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DIY Disneyland Backdrop
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items I made all the backdrops for my daughter's Disneyland birthday party and LOVED how it turned out. You can do it too, this list will show you how! You probably already have a lot of the supplies, or can find them for cheap/free!
Sections
6
Step One
Step Two
Step Three
Step Four
Step Five
Step Six
Step One
Gather some large pieces of cardboard. You'll be able to adjust the projection of the image to the size of your cardboard, but it my opinion, the bigger the better!
First, you're going to need some big pieces of cardboard. I had some extra after a furniture delivery that I stashed for this project, but here's a list of places you can get them for free!
Where to Get Free Boxes - 25 Places to Find Free Moving Boxes Near You - Moving.com
I definitely think you could find cheaper options somewhere else, but if all else fails, you can order these and tape some together!
Ship Now Corrugated Cardboard Sheets, 48x48, 5 Pack
Step Two
Prime your cardboard. One coat of White Acrylic paint will do!
No need to sandpaper this when done, just give it a rough coat!
3 Easy Ways to Paint on Cardboard - wikiHow
You'll want to paint all of your cardboard boxes with white acrylic paint BEFORE tracing the buildings!
Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint, 8 oz, 20403 White
Really any paint brush will do, but this one will get the job done quicker!
Bates- 4 Inch Soft Tip Paint Brushes for Walls
Step Three
Trace the Disney Main Street Design on to your primed and dried cardboard using a projector. Move the projector image as needed to make sure the buildings are aligned the way you want. I traced each building and then adjusted the projector so they we...
This is the free printable I used to trace the design!
Free Printable of Disney Main Street
If you don't have or want to purchase a projector, check with your local library! They often lend them out!
AuKing 2023 Upgraded Mini Projector, Full HD 1080P
Trace this with a pencil, lightly so you don't dent the cardboard. This will act as a guide as you paint, it doesn't need to be perfect.
BIC Xtra-Smooth Mechanical Pencils, 10-Pack
Step Four
Choose which colors you'll want and where you'll put them. Start with the biggest sections and go slowly.
Pastel paint colors! You may need multiple coats with some of these lighter colors.
Caliart Pastel Acrylic Paint Set, 24 Colors
For a vintage-y, pastel color scheme, I recommend using various hues of the same colors. I used a plastic paint palette to make some colors lighter and darker to fit the aesthetic I was going for. Don't be afraid to mix and experiment!
FANDAMEI Round Paint Palette, 10 Wells, 2 PCS
Step Five
Once your buildings are painted and dried, it's time to outline and cut off excess cardboard.
I went through more of these than I expected. Use thick outlines to clean up any messy paint edges and give it a sort of cartoon-y look.
Sharpie Permanent Markers, Fine, Black, 12 Count
You'll need an xacto knife to cut out excess cardboard when you're finished
Klangfeiler® Hobby Knife Set - 10 Blades
Step Six
Assemble the backdrop and admire your work!
I used four of these to stack the Main Street buildings and give them the illusion of depth.
15 in. L x 10 in. W x 12 in. Heavy-Duty Extra-Small Moving Box
secure the boxes together with tape and tape the backdrops to the boxes to stabilize them. You shouldn't need very much!
Scotch General Purpose Masking Tape, 0.94x60 Yds