There’s been an impostor in our house. This placeholder silhouette of a little girl has been staring back us from Clara’s frame wall since even before she was born. And it’s finally time for this fake head to go so Clara’s real head can take its rightful place. Well, not her real head. A rendering of her real head. You know what I mean.
After snapping Clara’s weekly photo on Friday (see how we do that here), we decided to grab a shot of her in profile while we were at it. We’d be adjusting it later in Photoshop so all that was important was getting a clean shot (which meant taking off her onesie since it was bunching up around her neck and shoulders). Photographing her against the curtain in the sunroom helped get the silhouette effect started and making funny faces at her got her looking in the right direction (most of the time) so Sherry could snap away from the side.
After about 15 shots we ended up with this one that seemed perfect for silhouette-ification (weird back of the neck lump and all):
Now we considered this low-tech approach (which anyone who doesn’t have Photoshop can do in about ten minutes):
- Print your profile photo out to the size that you want your silhouette to be (even if it gets blurry from enlargement it doesn’t matter)
- Cut out the baby head so you’re left with just a profile and no background (yes, it will feel weird to cut off your baby’s head)
- Trace your head cut-out onto black construction paper with a pencil and then cut the shape out one last time.
Instead I took the Photoshop approach (partially because we didn’t have any black construction paper around and I’m lazy). I just cropped the pic, desaturated it to black & white, and then played with the “Brightness & Contrast” (under “Image”, “Adjustments”) to get a mostly silhouetted look:
Then I used the paintbrush tool to fill in those lighter areas with black, which left me with a crisp black silhouette on a white background. Oh and I added some eyelashes and wisps of hair like we’ve seen in professional silhouette cut-outs. And I extended the shoulders a bit so we had a little more to work with. We didn’t worry about 100% clean lines on the added shoulder part since we knew the scissor cuts would straighten things out.
Once we had it done and printed to the size that we wanted (around 3.5″ x 5″ for our 5 x 7″ frame) Sherry “Steady Hands” Petersik took to cutting it out with small hair-cutting scissors. Yes, the same pair that she got at CVS and uses to give me a trim every few months.
Then came the official head swap in the frame (where we had previously used a colorful piece of craft paper from Michael’s for 60 cents as the background). Looking at our placeholder silhouette really shows how off-base our expectations were in the hair department. Oh well. She’s got time.
Oh but notice how we cut the bottom of the shoulders for a more “traditional silhouette” look (I added more than enough black on the bottom in that area before we printed for Sherry to create that little freehand shape as she was cutting).
And with that, Clara’s round little head is officially represented on her frame wall. Of course I’d be lying if I said we weren’t looking forward to updating her silhouette periodically as she grows… especially when that hair finally does decide to come in. Have you guys done any silhouette DIY projects? Or cut out photos of someone’s head for any other reason? It feels weird, right?
Psst- Wanna know where we got something in our house or what paint color we used? Just click on this button:
My friend’s baby is 11 months and just as bald. I think it’s cute! Keeps them young.
I’ve done a series of white silhouettes of my all white kitty. Used Illustrator to make them and then plugged in different bkrnds. Would like to make them w/ my two pups also! :)
aww, super cute!
for those of us with older kids, it might be something we can do in hindsight (scouting through old pics, creating a gallery of silhouettes throughout the years)…
Very sweet.
This is such an adorable DIY project! On another note, I don’t think I’ve ever noticed the “Clara Kenley” canvas before – where did it come from?
Hey Leigh Anne,
It’s a sweet gift from this site: http://www.numsi.com/
We actually got a canvas from them for John’s mom because we love their stuff so much!
xo,
s
Oh how I wish I could squeeze her! How could you resist? She is so darn cute. And the silhouette too. :)
LOVE the original pic you used to make the silhouette!! And what an easy way to create one for virtually no money. I’ll have to try this with the hubs one day :)
Aw, I know it’s not traditional, but I love the first black and white one with that little smile
Me too! It was sad watching John paint over it! And don’t get me started on how disturbing it was to cut her head out!
xo,
s
Great job, guys!
Quick question — any reason why you didn’t just do a background in Photoshop? You could have made a new layer just for the background and then updated the image periodically with whatever pattern your hearts desire. It would also be easier to add in future head shots and play around with new background patterns. No cutting, but you would have to print in color. Just a thought. But I do like the one you did. Nice work. :)
Hey Kristi,
We totally could have done that but we already had the construction paper background from when we picked up a bunch of decorative papers at Michael’s for 60 cents a pop – and you know we love to work with what we have!
xo,
s
That little Clara is such a cutie pie!
