Easy Silhouettes

I love silhouettes. So classic and timeless.To me, they always look like someone I know or have known. I really love to see them in a variety of frames all grouped together.
 


Image from Country Living



 I've been wanting to jazz up the blank area in our entry way, above the shaker rail. I thought a silhouette grouping might be cool.So, I did some quick research on how to DIY and I DIM in an afternoon.Here's the finished product in our entryway (my husbands profile is pending, I plan to sneak a pic while he's sleeping).

There are many ways to make a silhouette and lots of free tutorials online, just Google and choose your favorite. You can do them digitally or trace and cut photographs.I used the free online editing program Pixlr to do mine (thanks to my fab friend Jennie who shared Pixlr site info). For our family pet, here's the photo I started with:

I used the lasso tool and traced around the image. I then 'cut' it out and pasted it onto a new blank canvas. Then, I used the eraser tool to fix any rough edges, filled the image with black (bucket tool) and printed it. That easy!

Then on to framing. I have a supply of frames that I've picked up from thrift stores.

People look at me like I'm nuts when I wheel up with my cart full of ugly pictures, but they don't see the possibilities! Like this one.

Country sunflower hearts. Uhm, no.

I toss the pictures and rehab the frames with some spray paint. Well worth the $1-$3 spent and the embarrassment of buying them.
I used some leftover craft paper as the backing in a few of my frames.You can even do the silhouette in different colors.

Bella and Bean Storewall by Karl (via Apartment Therapy)

Add to your collection over the years & have fun with it.
Don't forget to write the name/date on the back of the silhouette- these make great family heirlooms!