Photo Booth Backdrop

I'm working on so many other projects right now - I was debating if I should even write a post about this.  The photo booth backdrop was one of those accidental (translation:  late night on Pinterest) projects.   I was in the midst of planning my daughter's Frozen birthday party, and I happened to see a post about a photo booth.  I liked the idea, but the one I saw just had a flat background.  A little more research, and a tiny bit of creativity, and this project was born.  I loved it so much at the party that I did it again at both of my sons' Halloween class parties.  At all three parties, it served as a decoration as well as an activity, and had the obvious benefit of helping us create some great pictures.  At the Frozen party, we even used it as a stage for our performer (Princess Elsa).  So, I think this is definitely something I'm going to repeat, and since I have the memory of a cat (no offense to all you cat lovers out there, but let's face it - these creatures have no memory), I figured I should write down some notes.  And since I'm already writing notes - well, I might as well share with my wonderful readers out there... ❤️❤️❤️ 

So here we go...

Oh, I almost forgot to mention.  I made these awesome (I think!) photo prop printables, and you can download the pdf just by clicking on the images below.  The idea is for the kids to make their own photo props.  They can draw, color, add designs, use stickers, glue...  you get the idea.  When they're done, you just attach some wood dowels to the back, and you're ready to take some pics!  These work well as an add-on activity since the kids are a lot more excited to take pictures using a prop they created themselves...  Plus, if you're doing this at a party, they have something to do while you're taking all those pictures...

Ok, back to creating the photo booth.  Here is what you'll need...

Make It!

Based upon the space where your backdrop will hang, you might need to trim the length of each tablecloth.  This is obviously much easier to do in the very beginning, so decide now where your photo booth will be, and what chairs you're going to use in front of your backdrop.  I decided to use a bench, and hide the ends of the tablecloths underneath, so I got to skip this step :)

Fully unfold the first tablecloth and run a piece of clear packing tape across the top.

Fold up the tablecloth in 3-4 inch segments across the strip of clear packing tape (see #1 below).  Do a few layers, and then punch holes through the center (#2).  Keeping folding and making holes until you reach the end of the strip of tape.

When you're done, you might want to hold the folds together using a binder clip (#3).  Pass your string through the holes (#4), and then repeat this process for the rest of the tablecloths.

At this point, here is what you should have...

Hang It!

I have tried a few methods for hanging this thing, and the following was by far the easiest...

First, decide on the width of the backdrop (for 10 tablecloths, 4 feet 7 inches worked well for me).  Using a tape measure, hammer your 2 nails with exactly that distance between them.  Then, still working with your backdrop on the floor, tie a binder clip at one end of your string, measure the same distance again, and tie your second binder clip at the other end.  Pick up your backdrop holding a binder clip in each hand, and hang each clip on one of the nails you just hammered.  Super simple, but measuring the string on the floor, and then tying the clips at both ends might save you from accidentally letting go, and having to put the string through all those holes again.  Just saying.  Ok, well yes, that did happen to me.  And yes, it is extremely frustrating.

Like I said earlier, my bench actually covered the entire bottom, so I did not need to trim the tablecloths.  I used a real (i.e. made from fabric) tablecloth to cover the bench up, and that was it!  You can see the 'before and after the bench' photos below.

And here are some of the results...

Using the Halloween backdrop...

And from the Frozen party...

The whole project took about an hour to complete, and cost exactly $10 ( I only needed to get the 10 tablecloths :)  It served as an activity, a decoration, a stage for the performer, and helped us generate a bunch of wonderful photos.  I can definitely see this becoming a staple at our parties...  

Please let me know if you try this!  

                     

I'd love to hear your thoughts!  See you soon,