Parenting

Eleanor’s Silhouette

Eleanor's Silhouette

Silhouettes are always lovely, but there’s something about a baby’s that is extra sweet. I’m using Eleanor’s for her first birthday party.

I used Illustrator, but here is a silhouette tutorial using tracing paper. Have you ever made one? How did you use it?

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  • sarah
    April 22, 2010 at 11:13 am

    oh, this is such a cute idea for a 1st birthday theme!! :) she is so cute! i love all of the ideas on your blog!

    btw- i am having a FUN GIVEAWAY on my blog & it will be ending soon! head over to enter:
    http://www.thebrightsidestudio.blogspot.com/

    thanks!!

  • Kristin
    April 22, 2010 at 11:18 am

    I used Illustrator to make my daughters and use it on our blog-header. It’s time to update and add number two! Eleanor’s is precious.

  • Holly
    April 22, 2010 at 11:31 am

    SO CUTE. I just love silhouettes, and I agee that baby silhouettes are even yummier!! :) Your daughter is just too sweet!!
    xoxox Holly

  • Ludmila {CreamyLife.com}
    April 22, 2010 at 11:32 am

    Oh Eleanor is just so adorable! Today I went through all your pictures on Flickr related to E and would do it again! this cutie is a treasure! About silhouettes: I read once a tutorial and it was saying to take a picture of the person, print the picture and then cut it. Use adhesive paper (otherwise apply glue to the back of the silhouette)and affix it onto a background paper. That’s it! I still didn’t make one, but I’ll certainly do it one day! xo

    P.S. It’s official: I’m obsessed with your blog and work, Nicole! http://www.creamylife.com/interior-design/4473/pink-loves-brown.html

  • Licia
    April 22, 2010 at 11:33 am

    My son Andre is turning 1 shortly. Thank you for the tips on how to create a silhouette. I think I will use this for his birthday party invitations.

  • Ludmila {CreamyLife.com}
    April 22, 2010 at 11:34 am

    I just read the tutorial on Design Sponge and realized it’s very similar to the one I was telling about in the previous comment, which I saw on Style at home: http://www.styleathome.com/how-to/simple-projects/how-to-create-silhouette-art/a/21692…funny!

  • Lucia
    April 22, 2010 at 11:37 am

    I recently created a silhouette (also using illustrator) to make my third daughter’s birth announcement. It’s pictured in this post, several photos down. I like how you styled Eleanor’s hair in yours.

  • Karrie
    April 22, 2010 at 11:37 am

    So cute! I’ve made silhouette’s using pencil rubbing technique. I printed the picture I wanted to use on regular white paper, cut it to size and rubbed the back of it with a pencil. Then I placed the image onto a piece of wood and traced the silhouette. I then painted the image. It was pretty cute and easy!

  • kari
    April 22, 2010 at 11:41 am

    so darling! any tips for creating a good silhouette in illustrator? want to make a cute baby announcement for my sister that just had twins but im still feeling my way around illustrator! thanks! cute blog, keep it up! :)

  • A Jill of All Trades
    April 22, 2010 at 11:42 am

    I love it!!!

    I would love to have made one when Aidan was a baby, but I never thought about it. At least I did take lots of amazing photographs!

    You’re inspiring!

  • A Jill of All Trades
    April 22, 2010 at 11:42 am

    P.S. What font did you use for “Eleanor’s Silhouette?”

  • kari s.
    April 22, 2010 at 11:51 am

    very sweet and great idea!

  • Stacie
    April 22, 2010 at 12:13 pm

    Here is a link to the silhouette I made for my daughter, Violet!

    http://gingibersnap.blogspot.com/2010/01/little-something-extra-for-saturday.html

  • Nuit
    April 22, 2010 at 1:18 pm

    this one is soooo cute!!!

