DIY LAYERED SILHOUETTE OVERSIZED WALL ART

Like most Pinterest addicts users, I have more things pinned than I will ever cook or make or do.  Still, it's fun to look through such great images and glean ideas here and there.  I'm so happy to be participating in the Pinterest Challenge Project today. 

I've long admired the large silhouettes and pinned several images using them for inspiration.  I've also liked the idea of using an oversized backing to bulk up a regular sized picture.  I thought I could use a canvas or board, paint a fun pattern on it, and affix another framed picture on the front of it.  So, my plan was to combine these two ideas into my own custom artwork.

I've had the supplies and the idea for this project for about two months, so I was happy for the Pinterest Challenge to get on it and get it done!  I considered using a canvas, but wanted a specific size for my backing board and of course the canvas didn't come in the size I needed.  While shopping in Dallas with my sister, we ducked into a Habitat for Humanity and they had stacks of plywood squares, just larger than the size I wanted, for $3 each.  Score!  They trimmed them to size for me at Home Depot (for free).  I wanted to use a 16x20" frame for my top picture with a symmetrical border all the way around, so I had my boards cut to 26x30".

Here's the run-down of how I put them together.

I planned to do a lattice print stencil like my pinned image, but after the first round...yuck!  It did not come out well and I didn't have the patience to re-do.  So, on with plan B (made up as I went along!)

I decided to go with a bold black and white stripe pattern.  If I had planned that from the beginning, I probably would have taped off the stripes and painted them.  But, since I was already at this point I ran to Hobby Lobby and picked up some 2" wide grosgrain ribbon to make the stripes. Quick and easy.

To make the silhouette, I took photographs of the kids in front of a window (wall shown in this photo from a different project but same basic idea, you just want a good outline of their head.)  Pay attention to how their head is tilted, lips together or apart, how their hair is fixed, etc. You want their profile to look exactly like your finished silhouette will look.  

I printed the photo, then enlarged it on a copier to the size I wanted.  My silhouette was bigger than the standard size copy paper so I moved the photo around several times to enlarge each part of it, and then matched up the different sections of their heads and cut and taped the printed copies together.  

After cutting out, I traced the head onto black poster board.  After I decided which way I wanted the heads to point, I actually flipped them over and traced them backwards.  This helped avoid any stray pencil marks on the finished head since all of the marking is actually on the back side when done this way. Then, after cutting out turn them back over so they are facing the direction you want.  I mounted the head silhouettes with scrapbooking photo splits on a piece of white poster board cut to size. 

I purchased basic metal portrait frames with glass on sale at Hobby Lobby (similar here or here), and spray painted the frame gold (this is my favorite gold spray paint).  The frame had these handy little brackets on the back, so I put a nail right into the plywood and hung the silhouette.  By the way, I used a sawtooth hanger in the top corners of each piece of plywood to hang it to the wall.

Total cost for supplies: about $34 ($17 each)

It's difficult to tell in the photos, but these are quite large so I think that's a pretty good deal for custom artwork.

I will eventually hang these in the hallway leading to my Wall of Mirrors, but since I have a big blank wall in the dining room, I hung them there for now until I find a china cabinet to place in that spot.

 
I'm linking up with Carmel at Our Fifth House and Young House Love.  Come on over and check out all of the Pinterest inspired projects!

Also linking up with Ginger Jamboree Link Party, 52 Mantels, The Shabby Nest
It's Overflowing, Home Stories A to Z