With some neat {and free} picture effects from Picnik & a little bit of tracing you can take this…
and make it this!
I’m so loving this. It was the perfect addition for my gallery wall & I love that it looks custom made. I’m certainly not going to tell anybody I cheated to make it!
So, here’s the rundown. First, upload your picture to Picnik. Then crop it close, you don’t want a whole lot of background in your image. Next look under the “create” tab for “effects”. Under “effects” scroll down a bit & you’ll find “pencil sketch”. 
Move the “radius” slider all the way to the right & fiddle with the “strength” until you get a some nice definite lines to trace, for me that was 69%.
Print your image out, layer a blank piece of paper on top of it & tape both to a window. Using a sharp pencil lightly trace around your image, you can also capture where the shading of the photo is by lightly covering that area with your pencil & then smudging it with your finger. For me it helped to periodically take the paper down so I could see how it was turning out & then tape it back up & adjust as needed. 
That’s it! So are any of you going to try this?? What would you do a “sketch” of?
Very cool! Where’s that lamp from? I love it.
It’s a Home Goods discovery, I love that place!
might have to do this when we move!! I have three girls so I would have to do it of all of them!! great idea!
haha, not tell anyone….except your 2500 readers 🙂
I may have to try this.
P.S. I know you are a busy busy mom, but you have to put your recipes back up. I have nothing to cook for dinner now! 🙂
Oh I knowwww, I’m working on it! In the meantime however you can do a search for “dinner 101” and all my recipe posts should come up…
Window tracing is so awkward and uncomfortable. A light box would be a gazillion times better… But they’re expensive. What I leaned as a poor art major, is to take a piece of glass (cutting board, glass from a picture frame, etc.) and a lamp with the shade removed (or any other variety, as long as you can get some direct light). Use the glass as a little table and set on your lap, put the lamp underneath it on the floor and switch it on and POW! You have a way more comfortable way to trace stuff.
Brilliant idea and so timely. My SIL has just got engaged and I’ve been racking my brains on what gift I can give her without spending any money – just been made redundant 🙁
I have just finished doing the same to a picture of SIL and partner (from Facebook), emailed to OH to print and will spend this weekend decorating a picture frame that we already have and can give it to her on Sunday when we are having a family meal.
Thanks again for this
I have tutorial for two inexpensive (even free) light boxes so that you don’t have to tape your drawing on the window.
http://www.cantstopmakingthings.com/2009/02/ten-dollar-light-box.htmlhttp://www.cantstopmakingthings.com/2009/01/real-cheap-maybe-free-light-box.html
Adorable! And awesome idea! Thanks for sharing!
Love it! Just did a picture of my son. Will try tracing it tomorrow in the daylight! SOOO Excited! Thanks!
I’ve got to give that a try!
Thats such a great idea! you are so creative!