How to Make a Toverlux Silhouette – A Step-by-Step Guide

By Sarah Murray (@theclanmurray)

Hi! I’m Sarah, a Babipur Buddy, wife to Graeme, and mother of six. I love getting creative with open-ended play, wooden toys, and DIY projects. One of my favourite ways to add a personal touch to a space is by making DIY Toverlux Silhouettes - they’re a beautiful way to decorate seasonally, refresh a play space, or simply enjoy a bit of creativity.

I’ve had lots of people ask how I make my own Toverlux silhouettes, so I wanted to put together a step-by-step guide using one of my boldest and most detailed designs—a sunset silhouette featuring birds in a tree.

This isn’t the only way to make  DIY Toverlux silhouettes - here are much simpler versions that younger children can enjoy too! But for anyone who loves getting creative- whether you're an older child, teenager, or adult - this technique makes a truly striking piece of illuminated art.

What is Toverlux?

Toverlux was founded by Dutch artists Annefleur and Femke, who combined their love of art and light to create something magical. Inspired by Waldorf education and seasonal storytelling, Toverlux designs beautiful illuminated silhouettes that transform a room with warmth and beauty.

Toverlux products are made in the Netherlands in collaboration with talented artists. Their Magic Lamps and silhouettes feature scenes inspired by nature, folklore, and seasonal celebrations, bringing a cosy, magical glow to any space.

At Babipur, you can find a range of Toverlux Magic Lamps, Silhouettes with artwork, and DIY Silhouette Paper, perfect for creating your own illuminated artwork.

What You’ll Need for This DIY Toverlux Silhouette

✔️ Toverlux DIY Silhouette Paper
✔️ Paintbrushes
✔️ A pencil
✔️ Watercolour paints (or contrast inks)
✔️ A black fine liner pen
✔️ A black marker pen

This method creates a bold, high-contrast design, but you can simplify it by skipping the painting and just using black cut-out shapes. It’s all about finding what works best for you!

Step 1: Sketch Your Silhouette Design

Start by drawing, copying, or tracing your chosen silhouette design onto Toverlux DIY Paper.

For this project, I went with two birds sitting in a tree with swirling heart-shaped branches, but you can create any design that works well as a silhouette—forests, animals, landscapes, or abstract patterns.

👉 Tip: If freehand drawing isn’t your thing, you can lightly trace an image using a window, light pad, or transfer paper.

Step 2: Paint the Sunset Background

To create a rich sunset effect, we’ll paint the background in three sections, blending them together:

🌅 Bottom Third – Yellow

• Lightly wet the bottom part of the paper with clean water using a paintbrush.

• Apply yellow paint in sideways strokes, building up the colour gradually.

• I used two shades of yellow to add warmth.

🌅 Middle Third – Orange

• Repeat with orange paint, blending into the yellow for a smooth transition.

• Using two shades of orange adds depth.

🌅 Top Third – Red

• The top section will be red—use two shades for vibrancy.

• Blend the red into the orange and yellow for a natural gradient.

• If the colours look too harsh, rinse your brush, leave it slightly damp, and gently soften the edges.

👉 Let the background dry completely before moving on.

Step 3: Outline Your Silhouette

Once the background is completely dry, use a black fine liner pen to carefully go over the pencil sketch.

This helps define the shapes and makes it easier to fill in neatly.

Step 4: Fill in the Silhouette

Using a black marker pen, carefully fill in your silhouette so it’s completely solid black.

👉 Tip: You might need to go over it twice to make sure it’s deep and bold.

Step 5: Display Your Artwork in a Toverlux Lamp

Now your silhouette is ready to be placed in a Toverlux Magic Lamp! When illuminated, the colours glow beautifully, and the dark silhouette stands out dramatically.

Tips & Variations

🌟 Want a different look? Try using pinks, purples, or blues for a dusk or twilight effect.
🌟 Not a fan of painting? You can skip the watercolour step and just create a silhouette with cut-out black paper.
🌟 Short on time? Use simple shapes like trees, moons, or stars for a quicker design.

Final Thoughts

This project is perfect older children, teenagers or adults looking for a fun and rewarding craft.

If you’re making silhouettes with younger children, you might want to try a simpler approach, like cutting out black paper designs or using pre-made Toverlux silhouettes. You can find simpler ideas and inspiration on the Babipur website.

Toverlux is all about bringing warmth, creativity, and a little bit of magic into your home, and I hope this guide inspires you to create something special!

You can find DIY Toverlux Silhouette Paper and Magic Lamps at Babipur if you’d like to give this a go.

I’d love to see what you create -tag @babipur in your photos so we can share your amazing designs! 💛✨

Check out more of my designs below! 

Magical Fairy Toadstool Silhouette 

Made with DIY Toverlux paper, this  design features a fairy sitting on a toadstool, surrounded by mushrooms and glowing under a lantern. The soft watercolour background adds a magical touch when illuminated in the Toverlux Magic Lamp.

Stained Glass Goldfinch Silhouette 

Made with DIY Toverlux paper, this beautiful design features a goldfinch perched on a branch, with a glowing stained glass effect when illuminated in the Toverlux Magic Lamp.