How To: Build the Perfect Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Photo Booth


 

Hi! I am Rachel, a huge fan of ugly sweaters and parties, and I am excited to be a guest blogger today for Team Ugly! 

This is me, wearing my sweater from Ugly Christmas Sweater Party + showing off my autographed copy of their book. Yup, huge fan!


My husband Troy and I just hosted our 2nd annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party last weekend, and I am here to share how I made this DIY photo booth. It was the perfect addition to our party this year!


Supplies:
  • Friend(s) with cool tools: Jigsaw, Electric Screwdriver, Staple Gun, Screws
  • Large piece of plywood
  • Two (2) large picture frames
  • Wrapping paper
  • Wood glue
  • Adhesive glue
  • Mod podge (opt)
  • Random holiday decorations

1. Start with your large piece of plywood. Mine is about 6 feet by 4 feet. Cut 2 skinny pieces of wood down to 6 feet, and screwed into the long edges of the plywood for support.



2. Next, we positioned the frames on the wood and traced the inside edge with a pencil. Then we cut along the pencil marks with a jigsaw. That was the hardest part, and the part where we were laughing the most. I had a 16x20 and an 11x14 frame on hand. The 11x14 was a bit snug for taking pictures, but it was free so we made it work.

3. After our frame openings worked with our frames, we were ready to cover the wood with wrapping paper. I would totally recommend using the cellophane type that doesn't rip easily. But all I had was the paper kind, so that's what we used. We used spray adhesive to adhere it to the wood.



4. Once our paper was on, we cut an X shape where the frames go, and folded and taped the excess paper to the back.



5. Then it was time to attach the frames. We glued them into place with wood glue, on the front. Once that was dry, we flipped the plywood over, and screwed the frames in.



6. After all of that, I applied a layer of mod podge to coat the wrapping paper. I'd like to use this again next year, so hopefully that will help preserve it.



7. For the decorations, I stapled a garland around the top edge. Then I added a string of colored lights (because colored lights are the bomb). I had some yarn wrapped ornaments, knit covered ornaments, and felted wool ornaments, that I added to the garland, with twisty ties. Below, I taped some tinsel and stapled my knitted stockings!



Ta da! You are ready for your Ugly Christmas Sweater Party! Our friends used their smartphones to take pictures, and I also had my camera near by for anyone who wanted to use it. 



Come check out my other Ugly Christmas Sweater Party details... from my hot glue snowflakes, to my pom pom trees, to my ugly sweater wood blocks. You can also find my 2012 recap, and 2011 recap for lots more ideas!

  

I have an Ugly Sweater Pinterest Board, and would love to connect with you around the web! Find me here...