DIY Photo Booth Backdrop

Each year I set up a photo booth area in our living room and leave it up throughout December. This year’s photo booth backdrop was super simple since I was reusing one I put together at the beginning of summer for a graduation party. So, although it is currently being used as a Christmas backdrop, it can easily be used for most any occasion.

SUPPLIES

+ Scrapbook Paper, in your party colors
+ Duct Tape, to match the paper you chose
+ Bling on a Roll
+ Scissors

HOW TO ASSEMBLE

1 – CUT CIRCLES OUT OF SCRAPBOOK PAPER
+ I cut 102 circles using my cricut machine. The circles were 2″, 2.5″ and 3″ in size.
+ I used 5 different papers: black, gray, turquoise, black/white chevron, and black on white polka dots.

2 – CUT BLING ON A ROLL
+ Bling on a roll is mesh like with rows of bling. The wire type material makes it easy to cut and also keeps the bling in place. It comes in varying widths and lengths, so that will determine how much you need.
+ I cut the entire roll into sections of 2 bling rows wide. Then, varied the cut length. I ended up with 12 strips, but you can have as many as you need for your photo booth size.

3 – ATTACH PAPER CIRCLES TO BLING STRIPS USING DUCT TAPE
+ This is the trickiest, most time consuming part of this project.
+ Place your paper circle on the bling strip, so both are facing right side up.
+ Carefully flip over the paper circle and bling strip. You are now looking at the back of the circle and bling.
+ Cut 2 pieces of duct tape (I used glittery turquoise and glittery black colors) slightly longer than the length of your paper circle. (For the 2″ circles you can probably use just one piece of duct tape.)
+ Carefully place one duct tape piece over the paper circle and bling strip, aligning the top edges.
+ Stick the 2nd piece of duct tape on the paper circle and bling strip, slightly overlapping the first piece.
+ Cut off excess duct tape.
+ Repeat this process with each circle continuing down the bling strip. I didn’t measure between circles, however most are about 2″ apart.
+ Depending on the length of the bling strip determined how many circles I added. Some strips had only 7 circles. Some had up to 11.
+ Just because it looks a little nicer, don’t forget to add a circle at the very bottom covering the end of the bling strip.
+ Continue this process with each bling strip.
+ You could forgo this entire step and simply use one piece of masking tape to attach the paper circle. This would work well if you can guarantee your circles won’t flip around. You wouldn’t want to ever see the ugly masking tape side. I have found my strips flip around, though. Using the duct tape method ensures both sides are pretty.

4 – HANGING THE BLING STRIPS
+ You can certainly do whatever works best in your situation. Both times I’ve used these as a backdrop I found it easiest just to hang them up with tape. It’s not eye appealing. But, the taped part never shows in the pictures.

Left: Front side with paper
Right: Back side with duct tape

ENJOY YOUR PARTY!