The adventure continues with another post on this first year adventure birthday. If you missed the previous post on the tablescape for this party click here to see how old childrens novels, mini globes and compasses were used to tie in the theme . This post is all about the photo area and how to DIY this back drop to create some memorable photos for everyone at your party. I used an adorable adventure themed fabric hanging on an empty wall in a fun blue that coordinated with the table, with these DIY to well known storybook places in front of
the fabric back drop, and a DIY free printable banner you can make yourself.
The sign
Materials:
- Wooden arrow signs very inexpensive at Michael’s for $1.99 for the various sized arrows, I did not use the smallest arrows just the two larger sizes
- Large sheet carbon copy papers that are great for lots of different crafts, and can be purchased somewhere like Staples
- Black acrylic paint
- Artist paint brush
- Clear coat spray paint
- Wooden Post (mine was 1×2″) from a hardware store like Lowes or Home Depot and can be found for less then a few dollars, if you cant at home most places like Lowes or Home Depot will cut it to size for you (mine was cut down to about 5′)
- 1 small section (about 2 feet) of pvc pipe, the wooden post should fit snuggly but easily be removed and sit inside the pvc pipe, I believe mine was 2″
- Larger pot of your choice
- Large filler spray foam, it’s usually with window seals, its meant for filling large cracks for insulating doors and windows, etc
- Rocks or something to weigh it down to put on the bottom to help keep it from tipping
- Moss mat from your local craft store or you can buy some on Amazon Super Moss 22430 All Purpose Moss Mat Runners, Instant Green
- Strong adhesive glue or glue gun
First type and print the names of the places you would like on a piece of paper in the appropriate fonts, if you would like to use mine click here and its at the end of the free banner printable. Then position the carbon paper, dark side facing down on the wood and the printed names over it lining it up with the arrow.
Then trace the outline of the names on your print out and the carbon paper will transfer it to the wood arrow.
Next carefully paint in the letters with black acrylic paint. If you don’t want to do a clear coat of spray paint you can use a sharpie but in my experience when you spray paint over the sharpie it will bleed the marker so only use a sharpie if you are not going to put any protective coating. Then just glue or nail your sign to your post in the order and placement you would like. The posts are usually 8’ft long adjust the length to your desire or home depot or lowes will cut it for you before you go if you ask. Mine was about 5′ tall.
I apologize I did not take more photos of making this stand but its pretty simple to put together. Layer in the pot the pvc pip in the middle and lay some stone at the bottom to give the pot a little weight. It should not be too heavy to move easily but enough to stabilize and help keep it from tipping. Then spray foam on top of the rocks being careful not to move the pipe. Keep in mind that it does expand quite a bit after you spray it so make sure there is room from the top, you do not want the dried foam to go over the top. Then when the foam is set and firm, glue the moss over the foam and pipe to hide with a strong adhesive or a hot glue gun. Then you can slide the post into the pipe to stand and use it for different parties making different signs and pull apart for easy transport if your bringing somewhere.
The banner hung from the top of the photo wall was something I made and printed myself and want to share with you as a free printable for your own party. There is a subtle tree background and how dark the background prints will vary on your printer. Click on the image below of the banner to get the downloadable PDF. It also includes at the end the story book places that I used to make the sign. Just print onto card stock and cut out the triangle letters, hole punch two holes at each top corner and string on some yarn or twine. If your wondering why mine look glossy its because I had Staples laminate mine to give them more strength and to make it easier to reuse.
Will all these great additions you need a great backdrop behind you. You can use a plain wall or tape some pretty wrapping paper for inexpensive options. Here I made a curtain that has a seam sewn in the middle with two pieces together to make it about 85″ wide and used about 5.5 yards so it would be high enough to not show the walls in photos. The fabric I chose can be bought on various sites like fabric.com and its Riley Blake’s Greatest Adventure Map in Aqua. The print is smaller so I didn’t bother losing fabric to make them line up in the middle. I hemmed all the sides and sewed a pocket up top to fit an inexpensive curtain rod. After placing on the curtain rod I used large temporary command hooks to hold the rod in place to nicely hang the back drop. You could just tape to the walls but may not be as nice of a finish and you would need to use a lot of tape that might damage the walls.
I hope you found this tutorial helpful to make your own photo backdrop for your next party. These simple easy to make touches help create some wonderful photos to remember the day and your guests will have taking photos too. Stay tuned for the next post that wraps up the rest of the this adventure themed first birthday for this adorable little guy.
-Ashley
