Chalkboard Flower Photo Booth

Dear Em,
My dear friend Colleen got married a couple weekend ago. While I plan to recap her wedding day tomorrow, right now I just want to talk about the wicked fun photo booth we made for her reception. On a hot & humid September weekend I got together with Colleen and a bunch of her super fun friends for a DIY wedding crafting weekend. There was a list of things to create, but my task was mostly the photo booth (are you surprised?).

Colleen really liked the chalkboard look, & wanted chalkboard elements to fill her special day. In fact, her online invitations were black with etchings of white flowers. She wanted the photo booth to have a similar design to her invitations.

We needed:
- Thick black fabric
- White chalk
- White acrylic paint
- Painters tape
- A digital copy of the invitation
- A computer or tablet
- A projector
- A stand
- Props

Colleen originally purchased 3 yards of thick black fabric, hoping to hang the fabric lengthwise. The fabric was probably less than two yards wide. Since weddings typically mean big groups, we worried about how few people would be able to fit standing in front of the fabric at once. Instead, we decided to hang the fabric width-wise, & Colleen bought an additional 3 yards of the fabric to tape underneath. This gave us a nice, large space to work with.

Using painters tape, we taped the first piece of fabric to a bare wall. Colleen & Erin measured to make sure the fabric was straight across. They taped a straight border of tape, leaving blank fabric that would be used when hanging the backdrop to the stand.

Next, I loaded a picture of the invitation onto an iPad & hooked up the iPad to a projector. It took quite a bit of fiddling with the size of the invitation on my screen & the position of the projector. After a while, it was perfectly lined up, & we had a great template shining on our black fabric. Erin was certainly the more fabulously artsy of the two of us, & I mostly tried to follow her lead. We traced the lines of the flowers underneath the painters tape with white chalk.

Next we painted in the flowers with white paint. It took at least a couple coats of paint, & I have to say I was pretty much over it by the time we were done.

But then I looked at the end result & loved it! The photo booth backdrop looked absolutely fabulous & was perfect for Colleen's wedding.

Ali made a very professional looking photo booth sign to go along with the backdrop.

For props, I painted chalkboard paint on two different pieces of wood we bought at the craft store. This way, people could write their own messages for their photos. I also printed prepopulated chalkboard messages on card stock & glued them to wooden dowels. We recycled some of the props we had made for your aunt Andrea's shower photo booth. I grabbed two large frames that we weren't using. Lastly, I raided your costumes for fun hats & headbands & boas & glasses.

Colleen dusted the backdrop with chalk, to give it a true chalkboard look. We used gorilla tape to hang the backdrop on a stand. I have to say, the final result was pretty freaking awesome!

Everyone had so much fun taking pictures at the photo booth- & I mean everyone, because we took a huge group shot before the day was through.

I think this was my very favorite photo booth yet. I hope you continue to like photo booths, because I see many, many more in your future.

I love you so,
Mommy

Recipe for a perfect day

Dear Em,
Things have been busy. You're back in school and work has been hectic for both Daddy & I. On top of that, you're participating in soccer, swim, & gymnastics this fall. I signed you up for everything & thought, "no problem, we got this." But as we were trying to rush you out the door (lately, we always seem to be rushing, with no time to just see where the day takes us) for soccer practice the other night, you looked at me with the saddest eyes & asked me, "Mommy, when do I get to just play?" It was at that moment that I realized I may have overextended our family.

This weekend, Daddy & I wanted a weekend for just the three of us. I can't really remember the last time we had a full weekend just the three of us. You had soccer on Saturday morning, but we decided we would spend the rest of the day doing some of our favorite things...just Daddy, you, & me. Em, it was truly a perfect day. We had...

Sunshine & Soccer:

The weather reports threatened rain, but it was a gorgeous day to play soccer. It is a beautiful thing to watch you when you're trying your very best.

We changed you out of your soccer gear & headed straight over to the...

Umbrella Factory:

It's become one of our favorite after soccer activities. I love being welcomed into the beautiful gardens.

Ever my little budding photographer, you asked to borrow Daddy's phone so you could snap some photos.

You took this photo...

...and this one (see the little navy croc?)...

...and this one (also complete with a little croc)...

...and this one.

We headed past the gardens to check out the baby ducklings & chickens & goats.

I think Daddy's favorite part of the Umbrella Factory is the bamboo forest, which you proudly led us through.

Getting a little hungry, we said goodbye to the fun of the Umbrella Factory & headed to our next adventure...

Watch Hill:

I don't think I've ever been to Watch Hill during the peak summer season. It's always such perfection in the late spring and early fall. With no crowds to fight, it always feels like it's our little secret & our little spot (remember our fun adventure two years ago?). We stopped at Bay Street Deli for chowder, sandwiches, & a donut for you (not the healthiest option, but we went with it).

We headed over the giant dune to return to one of my very favorite beaches.

We didn't bring your bathing suit, but let you head straight to the water anyways. Then we stood back & let you be you. The expression on your face was pure joy, and it made my heart so happy. I am so dazzled by you, little girl.

You were soaked & freezing, & we changed you into the jean jacket & leggings you were wearing earlier. Daddy & I laughed at the hodgepodge outfit we put together. You & Daddy played tag in the sand. God, I love watching the two of you together.

You wrote "I love Mommy" & "I love Daddy" in the sand (love is one of the few words you can spell by yourself without having to sound it out, & I LOVE that) before we headed back over the giant dune & off the beach.

We watched ominous clouds roll in as you gave us performances in the gazebo.

Trying to beat the rain, we got into our car. Your eyes looked so heavy as we drove to our next destination...

The Grocery Store

We don't often go to the grocery store as a family, but we have so much fun when we do. We give you the scanner, & you ensure that everything is scanned before we place it in our bags in the cart.

After a job well done scanning, we surprised you as we pulled into...

Lickety Splits

Yes I know, we had already fed you a donut. We're not usually so committed to hopping you up full of sugar, but Lickety Splits will be closing for the winter soon. Ice cream just seemed like the right thing to do on our perfect day.

The rain started to come down pretty soon after we got home. I smiled, thankful for the sunshine we had enjoyed that day & ready to spend some inside family time playing...

Wii Party

Daddy made us the most perfect grill cheeses (I know, it was a really healthy eating day). We ate dinner & then snuggled in for...

Movie Night

You were so tired after the movie, you told Daddy you might fall asleep while the two of you read your bedtime books. I smiled. It felt so great to be just you & me & Daddy that day. It felt so good to enjoy the sunshine & outdoors & the salty air of Rhode Island. It was such a perfect day, a day I wish I could bottle up & save for always. Not every day is perfect (& believe me the day still had some less than perfect moments), but I'm so thankful for the precious moments we get to share together.

I love you so,

Mommy