Thanks again for your framing “how-to” video, by the way. I just used it to create an assymetrical framing arrangement like this one in our hallway (Complete with a really cool painted wire “C” from Etsy, for our last name. It’s my favorite part!). It turned out so great, and my husband has complimented me on it so many times! :) You guys are the best!
Cute. Do I sense a “silhouette coffee book” coming? What about the silhouette of the dog on her wall? Isn’t Burger feeling a little miffed that some other pooch’s profile is up there?
Hey Sarah B,
That’s actually Burger’s true profile! John got a custom silhouette of him done by a cool Etsy vendor a few years back!
xo,
s
Genius! Who really has the patience to do it with construction paper–and this turned out beautifully!
It’s “baby week” on my blog, and I will be sure to share this on my Friday Favorites with my expecting parents. Thanks! abby
oh man your little crafty projects are spreading baby fever over here!
p.s. can’t wait to hear if you’ve had any bites on the house! good luck!
Hey Emily,
No bites yet but we have another showing this afternoon. Running around like crazy getting ready! We’ll let everyone know as soon as we get an offer- promise!
xo,
s
Great idea!
I love silhouettes. I have built-ins around my fireplace and I have my kids, my brother and me as kids, and my grandmother and great-grandmother as young women. I think it makes a classic display.
Wow that is a great idea!!! We’ll be trying to start a family soon so I’ll definitely be using this :)
She is so beautiful!! Love the pic of John holding her in the sunroom!
I love the way it turned out and I love the way it fills that frame. Perfect and pretty easy to do too! Love that wall of frames! So pretty!
Love, love, love the baby chubs on the diaper-only shot. What a sweet little cherub she is! And her adoring look at Daddy’s funny faces is priceless. I want to try this project with my pups’ silhouettes – if I can get them to sit still long enough to get a decent side-view :)
I love this! Now I just have to get a printer so I can steal this idea! That picture of her is adorable… I hope you guys saved a copy of it before painting over it :).
Oh yes, I made John save that pic before messing with it!
xo,
s
Somewhere along the way, I saw someone paint a bathroom in silhouettes of their children. It looked like wallpaper but it was each of the kids in a diamond pattern. I assume they just made a stencil out of each head and went around the room. I have been waiting for our daughter to be old enough to do a silhouette.
We used Karl at cutarts.com for the silhouettes of our pups and they came out fantastic. Wasn’t successful in trying the pups myself but maybe when we have kiddos DIY versions will be in order! Here are pics of ours, we put them in clean glass frames (no mats) from Target. http://trianglehoneymoon.com/2010/10/14/bigger-is-better/
Aw, the picture of Clara is darling and makes a great sillhouette =) I did some of my little family http://sarahfinadesigns.blogspot.com/2010/03/family-silhouette.html a while back and next May we will be adding a little one to the group so I hope to make something cute like this to put in the nursery like you guys have!
Bald headed babies are the cutest! And I’m not just saying that because I had three bald headed babies myself. :) Thanks once again for another decorating idea. My list keeps getting longer and longer.
I came across another option that could go with the low tech approach. Instead of tracing the picture on to black construction paper and cutting a second time, just paint the picture black.
I love it! But I think you cut too much away at her chin, you can’t see the cute baby-pudge in the sillhouette. Maybe that’s why you did it…
Hey Hayley,
It’s just the angle of that last shot! Don’t worry- there’s lots of chin pudge that’s still there, but for some reason in that one pic it’s less obvious! We love our pudgy girl!
xo,
s
OH MY GOODNESS!! She is the cutest thing! What a precious face, almost makes me want another. Oh, wait, no. Love how you extended the lashes a bit, just a completely adorable project!
Janell
I love making silhouettes and have them all over our house. They’re simple, cheap and personal. Does art get any better?!
http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/2010/08/09/how-to-add-a-personal-touch/
I’ve actually been trying my hand at getting the silhouette shot with my camera SOOC. I think (I’m learning as I go) that the secret is an underexposed photo so the subject is black, but the back light is picked it up. I tried around with some of the Atlanta skyline in this post – http://www.thestrengthoffaith.com/2010/09/on-labor-day-craigslist-and-silhouettes.html – Now I could be wrong, but I think this really only works in sunrise or sunset.
