10 November 2008

I Can Make That!

Note: If you're visiting from the I Can Make That Party at Just a Girl, make sure you click on my main page to see the giveaway that I'm hosting on Tuesday and Wednesday!

Chris from Just a Girl was one of my very first bloggy friends. We started our blogs around the same time and she always has something fun and creative to share.



When I found out that she was hosting an "I Can Make That!" party, I was in! The idea is that most of us are probably looking to save a little money this Christmas, but we would still like to give gifts with meaning and heart. What better way to do that than to give something we made with our own little fingers.

So here's my contribution...Silhouette ornaments!



What grandma wouldn't love these ornaments with the faces of her dear grandbabies on them? I hope my mom and mom-in-law like them, but shhhhhhhhh...don't tell. It's a surprise. Maybe my mom won't read this post. :-)

The best part? They're inexpensive (ok, they're cheap) and pretty easy too!



Get yourself a few of those wooden plaque thingys in the woodworking section of the craft store. These were 50 cents each. I screwed some teeny, tiny eye-hooks (also in the woodworking section) into the top of each one so that I have a way to hang them.



Then get some profile shots of the kiddos. No worries about good lighting or perfect composition. Just use your flash and get a side shot of the kids. Resize the pictures so that the kids' heads are the actual size that you'll want them on the ornament. Print.



Cut out their little heads. This part cracks me up. I feel the urge to make popsicle stick puppets out of my kids heads. Of course, I had to spray paint my plaques but you could decorate them however you want. Maybe hand paint them with something beautiful or use scrapbook paper on them. That was my original plan with that piece of snowflake paper in the picture but it didn't work out.



Then tape your kids' heads to the paper you want to use for the actual silhouette (not their actual heads, of course). I used brown scrapbook paper. Cut around the template that you've made and Voila! A silhouette of your dear baby!



Then all you need to do is use some Modge Podge to attach the silhouette to the plaque. A little ribbon and you're done! Now go check out the I Can Make That Party at Just a Girl!

On another topic, I can't believe that I've left you hanging all weekend about our mother's necklace giveaway from moppetsclosets! The winner is Val from This Simply Cluttered Life. Drop me an email, Val, and we'll get things set up.

We have two more fabulous giveaways this week so stop back!

post signature

61 comments {Click here to leave a comment}:

Maureen said...

That is awesome!

jennifer said...

Hey - I CAN make that! Love, love, love it!

Liz said...

That is a great project. Now I have to do this for the Grandparents. Thank you. I love it.

Chris said...

Ah, Kimba. In a non-weird sort of way, you are the love of my life! Thank you for participating and for helping me with the linky thingy (sound smart, don't I?). I think I have it figured out THANKS to you! OH! And the silhouettes are perfect. My MIL is going to LOVE these!

Amy said...

I love these! I'm going to make one tomorrow just to hang in my daughter's room. So cool. Thanks!

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

Those ornaments are so cute! Thanks for being so creative!

Ally's Corner said...

Wow, how cute. I'm going to try these.

Pretty Organizer said...

So I'm thinking: How am I gonna line 6 kids up for profile shots? Do you think blurry profiles will work? Because I may only be able to snap a shot while they're running by me. Great idea Kimba. I have ideas floating in my head but they never quite get acted out WITH PICTURES! A+ and high fives for today's post for quality, usefulness and effort:)

Vanessa Greenway said...

Great idea! They look adorable! :0 Vanessa

Sarah Mae said...

Kimba, I LOVE this idea and I am going to do it! Thank you so much - you are right, the grandparents will love it!!! :)

Jane In The Jungle said...

This is awesome and what a fun party and so easy to attend!!

Kasey said...

I think I'm going to have to try this. Looks really cute.

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

You're brilliant - I love them.

Betsy said...

Great for gifts....great for me.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

So clever! Thanks for the tutorial. This is a wonderful idea for Christmas or any time of the year.

Happy Monday,

Sheila

Thrifty Decor Chick said...

OH my what a good idea! I'm going to do that one for sure. And it's a great one for the grandparents too. Love it!

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

You ROCK!

My First Kitchen said...

Love the kids on popsicle sticks. I smell puppet show!!

Darlene said...

What a GREAT idea....cute project!

K and/or K said...

Fantastic! I could even see me making one of my cat Betty.

Windy said...

I think I can do this - I am going to try!

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Very cute, Kimba! I don't have anyone with little kids to do this, but I think I'm going to make a couple of things for Christmas this year too.

LuLu said...

hey I can do that too. what a thoughtful gift...

Wendy said...

