I’m super excited to be adding a new feature to the blog– a DIY section.

Much like everyone else obsessed with Pinterest, I’m convinced that I can craft pretty much anything with some Pin-spiration. I found that I am filled with unexplainable joy when I craft for the people I love. Lately, for parties, Birthdays, Engagements, Holidays, and Gift-Giving, I’ve been pulling together some pretty neat DIY projects that I would love to share with my readers. So in addition to all the delicious recipes you’ll find on MCO, you’ll also be able to see some of my side projects. Enjoy!

My youngest brother is finishing up high school this year, along with all the graduation parties and a major case of senioritis, he and his girlfriend had spent months planning for Prom– the biggest event of any high school senior’s life!

Being the social butterfly that he is, he planned to have his prom group come over to my parent’s house for prom photos. It wasn’t until he made all the arrangements that he informed us 40 kids would be showing up to take photos and eat a catered dinner at the house, before departing on a party bus to the dance.

Robert E. Lee High School’s prom theme was Masquerade Ball and I wanted to make it a special night by setting up a photo booth/backdrop for them, where they could get a little silly with each other and some fun props.

I’ve made a photo backdrop for a friend’s engagement party before. But this one was a much larger scale. After pulling together some different ideas, I decided I wanted to give the backdrop a shimmery look. That way, it wouldn’t take away from any of the girls’ dresses.

Materials:

• Double-sided tape
• 4 Gold Metallic Curtain panels
• One package of gold stars
• Fisherman’s string
• Beige draping material
• Lights

I began by clearing out a large enough room with a solid wall. Using double-sided tape, I started hanging up the gold tinsel panels, making sure that they were equal distance from the ceiling.

I then pulled the stars out of the packaging and set them up. Stringing fisherman’s string through each of the stars. To give the backdrop a 3-D effect, I hung the stars at different lengths from the ceiling.

To finish off the backdrop, I added beige draping material to the floor directly in front of the shimmery background.

And last, but certainly not least, I filled a table full of fun props. I found most of these at the Dollar Store, including the glasses, tiara, top hats, masquerade masks and beads. Some of the other props I picked up at Party City, such as the mustache, diamond ring and 2014 sign. You can pick out whatever props you like. Chalkboard signs make for some fun additions as well.

I have to say, the kids loved the photo booth.