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DIY Braided Party Backdrop: Timelapse Video Tutorial

DIY Braided Party Backdrop: Timelapse Video Tutorial | Another creative project from a Blooming First Birthday Bash, inspired by spring flowers in pink, blush, and white. DIY party ideas for a woodland floral-themed celebration, spring fling, or botanical garden party! Gotta love the price point on this one (under $10!).

I’ve always loved a DIY party backdrop and its ability to transform a space into an instant party without costing an arm and a leg. I’m no stranger to using—wait for it—plastic tablecloths to get the job done, too. You can’t beat the price point! Once upon a DIY, I made a photo booth backdrop with tablecloths from the dollar store for under $10.

But for Juniper’s Blooming Birthday Bash, I decided to try my hand at a plastic tablecloth backdrop using a clever braiding technique that my friend Jenna introduced me to in her tutorial over at Rain on a Tin Roof. This turned out to be my most time-consuming DIY project for the party, clocking in at two hours. But the backdrop turned out so beautifully and brought a festive and feminine flair to the space, it was well worth the time investment.

Check out my 1 minute timelapse video below or by clicking HERE. Then, read on for the tutorial and tips.

Timelapse Video

 

Did you catch my little assistant looking out the window for kitties? That’s my favorite part of the video (even if she did almost pull the whole backdrop down).

Supplies

Tutorial

Step 1. Thumbtack a stack of three tablecloths to the wall. Or if you prefer to tie it up like I did to our window blinds, use clear packing tape to apply twine to the back of one tablecloth, stringing it up first. (I used double-sided tape to further adhere the base tablecloth to our window blinds.) Then, layer the other two tablecloths overtop, using a stapler and/or clear packing tape to secure them to one another in a stack of three.

Step 2. Trim off the excess tablecloth around the edges and on the floor.

Step 3. Optional for “Type As”: use a pencil and ruler to mark a line approximately 4” down from the top.

Step 4. Use your scissors to cut the stack of three tablecloths into 2 – 3” strips from the bottom-up, stopping at your pencil line.

Step 5. Grab all 3 tablecloth pieces in your first strip, and braid it a few inches until it won’t unravel. Repeat down the line until you’re finished!

And remember, this project was riffing off of my pal Jenna’s creative inspiration. Check out her video tutorial at Rain on a Tin Roof for even more detailed instructions.

DIY Braided Party Backdrop: Timelapse Video Tutorial | Another creative project from a Blooming First Birthday Bash, inspired by spring flowers in pink, blush, and white. DIY party ideas for a woodland floral-themed celebration, spring fling, or botanical garden party! Gotta love the price point on this one (under $10!).

Tips

  • Allot at least one hour per panel. Fill up your water cup, play some good beats, and take plenty of breaks to cuddle with your little one!
  • I found this to be quite a workout, especially for my arms when braiding. Wear cool, comfy clothes you can sweat in (unlike I did).
  • When it comes to cutting your strips, just eyeball it since imperfections are unnoticeable when fluffed. You can also use the folds in the tablecloths as sight lines.

DIY Braided Party Backdrop: Timelapse Video Tutorail | Another creative project from a Blooming First Birthday Bash, inspired by spring flowers in pink, blush, and white. DIY party ideas for a woodland floral-themed celebration, spring fling, or botanical garden party!

DIY Braided Party Backdrop: Timelapse Video Tutorail | Another creative project from a Blooming First Birthday Bash, inspired by spring flowers in pink, blush, and white. DIY party ideas for a woodland floral-themed celebration, spring fling, or botanical garden party!

DIY Braided Party Backdrop: Timelapse Video Tutorail | Another creative project from a Blooming First Birthday Bash, inspired by spring flowers in pink, blush, and white. DIY party ideas for a woodland floral-themed celebration, spring fling, or botanical garden party!

Party Time!

And here’s the DIY Braided Party Backdrop in action at Juniper’s Blooming Birthday Bash:

DIY Braided Party Backdrop: Timelapse Video Tutorail | Another creative project from a Blooming First Birthday Bash, inspired by spring flowers in pink, blush, and white. DIY party ideas for a woodland floral-themed celebration, spring fling, or botanical garden party!

DIY Braided Party Backdrop: Timelapse Video Tutorail | Another creative project from a Blooming First Birthday Bash, inspired by spring flowers in pink, blush, and white. DIY party ideas for a woodland floral-themed celebration, spring fling, or botanical garden party!

DIY Braided Party Backdrop: Timelapse Video Tutorail | Another creative project from a Blooming First Birthday Bash, inspired by spring flowers in pink, blush, and white. DIY party ideas for a woodland floral-themed celebration, spring fling, or botanical garden party!

DIY Braided Party Backdrop: Timelapse Video Tutorail | Another creative project from a Blooming First Birthday Bash, inspired by spring flowers in pink, blush, and white. DIY party ideas for a woodland floral-themed celebration, spring fling, or botanical garden party!

I was just over-the-moon thrilled with how it turned out. In fact, we loved it so much, I just may have left it up for over a week after the party…and considered making it a permanent fixture in our living room. Juniper loved it, too!

DIY Braided Party Backdrop: Timelapse Video Tutorail | Another creative project from a Blooming First Birthday Bash, inspired by spring flowers in pink, blush, and white. DIY party ideas for a woodland floral-themed celebration, spring fling, or botanical garden party!

Hungry for More?

There are more timelapse video tutorials where this one came from! Each is under two minutes, but is “blooming” with inspiration:

DIY Flower Monogram Letter for a Blooming First Birthday Bash, inspired by spring flowers in pink, blush, and white. Such a fun DIY party idea for a woodland floral-themed celebration, spring fling, or botanical garden party! Love the timelapse video tutorial!
Click HERE to check it out!
DIY Mini Birthday Crown for a cupcake smash! | Get a sneak peek into Juniper's Blooming First Birthday Bashand catch an inspiring timelapse video tutorial! All you need are a few supplies you already have at home and 15 minutes for this one. Love!
Click HERE to check it out!

And be sure to visit my post on Juniper’s Blooming Bash to see all the creative DIY party elements come together in a celebration to remember:

A Blooming First Birthday Bash, inspired by spring flowers in pink, blush, and white. DIY party ideas for a woodland floral-themed celebration, spring fling, or botanical garden party!
A Blooming First Birthday Bash!

Until next time, creative comrades!

*Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase after clicking through, The Thinking Closet may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Thanks for helping to support this site!

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5 Comments

  1. Smashing party! The backdrop was exceptional–who knew plastic tablecloths were so versatile?! Juniper will have your documentation of her wonder-FULL day of baptism and birthday celebration, and know how much she is loved–so thankful we could be there to celebrate with you!

    1. Ha ha. Yes, it helps you see them with new eyes now, doesn’t it? It was a wonder-FULL day, and I’m so thankful you, Dad, and Pop Pop could be a part of it.

  2. Juniper gets more beautiful with each picture you post. What a sweetie! I thought your backdrop was tulle yardage…. who knew plastic could be so pretty? Brilliant!

    1. Aw, Dottie, you are TOO kind! And you know how to make my mama heart swell. And that’s awesome the backdrop gave the illusion of being made of tulle (which I love). I know…something about cutting it up and braiding it and fluffing it, and they’re transformed from cheap plastic tablecloths into festive flair! I’m a fan.

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