If you’re a crafter and blogger you’re a) pretty freakin’ cool and b) probably always on the hunt for a good background for your photos.
This week I’m gonna show you how to create a beautiful background for taking pictures, that’s both light-weight and likely made of stuff you already have. If not, here’s your excuse to make an IKEA run. (You’re welcome!)
What you need
- Big piece of stiff cardboard*
- Light, matte paint (main color)
- Darker paints (base colors)
- Paint brush
*The cardboard I used was a backing for a 50×70 cm / 19×27″ print from IKEA.
I grabbed some random paints form my stash: A black chalkboard paint and a grey acrylic paint. These colors will hardly be visible in the end, but they will serve as a base to add texture and detail to our background so it’s not just a big colored square.
When painting the base, make sure to not water down the paint. Just use it straight outta the jar/tube to get that thick and textured look.
Paint the entire surface all the way to the edge. Add bumps and streaks with your paintbrush – I promise it’ll make the end result even more awesome.
Now leave it to dry completely before the next step.
When it’s dry, it’s time to add the main color. Go for a matte paint (like a colorful chalkboard paint or one of those lovely Martha Stewart vintage paints) to avoid glares in your photos.
Take your time painting over the base. Instead of dumping a ton of paint on the surface, try using the dry-brush technique. It’s basically loading a small amount of paint on the brush and lightly brushing it over the surface. That way you won’t cover up the base in one fell swoop.
Also, don’t be scared to scratch and streak your top coat either for even more lovely texture.
Just look at how the base is peeking through ever so slightly. Mmmm, pretty.
And you’re done!
Tip 1: If your cardboard starts warping/bending as it dries, you can go back and paint the backside with plain water. Then place a heavy object (like a box or a stool) on top of it to make sure it dries nice and flat.
Tip 2: Paint the backside a different main color so you have more background options.
Hope you liked this DIY. Good luck and have fun!
xo Nina
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