Friday, January 23, 2009

another first for me

i've been wanting to make these forever, well just for a few months actually and i finally got around to making them yesterday. i think these are better than any school picture up on the wall could ever be. i think i'll make one for each kid every january. i bought the frames one at a time when i went to walmart every week, they were $3 each (not bad) although i really wanted the oval ones but they were $8 each. the mattes were white so i thought i would spruce them up with some paint.
i decided on blue paint, i'm still debating wether or not i like the color, i almost went with a tan brown, or a sage green, i really wanted a light blue but out in the middle of nowhere you just have to deal with what ya got...i don't know i'll see how i feel about it in a week
oh and the quilt. since so many asked about it... actually it's just a fabric panel by MODA (of course) that looks like a quilt top and it's been made into a throw quilt...quite clever those MODA people...
have a good weekend, i'm hoping to catch up with some friends and relax a little and see if this cold thing goes away anytime soon, i mean GI Joe husband is coming home soon so i guess it'll be good to have the "sexy" low flem voice, but not so much the snot that goes along with it...
edited:: okay i posted in my comments area how i did it but i'll post it here cause so many of you keep askin'
i talked about a tutorial that i sort of used the method in this post here but i just did the magic wand around the kid's heads (so that the background was "cut away" and then traced it onto white paper from the computer screen, then i colored it in with a permanent marker and cut it out... a little wonky yes but it works and i thought it turned out good. next year i'll try paint but that just sounds harder to do!

31 comments:

Nash said...

i have SO wanted to do these. they seem hard.
i guess everything seems hard to me.
did you blow up a photo?

Honey said...

those are fantastic, where did you learn to make them? and where can i learn?

melissa said...

Very cute! I LOVE the look of silhouettes- I have plans to make some of my own for my entry way- above a coat hook for each of us. What technique did you use to make yours? I have been trying to find the best/easiest tutorial out there.

Four of a Kind said...

yeah i think everyone has the same question...how'd you do this? we'll need a tutorial! btw i've now seen twilight three times so i think i'm pretty hooked.

Stephanie @ My Answered Prayer said...

I'm currently working on these out of fabric but can't get my little girls to look right. What's your method? I took profile pics and blew them up.

Lisa said...

Those are adorable, great job! I have always wanted to make silhouettes of my children but have never attempted it, maybe it's time.

V and Co. said...

i talked about a tutorial that i sort of used the method in this post:
http://adayinthelifeofthechristensons.blogspot.com/2008/11/inspirational-tutorials.html

but i just did the magic wand around the kid's heads (so that the background was "cut away" and then traced it onto white paper from the computer screen, then i colored it in with a permanent marker and cut it out... a little wonky yes but it works and i thought it turned out good. next year i'll try paint but that just sounds harder to do!

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

You are funny. I was actually doing those for Valentines gift for myself, but have wondered if I could do it? Yours look great and I have confidence, yes I do.

Tiffany said...

Hi there! I'm following Mr. Linky from the Inspired room. Your project looks really great! What a wonderful way to capture memories.

jabeybaby said...

I love those. I have one of my daughter hanging on our wall. It's my favorite. Mine is lifesized though. We traced her shadow and cut it out of black paper. Quick and easy and soooo cute!

Felicia said...

Hey! I have lots of different blue paint if you decide you still want it lighter.

And I like the rectangle frames better than oval...but you already know that :o)

rachel griffith said...

oh vanessa they are perfect!!!
{how did you do that???}

the blue brings out the soft blue in your quilt.
{and that's just off the bolt??? it SO looks like you pieced that bad boy!!!}
hi-5!!!

i hope your pheobe voice goes away...along with the snot...before jake gets home!!!

HE'LL BE HOME SOON!!!
yayyy!!!

girlsmama said...

Those look wonderful Vanessa! I'm never short of totally impressed with your talents. I love the throw! Maybe I'll have to scour the internet and try to find a panel. :) I see you still have your checkerboard! I remember that from so many years ago.

Inspired Kara said...

I love the sillouette craze!

Lisa @ Life with 4! said...

I think the color is nice, then again blue is one of my favorites.
When I was in 1st grade our teacher had us make the silouhettes like this and my parents still have it. They are timeless!
I agree, much better than a school picture.

Annette said...

I like the blue. It brings out the blue in the quilt that I hadn't noticed before. Very nice project.

Unknown said...

Hey Vanessa! I do remember you of course. I love the blog, but you make me depressed. I hardly do anything anymore. I find that I'm not nice to my kids when I'm all wrapped up in a project. Five is just too many. I need to ease back into it. You depress and inspire me. Keep in touch. I'll add your blog to mine. Have a good one.

Lulu and Co. said...

They turned out great.
LuLu

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

What a great idea to do one each January. You will treasure those forever!!!

thanks for the inspiration

blessings,
melissa

Homekeeping Heart said...

Very nice! They are lovely on your wall.

Rachel Holloway said...

Those are simply adorable! Perfect in every way! What a great project...

Thanks for being my every day inspiration to tackle more projects and make things beautiful (or attempt to at least...) You are amazing!

laura.elizabeth said...

Okay so obviously I am not the only one who wants to know...HOW DID YOU MAKE THIS? They are darling and yes a thousand times better than school pictures on the wall. So spill the beans girl- how did you do it?

Anonymous said...

So darling! And I like the blue.

Tangee said...

That is so cute! I love those. I've seen them in blogland and was thinking of doing 4 of my kids.

Let's see if I actually do it, lol. Your blog is so fun to visit.

MegJill said...

Those turned out so nice! Actually, I love the rectangle frames, and you can't beat $3!

Sachiko said...

They look great! I'm so glad that your GI Joe Husband is coming home soon!!!

Kim of Milkybeer Handmade said...

Absolutely adorable. You've inspired me to do my own version: http://milkybeer.blogspot.com/2009/01/friday-night-project.html

Camille said...

Great stuff, all of it! The silhouettes, the decorating, the stippling, the moda hexagon quilt (which you already know I'm totally coveting). YOU are one talented mama!

Southerner said...

I am home sick from church and found your blog from the November list on The Farm Chicks.s I just wanted to say you have made my eyes feel good today! I am just drooling over your decorating. I want to make my first quilt this year so am looking at yours and colors and thinking I am gong to do this. I wish I had a "Valentine Quilt" but am not even going to attemp it in a couple of weeks!

Anonymous said...

I like the blue. And your quilt is to die for! Yay you! :)

Anonymous said...

Just wanted you to know that the quilt fabric is called "cheater cloth" and has been around for over 150 years. They are great, aren't they?

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