How to Make Photo Sculpture Crafts
Creating photo sculptures can be a fun and creative way to display your favorite pictures. Photo sculptures can be made using readily available materials. Use scrap cardboard to save money and incorporate recycled materials into your crafts. Perfect for gifts, photo sculptures can be made large or small depending on your desires. Choosing good pictures and being exact with cutting will produce the best results.
Things You'll Need
- Photographs
- Sharp scissors
- Scrap cardboard
- Pen
- X-Acto knife
- White glue
- Paintbrush
- Hot glue gun
- Glue sticks
- Wooden dowel(s)
Instructions
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1
Choose photographs to cut out for photo sculptures. The best photographs will show the subject clearly with no arms or legs cut off and no background or foreground interference.
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2
Cut carefully around the subject in the photograph with sharp scissors. Work slowly and cut as close to the subject as possible, eliminating all of the background.
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3
Place the cut out subject onto the cardboard. Use a pen to trace around the subject as closely as possible. For an average-sized photograph, add a tab of 2 to 3 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide to the bottom of the cardboard cutout.
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4
Use the X-Acto-knife to cut the silhouette of the subject out of the cardboard. Work carefully and slowly to ensure it is an exact replica of the photographic cutout. Cut the tab as well so that it is attached to the cardboard silhouette.
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5
Use a paintbrush dipped in white craft glue to coat the back off the photograph. Apply the photograph to the cardboard silhouette. Adjust the cutout so that it matches the cardboard silhouette exactly. Lay it flat and allow to dry.
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6
Cut a square base out of the cardboard for the sculpture. The base should be large enough to support the sculpture without toppling. Paint or decorate the base any way you desire.
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7
Fold the tab under so that it lays parallel to the base, and the photograph attached to the cardboard stands up straight. Attach the tab to the cardboard base with hot glue.
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8
Attach a small wooden dowel to the base of the sculpture with hot glue and prop up the sculpture against the dowel. Secure the image to the top end of the dowel with hot glue to provide extra support.
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Tips & Warnings
If you find adding a wooden dowel unnecessary, you can skip the last step. Some sculptures will be fine without the extra support.
Use appropriate caution when working with hot glue.
References
- Photo Credit happy photograph image by Laser from Fotolia.com
