It’s super fun and easy to make a photo backdrop that will get those giggles coming and those cameras snapping. The secret? Festive, colorful streamers.
If you don’t have any streamers on hand, don’t worry. All you need are inexpensive plastic tablecloths from the party store (or even better, the dollar store, woot woot). Savin’ money!
Supplies
There’s not much you’ll need:
Plastic tablecloths
Sharp scissors
Thin rope to hang backdrop
You’ll need about one table cloth per foot of backdrop, so measure out your space in advance to figure out how many tablecloths to get.
How to make the backdrop
Plastic tablecloth streamers aren’t hard to make, and unlike paper streamer backdrops, they can be used outside without fear that water will damage them—a total bonus! Here’s how to make this cheap and long-lasting backdrop.
1. The first step will save you tons of time. Instead of unwrapping your tablecloths all the way, unfold them partially so you know which way is the long end.
2. Cut two-inch strips all the way along the long end of the plastic tablecloth. Double-check to make sure you’ve cut the long way, as you’ll have a stubby backdrop if you mess up this step!
Pro tip: With a pair of sharp, sturdy scissors, cut multiple layers at once, saving oodles of time.
3. At this point, you should be looking at a delicious pile of fun streamers. Pull them out one by one, alternating colors to get a good-looking combo. Don’t think about this step too hard: streamers look best when they’re playfully random and loosey-goosey.
4. Now here’s the important part: figure out how much height you need to cover. If you fold your streamers exactly in half, they may not be quite long enough. If you go all the way to the very end, they may be too long. Try a low-maintenance shaggy look, with streamers ending at various points. When in doubt, go long: you can always trim the stragglers.
5. Once you’ve figured out the ideal length for each streamer, fold it lengthwise and lay your rope across it, leaving a small loop. Pull the ends through.
This is how lots of folks make the super cute no-tie tutus you may have seen on Pinterest. It’s super fast and easy-peasy to adjust, so even if you get the wrong height the first time, you can fix it no problem. Adjustable rocks!
6. Rinse and repeat. Lots of times. Like lots. Maybe 200 times. But it goes pretty fast, and you may find that the process is so entertaining you wind up with a gaggle of helpers. Add some jiggly-jams or tenacious tunes (also known as party music), and the whole thing can be finished in less than 20 minutes.
Pro tip: If you’re making a really wide photo backdrop, try splitting it up between multiple ropes to keep the weight down. Not only does this prevent drooping, it gives your photo shoots greater flexibility; from wide spaces to narrow doorways, the world is your oyster.
The results are in
You did it! Enjoy your cheap, durable, colorful tablecloth backdrops. Hang these super streamers at your next party, but tread with caution: your guests may not want to leave.
Learn more photo editing tips: Blur Backgrounds, Mirror Image Effect, Film Grain Look, Make Photo Art, Blur Whole Images, Cartoon Look, Vintage Effects
