How to Make Silhouette Portraits – The Easy Way (with bonus project: book wreath)

A couple of weeks ago I showed you a few simple things I did to improve the look of my living room. Namely, moving a large mirror above the couch and creating a wreath and family silhouettes.
living room
Sorry about the glare – here’s a side shot of the silhouettes that is a bit more clear.
silhouettes
I remember doing silhouette portraits in grade school. I stood where the light from an overhead projector could cast the shadow of my profile onto a piece of paper tacked to the wall. I remember having to stand as still as I could while my teacher traced the shadow for me to cut out.
Since I don’t have an overhead projector and I don’t think I could get my family to stand still for that long, I made mine the easy way.
Step 1
Take a profile photograph.

Step 2
Print on card stock and cut out. I like to use an xacto knife and my handy glass cutting mat (though a sharp pair of scissors and a steady hand will work too).
Step 3
Turn photo over to blank side and paint black (or whatever color you like) with craft paint.
silhouettes
Step 4
Mount on background paper, mat if desired, and frame.
silhouette
I used pages from an old paperback Harry Potter book as my background.
(I had used the covers a long time ago to make Newt some spiral notebooks.)
010

After hanging my silhouettes, I needed something to balance them out. I remembered seeing this book wreath tutorial online. I also remembered that my really cute niece had made a really cute one herself, and I still had a whole lot of Harry Potter pages left.

Here are a few more shots of the finished product:
book wreath

book wreath

book wreath

Now I can curl up with a good book, under the pages of a good book. What do you think?

6 Comments

  1. I noticed your wreath when you posted pictures of your room redo, and wondered what it was. It is soooo cute! Thanks for the tutorial!

    Reply
  2. This is very neat. If I ever have an old book around in need of some help, I might just make a wreath out of it.

    Reply
  3. This is so cool! I’m putting this idea in my inspiration file for our livingroom redo!

    Reply
    • @Christina and The Saved Quarter – thanks! If you end up making some I’d love to see photos.

      Reply
  4. stumbled across your site- LOVE it! great ideas!

    Reply
  5. Ok despite being absolutely shocked at how you’ve mutilated that book – I’m impressed.

    Reply

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. The Reading Chair : Frantically Simple - [...] love books around here – and not just for tearing the pages out of. There is nothing better than…
  2. Bookish Gifts That Aren’t Actually Books | Frantically Simple - [...] I made this wreath for my living room using these instructions. Wouldn’t that make a fun gift? [...]

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