Hobby Lobby)
- White Paper (I used watercolor paper)
- Glue Stick
Method
- Take photos of your kids in profile.
A light background is best.
Conor had a hard time understanding that I needed a full profile and wanted to “ham” it up! - Using Photoshop turn your photographs into silhouette images. First select the profile of the image.
A light background is best.
Conor had a hard time understanding that I needed a full profile and wanted to “ham” it up!
Once the image is selected, then you want to fill the area with black. We had the brush tool selected here.
This is how it came out:
3. Create jpeg images from the photoshop images and import into Silhouette software. Use the “trace” tool on this to outline your silhouette image. The red line is what will be cut with the silhouette machine.
4. Make sure the sizing is how you want it. I did my sihouettes to fit inside 5×7 inch frames.
5. Take your black construction paper or card stock and affix to cutting mat. The mat has a sticky adhesive to hold the paper in place. Make sure the blade is the right height for your paper choice.
6. Send design to Silhouette machine to start cutting.
I was surprised and excited how quickly the Silhouette cut these images out perfectly! Hooray!
7. Carefully remove your silhouettes off the sticky back mat,making sure not to tear them.
8. Press between books to get them to lay flat.
9. Time for framing! I decided to use these lovely frames from Hobby Lobby. I had a hard time finding oval frame and knew I wanted the traditional look of these!
Take your glue stick and apply all over the back of the silhouette and center on your white paper. I used watercolor paper because I wanted a little texture to my background. I think burlap or a patterned cardstock would also be nice.
I traced the card that was in the frame to make sure mine was the right size.
10. Hang your silhouettes and admire!
What do you think? Will you try this?
They make such a statement on our wall.
I love them!
If you’re interested in getting yourself a silhouette, check out the current deals by clicking the button below:
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What a great idea and such a sweet memento of your boys while they’re little. I am impressed you got Conor to sit still at all!
Now that’s pretty neat!
Forty five years ago when our children were very, very young I took them to a store that had a special guest come in and she cut silhouettes from the black paper. She just had the children sit there and she studied their profile and cut the silhouettes right on the spot with her trusted little scissors! Thinking back, I just can’t imagine how she could do that. We still have the silhouettes and they are just as special as they were back then. Amazing talent!
Super cool! I got a silhouette cameo for Christmas and this would be an awesome project to try! Thanks for sharing!