Danielle has very kindly given us instructions on how to easily create our very own crayon silhouette artwork.
Step-by-step Instructions:
1. Take photos of family members in positions you want for silhouette including umbrella.
2. Upload to computer. Edit photos so all people are the same size. I used Microsoft Word and used artistic effects ‘glow edges’ to make the photo black with some minor coloured detail. You can just print out and cut out silhouettes in black card/paper.
3. Print out photos and cut out people and umbrella. (Alternatively create silhouettes and print them on the paper you want to use to save cutting out)
4. If cutting out, stick the people on to the paper you want to use (I used A4 but you can use any size)
5. Cut out an arch and put it over your picture/silhouettes to avoid the wax running on to it. You may need to use a bit of thicker card/cardboard at the top to prevent it leaking under the card.
6. Organise wax crayons into colours (I used 2 packs of crayola) – make sure you have a few of the same colour next to each other and line them up in rainbow order. This will avoid the colours running into each other too much. You can either cello tape them to the top of the paper you have the photo on or a separate piece of paper that you put next to it. I chose to put the crayons on a separate piece of paper to have total coverage of wax on the paper.
7. Find an area where you can position the paper upright and where you don’t mind a mess! I used my kitchen and then cardboard as a shield for the mess.
8. Once the paper is upright, get a hairdryer and put it on high heat and low setting. Aim the hairdryer at the crayons from above and pointing down. This will encourage the wax to run down the page rather than across it. Keep moving the hairdryer along the crayons (keep pointing down) and watch the wax melt down the page.
9. Keep melting the crayons until you are happy with the amount of wax that has come down the page.
10. Take the cardboard/card arch away to see finished version.
11. Put in a frame (if you wish to).
Top tips:
1. Have a few of the same colour crayons next to each other otherwise they will merge into each other and turn brown.
2. Line them up in rainbow order
3. Keep the hairdryer on high heat, low setting
4. Point the hairdryer from above the crayons facing down the page
5. Could also be done on canvas.
What is your next project going to be?
Making a scrapbook of our time in lockdown, documenting news articles, kids feelings, completed projects/photos of them.
Tell us a bit about yourself
My name is Danielle. I’ve been married for 5.5 years to Sam. 2 children: Evie age 4 & Evan age 5 months. I am a secondary school PE teacher but currently on maternity leave.
Being housebound with kids has been fun, tiring, and at times, stressful! Evan was going through a developmental leap at the start and wasn’t a fan of being put down or sleeping so it was hard work trying to do things with Evie, especially after little sleep. Thankfully he seems to have settled and we are getting some sleep so feeling a bit more normal!
As a teacher I am used to planning, but for ages 11-18 not early years so it has been challenging coming up with ideas that are fun and engaging. However, it has made me understand the early years curriculum better and is rewarding to see Evie making progress and enthralled in the activities.
I am disappointed to be spending my maternity leave in lockdown but I’m trying to look at the positives and treasuring our time together as a family of 4. We are trying to make the most of it by completing lots of activities together such as arts and crafts, baking, school work, reading, watching TV, camping in the garden and family walks.
Any tips to help others?
Go with the flow! It’s nice to have some activities planned but don’t put constant pressure on yourself or your kids to complete loads of activities or schoolwork in one day – short, fun activities interspersed with play is best. We are in unprecedented times; enjoy spending time as a family, hug each other, laugh together and make memories (obviously only those in your household).
How has the Housebound With Kids community helped?
It has helped me with ideas for activities to do with Evie and as a family. We have used lots of ideas shared by others, including, the salt dough family handprints, time capsule sheets and rainbow pictures.
For me personally it has also helped to see how everyone is coping. On those days where you feel like you’re failing with the homeschooling or just feeling down, you can see that there are others going through it too and it makes you feel you’re not alone – the support from others is phenomenal.
