How to Create Old Portraits for Halloween

Learn how to create old portraits for Halloween decorations for very little money. There is no need to spend ten dollars on one of the store bought portraits made from plastic. These will cost only about $1 each to make and will look more realistic.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet access
• Printer
• Photo editing program
• Pencil
• Ruler or straight edge
• Utility knife
• Glue
• Craft paint
• Paint brush
• 1 sheet of pink or blue foam insulation

1. 
    

   Collect all the materials needed. The foam insulation can be purchased at a home improvement store such as Lowe's or Home Depot. The blue or pink foam works best. A 4ft by 8ft sheet only costs about $9.00 and will be large enough for as many portraits as you want to make.

2. Search online for an image file of a portrait and a frame. For the portrait you can use a search engine to search for images of "old portraits". For the frame image, search the various websites that have free photos such as www.sxc.hu. Download the images you want to use.

3. 
    

   Now open up the files in your photo editing program. Copy and paste the portrait image on top of the frame image. Then resize the portrait to fit inside of the frame. You may need to crop the portrait for a perfect fit.

4. 
    

   Print out the portrait you have created on the computer. Cardstock works best, but you can use regular printer paper if you don't have card stock. Cut off any white margins on the edges with your straight edge and utility knife.

5. 
    

   Lay your portraits on top of the foam and trace around them with your pencil. Then using a straight edge, cut out the foam with a utility knife.

6. 
    

   Paint the foam a similar color to the frame with craft paint or any other type of water-based paint. Be sure to paint all of the edges on the front and back of the foam.

7. 
    

   Once the paint dries, glue the portrait to the foam with white glue. Spread out the lines of glue with your finger, making sure all of the edges are covered, before putting the portrait in place.

8. 
    

   When the glue dries, your portraits are finished. Enjoy by hanging on the wall or leaning in a bookcase for Halloween.

[iamageniuster]

on 10/20/2008 Great tips. Thanks for sharing. 5 stars!

[feliciaf]

on 10/17/2008 i did this with my cousins, they loved it. they even helped pick out the creepy pictures.

[lildutchgirl56]

on 10/5/2008 What a neat idea! Thanks