{DIY} Our Silhouettes on Canvas

I've wanted to make our silhouettes for quite some time, and was inspired by how easy Stephanie Nielson's tutorial was (which I can't seem to find! wish I had pinterest back then), but her yearly silhouettes are fabulous. My method is very similar to the spring silhouettes I made and shared over at The Idea Room! A very versatile concept :)

Here's how I created ours :)

STEP 1:

Take a profile photo of each person. (use a light background)

STEP 2:

Gather supplies...

- printed photos -

{ make sure they're mirror images of how you want your silhouettes to be }

{ I just printed them from my computer on regular paper }

- canvas (I used 11''x14'') -

- heavy cardstock/scrapbook paper -

{ I used white, but I just realized you could use black and skip all the painting steps! }

- Mod Podge (glue) -

- black acrylic paint -

- sharp scissors -

- 2 paint brushes -

{ one for the paint & one for the mod podge }

STEP 3:

With paint brush #1 quickly spread a thin layer of Mod Podge onto the back of the pictures. Then press onto the card stock/scrapbook paper.

STEP 4:

Cut out silhouette (this is my favorite part:) BE SURE to get all the details!...hairs, eyelashes...and be careful with trimming and cutting too far into the face/head, it's like a wig: you can always cut a little more, but you can't make it grow back if you've gone too far.

STEP 5:

Use tape to secure photo to a painting surface (in my case, cardboard) so that you won't have to touch it and smudge the paint.

STEP 6:

Use paint brush #2 and paint! Be sure to do TWO LIGHT LAYERS (let the 1st one dry)...otherwise it will bubble like the 3rd photo (I re-did that one, only took a few minutes:)...and make sure the paint strokes are all vertical. Let fully dry.

STEP 7:

Put a book under your canvas (if it's framed and hollow in the back) so that you have a hard surface to press the painted silhouette onto.

STEP 8:

Use paint brush #1 and quickly spread Mod Podge onto the back of the painted silhouette.

STEP 9:

Center/place silhouette on canvas, press and smooth with hands.

Ta-daa! Display your beautiful silhouettes and enjoy!

I wasn't sure if they'd really look like us, but they do :) and we love them!

This is definitely going to be a new tradition...

SUMMER SILHOUETTES :)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I'm sharing my project over at:

Whipperberry

Go see what other projects, ideas, and recipes people have been working on!