How to Make Silhouettes out of Wood

A silhouette cutout can be made easily using plywood.

Wooden silhouettes can be used for lawn decorations during holidays such as Christmas or Halloween, or year-round as a way to liven up a yard. Although most people are probably familiar with common silhouettes such as a cowboy leaning against a wall, there are virtually limitless designs you can use. Many websites sell premade wooden silhouette cutouts, though your own can be made at home in a relatively short time using very few supplies. Most wooden silhouettes are made using exterior-grade plywood painted black.

Things You'll Need

• ½-inch thick exterior plywood sheet
• Tracing paper
• Jigsaw
• Sandpaper
• Spray paint primer
• Black spray paint
• Wooden stakes
• Hammer
• Nails
• Screws
• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Draw your desired silhouette design onto a sheet of ½-inch thick exterior plywood. Draw it freehand or use tracing paper to transfer a drawn design to the plywood.

2. Cut the silhouette out of the plywood using a jigsaw. Sand any rough edges smooth using sandpaper.

3. Spray a coat of primer on the silhouette to make a surface the spray paint can stick to. Allow the primer about 1 hour to dry.

4. Paint the silhouette using black spray paint. You may need to do two or three coats in order to get the silhouette completely covered. Allow the paint about 1-to-2 hours to dry before continuing.

5. Hammer two to three wooden stakes into the ground and fasten the silhouette to them with nails. Alternatively, if you are going to fasten the silhouette to a wall or tree, you can nail it to that surface or use screws and secure it with a screwdriver.

Tips & Warnings

• Always use caution and the appropriate safety equipment when using power tools.

References

• Yard Shadow: Shadow Patterns for Silhouette Yard Working