I love that idea....I think I'll put it to good use!

Katy said...

Ya, know....this is a really neat idea. {making Christmas presents} Every year I have great intentions of doing so....and it all creeps up on me and I don't do it. Shame on me for not getting organized enough to do so.
Thanks for posting this, maybe it will give me the gumption to do it. like your craft contribution

Valarie Lea said...

Shot, I saw Val and thought I had won something else ;)

I love those ornaments! I am so gonna make those. :)

Saucy said...

Pretty smart to use photos and paint over them, your kids didn't have to stand still while you drew outlines! As an art teacher, I'm filing this one under "MUST DO".

Sarah said...

That's so great!!!!!!

Unknown said...

I love this idea! I love silhouettes and this is just such a clever way to display them!

Amanda@Imperfectly Beautiful said...

I LOVE silhouettes, and have wanted to do them for quite some time, but didn't know where to start. These are perfect! Thanks for sharing your fabulous ideas with us all.

Happy Monday!
~Amanda

edie said...

You never cease to amaze me. This is going right at the top of my to-do list. Love it! Thank you.

Anonymous said...

What a great project! Love how they turned out!

Kristin said...

Cute idea! I could do this with all of the side shots I get of my daughter when she turns and runs away from me!

Valerie said...

What a great idea! I am so gonna do that of my grandson for my mother. She just loves him at it would be perfect. Love your blog by the way. I'll be back and am on my way to Just a Girl right now. Have a great day.

Jenny said...

Love this idea! I give an ornament each year with my son's name on it and the year...this would be perfect!

Anonymous said...

Kimba, I am absolutely doing that this year. How gorgeous would they look tied to a package? Thank you!

sandra/tx said...

How sweet are those? My kids would think they're a little too old for them, but I have nieces and nephews that would be perfect.

Unknown said...

Those are so cute and would be a precious gift!

Missy Wertz said...

Those are precious!

Becky@Beyond The Picket Fence said...

I love these. I think I will have to make me some for my tree!

Mrs. L said...

That is a great idea! I think I'll go ahead and make some for myself.

CMB said...

What a great idea...I am already thinking of all the things I could do with this!

These Are The Days said...

Thanks for the great gift idea. Leave it to Kimba for beautiful and inexpensive ideas.

AndreaLeigh said...

Very nice! I wonder if this would work for my dogs, lol. No kids yet!

Mimi Sue said...

Those are so cute. I hope I get some from the grand kids for Christmas. Mimi

jori-o said...

cute idea!

Sunny said...

What an awesome idea! Now, I just need to go borrow someone's young'uns to do this with! I really really want to do this....wait, maybe I could do my dogs?!? You are a genious! ;)

Raise Them Up said...

What a cute gift! It's perfect! I've really enjoyed reading through your blog. You have some wonderful ideas!

I don't know if you would be interested in participating or even have the time, but I've kind of sort of just tagged you to "share seven favorite things about your kitchen." I'd love to see your favorite things! I just posted mine tonight.

Cassie said...

I love this. It would be so fun to do on the wall with everyone in the family.

Lulu said...

I love this idea!! SO PRECIOUS!!!! I might just try to make one!

Tamara Jansen said...

Super idea!

Our Complete Family said...

Seriously? You ROCK! What an AWESOME idea girl! Thanks for sharing! Les

Christie said...

How precious! Thanks for sharing!!!

Avery Tales said...

That is great! I think I'll be heading to the craft store on my way home today.

Anonymous said...

Such a cute idea and so nice of you to share instructions with us that actually make it sound as if I could manage to make one! :)

Corinna www.myscrapbooklife.com

Misti of Studio M Designs said...

Wow! Can't believe I have never tried this before. You're so creative! Love your blog, I love the way you are just you. Some people are so afraid to just be themselves online. Great ideas!

Karyn said...

Great idea!

Blogger said...

Very sweet, Kimba!!! You're so crafty!!! :)

Bella

Lindsey,Alyssa and Carly said...

Love these.. here's my finally done and on the tree! http://my50acres.blogspot.com/2008/12/silhouettes.html I didn't do the cutting out steps quite like you but did them on the computer and then had prints made. Thank you for the great ideas.. Happy decorating! God bless and Merry Christmas!

Karin @ 6ByHisDesign said...

Kimba, had to tell you I did these, too! I cut out my picture and painted straight on the back of the photo. They turned out great! Thanks for the inspiration!

Blessings,
Karin

Sayukocraft said...

That´s one great idea!
congrats for your beautiful blog.
Regards from Spain. Victoria