Photo Booth Wall - Tutorial

There is already an amazing tutorial and DIY project on the Ruffled Blog which has been inspiring many people to build their own photo walls for parties, weddings and other functions... but at the risk of looking like I'm reinventing the wheel - I thought I'd post an alternative option for how to put one together!

We wanted a photo wall for our special event, but due to the constraints of not having a car, not having a very big flat, and needing something lightweight, portable and collapsable (we walked this to our venue)... we had to come up with an alternative solution.

Our main criteria for the redesign were

a. all pieces we needed to build the frame had fit in a taxi/car from the DIY shop
b. the finished product needed to be lightweight portable enough that we could walk it to the venue, get it up the stairs, and assemble it easily there.

Rather than use plywood, we decided to build a frame out of 1x2 lumber (for those not in the know what is called 1" by 2" lumber, actually measures 3/4" by 1 1/2") and then use hardboard as as lighter, easier to work with and more flexible option, as the main surface of the wall.

We used;

For the walls
- 10 x "1 by 2" pieces measuring 72 inches (182cm) in length
- 4 x 3mm hardboard pieces measuring 60cm x 180 cm

For the stand
- 1 x 240cm long plank for bookshelves (white covered MDF)
- 1 x 240cm long piece of moulding/trim (any will do)
- 1 x "2 by 4" piece of lumber (length 240 cm)

Other things...
- Wall Paper, Frames, Clocks, Photos
- Wall Paper Paste
- Screws, Finishing Nails

Equipment
- Hand Saw
- Jigsaw
- Craft Knife

Taking stock of our materials

Step 1. We drew out how we wanted our photo wall to look and actually used a large blank wall to layout the design and make all our measurements. Using our measurements we sketched out a basic frame so that the vertical 1 by 2's measured to the inner edges of the frames, and cut horizontal 1 by 2's to connect the pieces. Each of the two frames was built to fit the hardboard pieces we bought - 120 cm (two widths of the 60 cm hardboard panels)by 180 cm (the length of the hardboard panels)


Step 2.. Double checking all our measurements before cutting, we quickly assembled the frame - starting with the outer frame first, and then fitting all the inner pieces within the frame.

(above) One of the two panels which make up the wall.

(below) Connect the joints with two wood screws.

We assembled all the joints of the frame using short wood screws. The wood of the 1 by 2's is very soft, so we didn't need to drill... we simply used a screwdriver and a careful eye to assemble them closely.

Step 3. For each of the two frames, we laid down two hardboard panels side by side, and then laid the frames on top - marking where the frame holes would be cut.

Step 4. Using a jigsaw, we cut the holes for the frame (this could be done with a craft knife, if you don't have a jigsaw, but this will take some time and require much patience).

Step 5. Using a few screws for security, and then finishing nails every few 15 to 20 cm, we attached the hardboard panels to the tops of each frame.

(below) Without wallpaper the two frames look like this

After building the frames, it was just a matter of using some strong moulding and a 2 by 4 to make a stand. We attached the moulding to the front of a board measuring the length of the wall, and after measuring and marking the thickness of the wall screwed in a 2 by 4 to hold it behind.


This made a portable frame that we could slot the two wall panels in.

From there we just wallpapered and decorated away!





I don't think this method is any easier than the other methods I've seen out there. But it certainly made transportation and setting up and take down easier for us, because everything could lie flat and be carried through the doorways of our venue.

The photowall was a great success and we had a great time with it at the party... now its just a question of what we do with it now...

sometimes cake is for eating!

When you partake in making bath and body products at home, guests are often greeted with the welcoming smells of sweet essential oils, melting cocoa butter, coconut oil and honey, only to disappointingly discover that the treats they are smelling are not for eating!

Occasionally Lazy Crafternoons gives into the guilt of cake-teasing... and makes cakes which are actually for eating!

In honour of the warm weather and vintage themed fun of Manchester's Norther Quarter Street Party Lazy Crafternoons made and entered some delicious ice cream cone inspired chocolate cake pops into their cake competition!

... and Chris is very proud to say that they came in Second Place!



This is an adapted cake pop recipe, which I actually found easier because I didn't have to worry about the cake pops falling off sticks. They just sat nicely in the little cones, and because I chilled them in the cones, I had no trouble with them falling out or getting too soft.

I fashioned the stand out of some balsam wood pieces I picked up at a craft shop, and voila!

Here's a shot of Edge St. transformed into a street party.

What a fantastic result on a fantastic day!

secret craftings

Crafting requires patience, a resource that I have very little of in all other aspects of life (and even when I'm crafting its pretty limited)... so the process of imagining, designing and then creating something can sometimes drain my resources of patience. Especially, when my mind is raring to go on the creative side, but it takes time to work out the logistical method of creating what I see in my mind.

Add into the mix, the fact that sometimes we craft very special gifts, for very special occasions - with the result of my very patient self, having to sit on my work in secret waiting even longer for the day that I get to reveal it to whomever it is made for.

In this case, its a wedding gift for two dear friends.

After visiting the Quilt exhibition at the V&A in London, I was overwhelmed with amazing ideas and wanted to find a way to incorporate a quote into a quilt. A few days later, a conference took me to New York where I found myself knee deep in a wealth of amazing fabrics patterns - putting a few ideas together, I bought up some material and came up with the idea of make a simple scrap square quilt, with a featured quote from William Wordsworth as inspiration in the centre.

I tried to use some fresh colours which weren't too tied to any season or style... and chose fabrics which had a vintage, but modern look to them.

Check out the results.




Quote from William Wordsworth, suiting Her penchant for the pastoral... and nostalgic of a road-trip we took together through the lakes district. (Although, I must admit its not terribly suitable to His scottish heritage) For the next gift, I'll have to quote a Scot.


Close up on the fabrics. I tried to find an interesting balance of matching and constrasting, so each combination of materials would have a difference effect.

lazy crafternoons could teach you a thing or two...

Hear ye, Hear ye! Lazy Craftnoons could be bringing the craft fun to you!

If you are interested in learning to do some of the crafts featured on the blog, and work for a charitable group or community organisation who could benefit from craft courses and workshops then get in touch!

We'll bring all the 'kit and kaboodle' to you (and take the mess with us when we leave)
send an email through to info@lazycrafternoons.co.uk for more details!