  • casey
    April 22, 2010 at 1:23 pm

    her profile is so cute! i have always loved silhouettes, i have one of me and my husband in our living room, and i made my little boy’s as part of his birth announcements: http://www.flickr.com/photos/caseybaudoin/4378557701/in/set-72157622790193636/

  • Mrs. Priss
    April 22, 2010 at 1:24 pm

    That’s precious! I adore how it looks in pink! I made one of my daughter using the tracing technique and it turned out pretty sweet. You’re totally right about baby heads being the best. I’d be too paranoid of how big my head would look anyway, lol.

  • Kathleen
    April 22, 2010 at 1:48 pm

    Agreed – the baby silhouette is extra sweet. My husband and I used silhouettes as a very tiny graphic detail on our wedding invitations. It gave the design a little extra oomph and vintage vibe we were going for.

    I remember having silhouettes done as a kid using a projector like to create a shadow on paper board taped to the wall.

  • Adrianne
    April 22, 2010 at 1:49 pm

    I love silhouettes! I bought a silhouette christmas ornament for baby’s first christmas last year from le papier studio, and my husband’s silhouette from when he was a baby hangs in our baby’s nursery now. I did the “floating head” for Mason’s first birthday party last month (http://bit.ly/bHWVdx). Eleanor’s is adorable!

  • kandice
    April 22, 2010 at 2:02 pm

    omg that is so cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute!

  • Amy
    April 22, 2010 at 2:09 pm

    I had a silhouette brooch made for my mother for her birthday. It was made from an antique optician’s eyeglass from a medical kit that was the “frame” and the silhouette was printed to fit inside and she used an antique paper as the covering for the back. It was so lovely and I wish I would have ordered one for myself!

  • magnoliatreephotography
    April 22, 2010 at 2:20 pm

    She is beyond perfection–your heart must melt daily. Thank you for the idea! I don’t have Illustrator, but I do have Photoshop–I’m sure this is something I could include in my packages, as I’m positive my clients would love it!

  • sarah
    April 22, 2010 at 2:53 pm

    love love your blog!
    tho i’ve been reading it for a long while, this is my first comment!

    i drew & designed one in illustrator of my daughter holding 2 balloons for her 2nd birthday invites, custom stickers on treat bags, water bottles etc. it turned out darling and now i’m hooked!

    i’ve seen an adorable idea on another blog {i can’t recall which one} where they drew a pink silhouette of mickey mouse’s head rather than using all the cartoonish invites and decor on the market. i think i’ll be doing that for her 3rd! what a great idea!

  • Kristen
    April 22, 2010 at 2:59 pm

    I made silhouettes of my husband and I by hand (the overly laborious way) and used them on our wedding invitations. They turned out rather lovely!

  • Celia
    April 22, 2010 at 3:07 pm

    Our whole class did them in 5th grade using a projector to make a shadow on the paper and our teacher traced our silhouettes with a peice of chalk. She used them as a party game for a party our class had, we all had to walk around and figure out who the silhouette was of.

  • Shannon
    April 22, 2010 at 3:40 pm

    Just devine…and what a lovely idea for her birthday. I may have to steal that one. My little girl has a birthday coming up soon and I was wondering about a theme to run with….decision made. Nicole I have to tell you it is so lovely every morning {I live in Australia} when I turn on the computer and see your posts, it is my interiors/design fix for the day, I love it because with 4 young children the hour I have to myself before they wake is prescious, thankyou for being a part of it and constantly putting a smile on my face…xxxx a kiss from all my kids for making their mummy soooo happy.

  • Natalie
    April 22, 2010 at 4:48 pm

    One Esty designer does silhouette necklaces. You might be interested as a 1st birthday gift for yourself.

    http://www.etsy.com/shop/luckymebeads

  • deanna
    April 22, 2010 at 4:59 pm

    That is so cute! and *of course* it’s pink.

