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DIY Painted Family Silhouettes

Welcome 2013! I hope you all had a very safe and exciting New Years! I took down my Christmas decor yesterday and it was a little bittersweet. It’s always sad when Christmas is over but I’m super excited for what 2013 will bring. 
When I originally posted my Christmas decor and my Christmas mantel, I had lots of questions and comments about my gold silhouettes. I made them as part of my Christmas decor but I will definitely find a permanent place in my home for them. I love how personal they are and I’m really into cream and gold right now. 🙂
First, I got a piece of MDF board and cut it down to size. I made them about 8×12″. 
Next, I mixed some white and tan paint to get a creamy color.

  

The next step was to take side photos of each member of my family. I just used my iPhone and emailed them to myself. Then, I opened the images in photoshop and used the lasso tool to select the head shape.  Next, I did a color overlay in black. 
I added some eyelashes and touched up my ponytail a bit. Then, I printed it on a transparency film to use on my overhead projector. PS a projector is a must-have tool for crafters! I use it SO often…way more than I even anticipated. I got mine on eBay for $49 with free shipping. Get one ASAP!
As you can see, you don’t want to touch the ink straight off the printer. 🙂 Oops! 
This photo is a little dark (sorry!) but I used the projector to trace each side profile onto the painted boards. Last, I took gold metallic craft paint and filled in my tracings. Easy! 

Here they are hung above my Christmas mantel but I think they may stay for a bit. I really love them!
I hope I answered some of your questions! They really are pretty easy with the projector method.
Happy New Year!

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13 Comments

  1. i have something similar in my house but i did it a little different, if you have a silhouette machine you can cut you picture out on vinyl and put it on the board, paint over it and remove the vinyl. super easy.. just another way to do it i guess. but i love the colors you did

  2. Love those! Great job! I’d love to make some of those! I’ve never thought of having a projector but it makes sense now that I’ve seen what you’ve done. I’ll have to check out Amazon or eBay. Thanks for the tutorial!

  3. You’re so talented and have a great eye for design. This is the 10th project, from you, I’m going to try my hand at.

    All the other projects turned out gorgeous!! I cannot thank you enough.

    I’d love to know where you got your reindeer. And did you buy him in those colors, or which paint colors did you use?

    Thank you.

  4. Thanks for giveaways 🙂 Great items for homeschooling! I also like to have a mini projector (although somewhat expensive) so I can project presentations on the wall as well as show video clips when needed !!!!!!!!!!!!!

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