I love this idea! I want to do it with my two kiddos now. I’ve been trying to picture how it will look with my little girls wild curly hair though.. it might be a lot of craziness to try to cut out, but we’ll see- hopefully it works :)
i actually do silhouettes of people (and pets)! i print them all out digitally, so no hand-cutting on my part. i’d never get them right if i had to cut them. i use illustrator and create everything in EPS form. i really enjoy doing them – it’s so fun to see everyone’s kids and pets!
you can check them out here!
http://hugsandkissesdesigns.bigcartel.com/category/custom-art
clara’s turned out adorable! & great hands sherry!
My husband and I recently went to a wedding where they had a profesional ‘silhouette’ maker! You sat in a chair right in front of her, she cut your silhouette and then glued it in the guest book for you to comment next too, I thought it was the coolest idea! We each got copies of our silhouettes and I didn’t know what to do with them…until now!!!
I have a friend who was so enamored when her baby’s hair finally started to grow that she let it grow right into the most distinguished mullet you’ve ever seen on a two year old girl.
Love this idea. Don’t have any kiddies, but maybe I’ll try it with the pooches!
I LOVE this! It is amazing how you can immediately tell that is Clara in the silhouette. Sometimes, silhouettes aren’t realistic renditions – but you did a fantastic job!!!
Seriously, I have never seen a more photogenic child. She is quite a looker!
Wonderful idea! Your baby looks gorgeous, her smile is very cute!
What a great idea – sort of thing most people can do with a standard graphics package and and a good scanner. You couljd set up a mall business just doing this!
Great project!
Trevor
—
When you guys first did this project it inspired me to do silhouette’s of our two dogs! I went the photoshop route and printed them in a bright orange color because that is the accent color for the room they are in. I used small ikea square frames and wrapped the matting with scrapbook paper to give it a unique look! Everyone loves them and thinks they are so cute!
She is soooooooooo adorable! Great project, thanks for the idea.
What a great idea! Super cute profile by the way. :)
Very cute!
I noticed Clara isn’t wearing her BumGenius diapers. Have you moved on?
Oh no, she wears her cloth diapers day in and day out… except for in her weekly photo (we change her to a disposable one so it’s not as bulky and bunchy in the pic). When we snapped the profile shot right after her weekly shot she wasn’t back into a cloth dipe yet, so that’s why you don’t see it. We definitely still love cloth! We’ve found them much better for things like diaper rash and blowouts and we also love the whole money saving thing!
xo,
s
I too love that B&W picture, you should print that one out also and put it somewhere else in the house. That smile is just so precious. Enjoy every moment of her. Love the silhouette also….great work.
Wow, she’s starting to look so much like Sherry! So cute!
P.S. Can’t wait to see you on “Cutie-Pie” Nate’s show.
I absolutely love it!
What a great idea! It will be interesting to see how the silhouette changes through the years. Maybe you can do some sort of frame arrangement with all of them someday?
ps- love love love the bald head and the original silhouette photo is gorgeous itself!
Sooo cute! I did one too, using a picture of my son when he was a little bit older than Clara is now! He had some massive hair and curls! I did it using the construction paper and all that jazz. I glued down a piece of fabric to the cardboard of the frame for the backdrop and to take up space put his name underneath in black letters. Here’s my link of the post if you want to see it.
http://aprincess4ever.blogspot.com/2010/06/silhouette-complete.html
I was wondering how everyone was making those super cute silhouettes! Thanks for the tip =) I had always just assumed it was super complicated and never attempted the project for that reason. Now would it be weird if I made silhouette cut-outs of my ferrets and kitty? I think so! haha
You guys seriously crack me up. “Clara’s little round head is now officially represented” LOL! Can’t wait to see what she looks like with hair!
xoXOxo
jenn
I love that you can see her eyelashes in the silhouette!
I’m DYING to do a “his and hers” in the bathroom over our towel bars! But my printer is out of ink and I’m saving up to buy more! But maybe I should opt for the craft paper route instead!
Precious!
Thanks so much for sharing! I’ve been wanting to do this, but I wanted my husband to do it in Photoshop rather than trying to get it done the old fashioned way. I plan on doing it for our entire family and I’d like to update it yearly.