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Recently, I decided to make shadow portraits of my Grandchildren ... all six of them! It is quite easy to do, very inexpensive, and does not take much time. Each portrait cost me less than $1.25.
The frames were purchesed at the Dollar Store for $1 each. The black & white posterboard was .50 cents each. I was able to make six portraits for a total of $7.00.
Materials:
1 frame for each portrait size 8" x 10"
White Posterboard
Black Posterboard
Profile Photo of the child
Printed copy (or photocopy) of the profile photo to fit in an 8 x 10" frame
tape or glue
scissors
pencil or pen
Step 1: (photo below)
Take a profile photo, filling the camera screen almost completely.
Print the photo out onto a regular 8 1/2" x 11" piece of paper
Step 2: (photo below)
Carefully, cut out the profile, with scissors. Make sure you leave little curls, or hair accents in the photo. It will add interest to the shadow...
Step 3: (picture below)
Decide if you want your portrait facing left, or right.
Place the photocopy on the black posterboard, facing the OPPOSITE WAY that you want (you will be tracing the BACK side of the shadow portrait, that way your tracing lines won't show on the front). In this case, I had to flip the photo over, and trace on the blank back-side.
Carefully, trace around the photocopy. I used a black fine tip pen.
Step 4: (photo below)
In the photo below, you can see where I have traced the outline onto my black posterboard. Carefully, cut the profile out; making sure to pay attention to the facial features that are unique to each child!
Step 5: (photo below)
Cut a piece of White posterboard, to fit in the 8 x 10" frame. Place a small piece of folded tape or glue on the back side of your shadow photo. Tape (glue) it to the white background. Insert it into the frame.
And it's done! The project took about 20 minutes to cut the original photo, trace, cut again from the black posterboard and then assemble into the frame.
I love this project, because it matches any decor and decorating style. These could look old-fashioned, prinitive, or more contemporary... depending on the colors or paper that is used, and the type of frames they are in. These shadow pictures will really never look outdated and they are so unique!
Enjoy your family ~ They are the most precious of gifts!