    I did two silhouettes as a Christmas gift for my husband:

    http://applesandorange.blogspot.com/2010/01/before-and-after.html

  • susan
    April 22, 2010 at 5:43 pm

    Classy, a smart twist on traditional, and perfect, just like she is! And just like her name, too ;)

  • Amanda Fuller | Calico and Co
    April 22, 2010 at 5:52 pm

    What a wonderful Silhouette! Eleanor is so beautiful! I created one a few months ago of my niece and painted it onto a small canvas. You can see how I did it here on my blog: http://calicoandco.blogspot.com/2010/01/diy-silhouette-canvas.html

  • Natalie
    April 22, 2010 at 6:31 pm

    So cute! What a fun DIY project and great keepsake :)

  • Audrey
    April 22, 2010 at 7:28 pm

    I’m doing the same thing for my daughter’s 1 year birthday as well- it’s just too fun and darling!! Happy (early) 1st to Eleanor!!

  • Viv
    April 22, 2010 at 9:21 pm

    How sweet does her little nose that silhouette. I might have to give this a go.. if Robert would sit still for the photo that is.

  • tiina
    April 23, 2010 at 4:42 am

    Oh, that is just precious. She’s such a cutie!

  • wini
    April 23, 2010 at 8:17 am

    What a gorgeous idea! Eleanor looks adorable and her silhouette is soooo cute :)

  • shalini
    April 23, 2010 at 10:03 am

    That’s so darling….she looks so adorable. Thanks for the links.

  • HollyP
    April 23, 2010 at 1:01 pm

    I love silhouettes. My family has a tradition of having them done for all the children. Currently we have silouhettes of four generations, from my grandparents through my kids. My kids love to visit my grandfather’s house and guess which silhouette is which aunt, cousin, great aunt…

    We have them done for each child’s first trip to Disneyworld, by the cart on Magic Kingdom’s Main Street.

    Lucky Elinor to have such a souvenier. And she looks more like you by the day.

  • Miss B
    April 23, 2010 at 1:17 pm

    I agree baby silo’s are precious and of course Eleanor’s is tres adorable, love the pink:)

  • Buttercup
    April 23, 2010 at 1:30 pm

    My preschool made silhouettes of each child. Since my brother, sister, and I all went to the same pre-school (although three years apart), my mom had a silhouette of each of us at the same age and kept all three framed in our home until Hurricane Katrina. But still–at that point my younger brother was 20!

  • Bron
    April 24, 2010 at 9:13 am

    Hi Nicole – I have never made one but this is a gorgeous example and am definitely inspired to try now. Their little heads are just too cute. Can’t go past that lovely pink either :)

  • viva cindy
    April 24, 2010 at 9:59 am

    i love silhouettes too! I just completed a cut out for a jewelry bust out of wood and they turned out so cool.
    you can see here:
    http://cindyjespinoza.blogspot.com/2010/04/jewelry-bust-project.html

  • Terrah
    April 24, 2010 at 2:41 pm

    I have a little fetish for silhouettes as well:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/fabulousterrah/4317481977/

    Love that I stumbled across your blog again after almost a year. :)

  • Gorilla is my friend
    April 25, 2010 at 5:01 am

    A whole new world of silhouettes has just opened to me! Why have I never thought of this before? I am so doing my Kaden’s! Great blog!!!!

  • Kari
    April 28, 2010 at 9:51 pm

    This inspired me to try it out in Illustrator. I’m just learning the program, so I’m pretty proud of myself. Here’s the link if you care!

    http://mkhobson.blogspot.com/2010/04/beck-illustrated.html

  • Cynthia
    April 30, 2010 at 8:54 am

    I did this as a Cub Scout project with my den for Mother’s Day Gifts.
    My 25 year old son still loves his!

  • Tasha
    May 4, 2010 at 1:04 pm

    I did one of my dog after seeing your inspiration! I’m technologically challenged and couldn’t even get an exacto knife to work, so I just used scissors!

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/tmw715/4578456527/?rotated=1&cb=1272995841449

  • vana
    May 7, 2010 at 9:08 pm

    I am all about silhouettes.

    http://www.lepapierstudio.com
    everything in my website has silhouettes written all over it!!

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