DIY: Instagram Photo Booth Board

Thanks for joining me in my first ever blog! I plan to blog mostly about DIY crafts, but may also throw some blogs in regarding life experiences such as being a parent and other little experience-based tips. Nothing too serious!

Crafty Bio: My love for crafts and loving how to "figure things out" I attribute to both biological and social aspects. My maternal grandmother is an artist, as well as my mother. My father is artsy through music and his passion for movies and such. When spending time with my step-mom, we have always shared our passion for crafts and she never falls short to show me a thing or two. It came out in my sister and I, but in different ways. My sister is a hair stylist, or as I would like to call it, a hair artist. She has always been the "funky" one, showing her art through hair and her tattoos. It came out in me through crafts, drawing and even a teeny-tiny bit of singing- but I do not share that with anyone aloud. I now have two daughters and a niece on the way, so any excuse to get crafty and "save" money (although when I step into a craft store IDK about "saving") by doing it myself!

I hope you enjoy this first DIYer... an Instagram photo booth board! these are all the rage right now for parties, and with my youngest daughter's baptism right around the corner, I decided to give it a try! I have purchased some props such as mustaches and glasses, but I believe this will really 'steal the show'.

Some of the materials I had already, but all together this is a cheap and easy project that will be a WOW factor at your next event ;)


Supplies:

• 20 X 30 X 3/16in white foam board (I used ELMER'S)
• X-ACTO knife (insert obvious warning here regarding sharpness and danger around children)
• Satin acrylic paint in colors dark blue, red, white and black (I love craft smart brand. They are cheap and do the job. Also you will mix white and black to acquire grey colors.)
• Paint brushes (At least a large, medium and small/fine tipped one. Any brand- the cheaper the better!)
• Pencil
• Drop cloth for area protection (I used my daughters' old swaddle blankets. The ugliest ones I could find)
• Ruler (I love me a nice ruler with cork board back for a non-slip grip)
• Time and Patience ;)

1. First I began measuring out my window to cut out. It wasn't a perfect science, but to achieve the "Instagram box" look I measured 5" from the top, 2" from the sides and 7" from the bottom. Make sure to make your measuring marks in more than one spot to ensure it is straight.

2. Then go ahead and use that X-ACTO knife. BE CAREFUL! This is SUPER sharp. You should cut AWAY from your body so if you slip, you avoid slicing and dicing! :0 Make sure to cut all the way through to make sure you have smooth edges and can easily pop it out when done and.........

Voila!

3. Now, 3.5" from the top to just above the top of the window, paint this whole rectangular area blue. (Note: This kind of paint dries fairly quickly, but allow it to fully dry before applying another color on top, such as when we write Instagram.

4. Then you're going to need to map out those "buttons" at the bottom. Being that there are 5 buttons and the board is 20" wide, you have 4" for each button. I made them 3" tall from the bottom. 

go ahead and paint that middle button blue while it's out.

5. I was so excited to start with the details that I probably should have just finished the major painting (the rest of the buttons- black for the first one and gray for the rest) but i went right to the fun stuff! Now I free hand drew the word Instagram, while looking at actual Instagram as a reference, with pencil. Pencil is great because it'll allow you to see it, without being too noticeable when mistakes or not perfect tracing occurs. If you feel as though you cannot do it free hand or want a more perfect look, you could try printing an Instagram picture as large as you can, and tracing the letters hard to make indents into the board. Then go back over your tracing with a fine brush and your white paint.

Getting there!

Let's stop for a second to recognize this model cutie! Hashtag CUTE!

6. Now let's move on to the other buttons... Paint the first button black and then add some white to your black to make a grey for the rest of the buttons. (Note: as paint dries on brushes and palette, it can become flaky)

I added the details from a "liked" picture right beneath the window

 7. I used some items around my house for circles and squares as needed. I actually used the top of a gerber food jar and a spray paint can for perfecting shapes. You can do this too or free-hand! #youcandoit Remember to make sure your button paint is dry before you go over with the details. 

1st and 3rd buttons have white details. The rest have light grey

As you can see I added the rest of the details including likes and username (in blue) and a caption hashtagged in grey. I will coordinate a chalkboard sign at the baptism stating: Anyone who uploads pictures to social media please use #margotclairesbaptism

This will match the sign along with allow myself and others to enjoy all the moments of our day by searching that hashtag. Ah-Mah-ZING :)

I mean... COME ONE!!! <3

This was SO much fun, SO easy and SO, SO cheap coming in at around $10! Thanks for joining me in my first blog. I took a break with my little family between steps 6 & 7 to gobble up my 15 minute meal of sausage and broccoli in a garlic and oil sauce over bowtie pasta. A quick and easy fav over here! 

From my home to yours...