Sparkle Craft: Colorful Silhouettes
In this week’s Martin & Sylvia: Saturdays! story, “Pet Portrait,” Sylvia notices that two very special members of their family – Billbill and Pickles – are not on the family wall. Looking to fill the obvious void, Sylvia asks Daddy if they can call a photographer. He suggests that they take matters into their own hands and make paintings of their own!
Why not create some colorful silhouettes to add to your own family wall? Or use our silhouettes to get a wall of your own started!
You Will Need
Thick Sturdy Paper (we used watercolor paper), two sheets
Tissue Paper
Mod Podge or decoupage glue
Paintbrush
Side-view Photograph, printed
Exacto Knife
Rubber Cement
What To Do
Start by covering your thick sturdy paper with small pieces of tissue paper. You’ll want to put a thin layer of decoupage glue under and over the tissue paper, keeping it as flat and smooth as possible.
Let the colorful paper dry overnight.
In order to cut out your silhouette, you’ll need a nice side-view photograph. Have whoever you’re going to be silhouetting stand against a well-contrasting wall.
Crop the photo, if necessary, and print it out. You don’t need anything fancy, just a good enough printout that you’ll be able to cut out the shape.
Tape the printout to the back of your colorful paper. On a proper surface, using an exact knife, carefully cut out the silhouette.
Using rubber cement, attach the silhouette to another sheet of sturdy paper.
Explore More & Make Connections
Have you seen a silhouette before? Where was it? What did it look like? How was it the same? How was it different?
About the Authors
Danielle Reiner
Danielle Reiner describes herself as a creative, a maker, and a mama. At the heart of her story is creativity, though that hasn’t always been the case. She rediscovered her deeply hidden creativity early in adulthood – with a ball of yarn and a couple of knitting needles – and hasn't stopped since. Danielle also runs Crafting Connections - a website providing inspiration, practical advice, and projects for creative families - with her close friend Andrea Folsom.
Andrea Folsom
Andrea Folsom describes herself as a writer, editor, creative maker, and eternal optimist. She is passionate about learning and sharing new creative techniques, making beautiful spaces, and talking about the social-emotional benefits of creativity and art. She runs Crafting Connections - a website providing inspiration, practical advice, and projects for creative families - with her close friend Danielle Reiner.
