Digital Silhouettes

Recently, okay maybe not recently, a dear friend of mine sent me a care package in the mail. It was absolutely wonderful and thoughtful and amazing. It absolutely made my day week. I wanted to reciprocate the favor, but while I'm crafty at times, I know she has me beat in that department. I wanted to do something I knew she didn't already have or didn't have the time for. So I created some silhouettes of her children for her. These make lovely gifts. Here's how I did it.

Step 1: Find a photo of each subject, preferable a side view or profile view of that person. Enlarge that photo file to fit the size of your template (I'm going to frame mine in 5x7 frames so I wanted to make sure they fit and filled the 5x7 frame). You can size them in anything from photoshop (expensive program) to free programs like picasa, picnik, or GIMP.

Step 2: Once you have each subject scaled to the size you need it, you can go ahead and either remove the background to make it easier on your printer ink or leave it as-is (definitely the easier option). Print each photo on regular printer paper (you want it to be thin and easy to cut through).

Step 3: Find a bit of black poster paper or cardstock and place it underneath your photograph(s). Using a sharp knife, like an exacto blade, slowly and carefully cut through both your photo and the black paper beneath it. Voila!

Step 4: For an added personalized touch, create a 5x7 print with the child's or person's name in a fancy script along the bottom of the print. Adhere the silhouette to the 5x7 print. I used scrapbook squares to attach mine and they worked really well, plus they're acid free. Frame and you have a great and personal gift that any mother would love.

Father's Day Free Printable - UPDATED

***UPDATE: I replaced the links with mediafire links, hopefully this will fix the problem***UPDATE x2: I put in some links for a 16x20 denim version and a green Stepdad version***

Since I was sooo behind the times on getting a free printable out for Mother's day this year, I decided to get a father's day print out much earlier. I did another subway art type graphic print but about dad-isms. You know...all those rules and epithets that all great dads say like, "Stop making that face or it'll get stuck that way!" I know my dad always had rules and expectations about how we children were to behave, and now that I'm an adult with children of my own, I definitely appreciate all that he did for us. I now know that all those rules were designed to protect us, nurture us, and make us become more compassionate adults.

Also, if you don't get the message, try reading the colored words. I call this one, "dads rule!"
I've created this 5x7 design in four lovely shades: denim, citrus, robin's egg, and pea green. You can see a sample of all four colors below. If you want a different color or size, just message me or drop a comment below and feel free to follow my blog as I plan to create more free printables in the future! The card looks great printed on heavy cardstock. Then write a personal message or poem on the backside, sign and date, and frame. You don't have to frame it, but it looks really lovely in a black frame.

Here's the links to the downloads:
Click  HERE for the denim version
Click  HERE for the citrus version
Click  HERE for the robin's egg version
Click  HERE for the pea green version
Click  HERE for the denim 16x20 version
Click  HERE for the green Stepdad version


Please respect my work and don't try to pass the design off as your own, or resell it. Please don't distribute it in any way, but if you want to share the design, please share this blog post. Thanks!

Also, if you're a fan of the original design that I created for Mother's day and want me to switch out MOM with DAD just let me know. I just wanted to do something a little bit different for the fathers out there. You can see that original design HERE


Designs copyright 2011 by Amy Proffitt.


Linking up at:   Coastal Charm, Today's Creative Blog, The DIY Showoff, At Home with K, Sumos Sweet Stuff, Marvelously Messy, Crafts Keep Me Sane, Between Naps on the Porch, C.R.A.F.T., Making the World Cuter, Sugar Bee Crafts, Someday Crafts, Sew Woodsy, Run With Glitter, Finger Prints on the Fridge, A Vision to Remember, Tatertots and Jello, Lolly Jane Boutique, I Heart Naptime, Under the Table and Dreaming, Kuzak's Closet, Petite Hermine, A Bowl Full of Lemons

Mother's Day free printable poster card design

Did you know Mother's Day was next weekend? I didn't. I thought it would be later in May. I guess I better get my act together!

I have the world's best mom as I'm sure most of you do too. So I designed some fun printable designs to share. They are sized at 5x7 and come in four standard colors (red, pink, citrus, and teal/aqua). If you want a different color or size, just message me or drop a comment below.

These are great printed out on heavy cardstock. Then write a personal message or poem on the backside, sign and date, and frame. You don't have to frame it, but it looks really lovely in a black frame.

Here's what all four standard colors look like:

Here's the links to download them:
Click Here for the PINK version
Click Here for the RED version
Click Here for the CYAN or TEAL version
Click Here for the CITRUS version
Click HERE for the MUM version

Please respect my work and don't try to pass the design off as your own, or resell it. Please don't distribute it in any way, but if you want to share the design, please share this blog post. Thanks!

Designs copyright 2011 by Amy Proffitt.

linking up at: http://www.iheartnaptime.net/, http://www.bystephanielynn.com/, http://blog.kuzakscloset.com/, http://petitehermine.blogspot.com/, http://www.craftygeordi.blogspot.com/, http://www.iamonly1woman.blogspot.com//, http://nv-craftenvy.blogspot.com/, http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/, http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/, http://smilemonsters.blogspot.com/, http://lollyjaneboutique.blogspot.com/, http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/,

http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/,

http://makingtheworldcuter.blogspot.com/, http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/

http://www.craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com/, http://marvelouslymessy.blogspot.com/

http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/, http://todayscreativeblog.net/,

http://blackberryvine.blogspot.com/, http://www.thegypsyscorner.com/, http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/

the BEST mother's day

Yesterday was amazing! I had the best mother's day, and just generally a great day. I got to sleep in until nearly ten am! No little baby rolling about in my belly waking me up...he slept in too.

Then when I did wake up, I was met by my loving husband who made me my favorite breakfast: green pepper, ham, and cheese omelet. Yum! It was accompanied by lingonberry jam and reduced acid orange juice. Does my man know me or what?

He had my little man Drake pick out a balloon for me too as well as some gorgeous flowers at the florist's. Apparently Drake couldn't pick out just one balloon. He wanted two. Once I woke up, Daddy took him upstairs where the balloons and gifts were hidden. He told Drake to take me the balloons, so my first sight of my adorable little boy that day was seeing him streaking past me, running in a blur, with two bright mother's day balloons streaming behind him. It was the cutest thing I've ever seen.

After breakfast, I received the most thoughtful gift: a scrapbook with regular photo album pages. Dear hubby pointed out that I love to scrapbook but haven't made a family scrapbook yet. Wow. I hadn't even come to that realization, but he's right. And I'm so excited to create another scrapbook. The front has an opening for a picture and I can't wait to fill it with a family picture of all of us.

And that was only the beginning of my day...I didn't change a single diaper, my little boy was an angel, and my husband was loving and attentive...I felt so special. Thanks for the best mother's day ever, baby!