Skip to main content

DIY Gifts from Kids: Child Silhouette Portraits

2 min read
DIY Gifts from Kids: Child Silhouette Portraits

With the holidays just around the corner, why not get your children involved in making homemade gifts for your family? Not only will you gain the opportunity to spend quality time with each other, but your children will feel a sense of pride in giving something to their loved ones that they helped to create.

This silhouette craft for kids could be a great present from grandchildren to their grandparents.

What you’ll need:

  • Large sheets of white drawing paper (at least 2 sheets per portrait)
  • Black construction paper
  • Sharp pencil
  • Safety scissors
  • Glue stick and adhesive tape
  • Desk lamp or floor lamp or other source of bright light
  • Chair or stool
  • Picture frame 8”x10”
  • Ready-made matboard to fit between the picture frame and the silhouette portrait

Directions:

    1. Affix a large sheet of white paper to a wall. Put the chair or stool in front of the paper, facing sideways. Put the lamp or other light source in front of the chair, pointing the light toward the paper on the wall.

 

    1. Have your child (or the subject of the silhouette) sit on the chair, so that your child’s profile shadow is cast onto the white paper. Adjust the lamp so that it produces a sharp shadow on the paper. Typically, the closer the subject is to the light, the more definition you will be able to produce in the silhouette.

 

    1. While your child or the subject of the silhouette sits very still, trace the outline of the subject’s head, neck and shoulders onto the white paper, using the pencil.

 

    1. Remove the paper from the wall. Lightly apply glue to the back of the paper and then attach it to the black construction paper, silhouette outline side up.

 

    1. Using the safety scissors, carefully cut around the silhouette outline. The more accurately that you cut into the details of the outline, the more defined and recognizable that the final silhouette will be.

 

    1. Remove the white paper from the final black silhouette. Apply some more glue to the back of the black paper silhouette and attach it to a fresh piece of white paper.

 

  1. Tape the finished black silhouette to the ready-made matboard, using just enough tape to hold it in place at the top. Then, place the matboard-mounted silhouette in the picture frame. Voila! Your silhouette project is complete.
Was this article helpful?
0%
100%
View All Lifestyle & Parenting Tips Articles

Swipe to see our products & get a free quote

Term Life
Term Icon

Term Life Insurance

Adults 18-70

Flexible coverage at a price that’s right for you.

Whole Life
Whole Icon

Whole Life Insurance

Adults 18-70

Keep it for life and build cash value.

Guaranteed Life
Guaranteed Icon

Guaranteed Life Insurance

Adults 50-80

Coverage for adults between 50 and 80 years old.

Accident Protection
Accident Icon

Accident Protection

Adults 18-69

Help protect loved ones without busting your budget.

Grow-Up
Grow-Up Icon

Grow-Up® Plan

Children 14 and under

Valuable protection that grows with your little one.

College Plan
College Icon

Gerber Life Insurance College Plan

Children 18 and under

Safe, secure and easy way to help pay for college.

Term Icon

Term Life Insurance

Get a free instant quote

Your quote

spinner sprite icon

Get a Free Quote

Have you used tobacco? *

* Indicates required field
** Currently not available in Delaware, District of Columbia, New York, or North Dakota

Still want to learn more, view our product page for more information.

Whole Icon

Whole Life Insurance

Get a free instant quote

Your quote

spinner sprite icon

Get a Free Quote

Have you used tobacco? *

* Indicates required field
** Currently not available in Delaware, District of Columbia, New York, or North Dakota

Still want to learn more, view our product page for more information.

Guaranteed Icon

Guaranteed Life Insurance

Get a free instant quote

Your quote

spinner sprite icon

Start here. It's easy!

Let us customize a Guaranteed Life Insurance quote just for you.

* Indicates required field

Still want to learn more, view our product page for more information.

Accident Icon

Accident Protection

Get a free instant quote

Your quote

spinner sprite icon

Get a Free Quote

Just enter the state you live in to get an instant quote.

* Indicates required field

Still want to learn more, view our product page for more information.

Grow-Up Icon

Grow-Up® Plan

Get a free instant quote

Your quote

spinner sprite icon

Get Your Free Quote Now

See how little it costs to help protect your child

* Indicates required field

Still want to learn more, view our product page for more information.

College Icon

Gerber Life Insurance College Plan

Get a free instant quote

Your quote

spinner sprite icon

Start here. It's easy!

Tell us about yourself, and we'll customize a plan just for you:

Child's Age *
Relationship to Child *
Your Age *

* Indicates required field

Still want to learn more, view our product page for more information.

We’d like to notify you about updates, videos, new products and more.

Notifications can be turned off at any time in your browser settings.