Prepare for takeoff with this DIY Photo Backdrop featuring a realistic hot air balloon prop that little passengers can actually climb into! Rolling green hills and blue skies with fluffy clouds make the perfect backdrop for a jumbo sized red balloon. A table of fun, themed props and a few suitcases styled into the picture will get little aviators ready to depart on a grand adventure! Use an instant film camera to capture the moment and have a physical photo right away.
Lay the cardboard panels flat, then roll out enough patterned paper to cover the upper two thirds of the piece, as shown. It’s helpful to close and then reopen the panels to see where the paper will fold when the piece is transported. This paper is darling with the cloud pattern on a blue sky, perfect for a travel themed party!
Secure the paper to the back of the cardboard with strong tape.
Stack three sheets of green cardstock and make a wavy cut across the center of them all, as shown. Repeat with the rest of the paper, (keeping like colors together) to create rolling hills. The wavy lines don’t have to be the same, they will meet up on the sides when you lay them out.
Plan your layout by layering the papers end to end across the bottom third of the cardboard. Use hot glue to secure the papers in place, starting with the top section, and working your way down as each layer is completed. It will take three sheets of each color, cut in half, to stretch across the entire horizontal line of the design. Leave a small gap between the papers where they meet the folds of the cardboard if you’ll be transporting or storing this item so it will not tear.
Fill in any gaps (white spaces that are showing) in the hillsides with extra cuts in contrasting greens. Use hot glue to secure. Doesn’t this look like a beautiful, grassy countryside?
At this point, the completed hillsides should resemble this image. Your design may be a bit different, depending on how you cut your papers, but there’s really no way to make a mistake!
Once the backdrop is in position at your party, it’s time to add the airplane decals and the red and blue semi fanburst garlands. We used tape to secure the ends to the cardboard. Layering the garlands at different heights creates dimension that will look fantastic in photos.
Now it’s time to decorate the basket! We added a red tissue fan and a swag of fabric in our party colors. A large number one was printed and added to the center of our tissue fan since the guest of honor was celebrating his first birthday.
Add several pumps of the Hi-Float Balloon Treatment to the Jumbo Latex Balloon, and inflate with helium until it is approximately three feet in diameter. It keeps your balloons afloat for much longer than helium alone, which is important for a party that will last several hours! Attach the balloon securely to the basket with the natural cord, leaving enough space between the balloon and the basket, for children to climb inside.
A side table filled with props is a must-have for any photo booth. These Up and Away Stick Props and an Aviator Hat were obvious choices for our travel-themed party. We also provided a Fujifilm Insta-X Camera (wide format), and several packages of film for the party guests to use. Extra clouds and sky paper was used as a table runner and paired with more airplane decals to create a fun mini backdrop for the prop table.
See the entire Travel-Themed Birthday Party here. Check our our DIY Favor Boxes, Propeller Pop Favors and a Cloud on a Stick recipe to go with this post.
Photography: To Pepper, With Love Printables: Amber Dominique Designs Instant Film Camera: FujiFilm Airplane Wall Decals: Walls Need Love