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I promised in March that I would do a post on the backdrops I used for the Doll Club Pajama Party, post here.
For this large entrance, I used one full foam core panel-30"wide x 17" high for the entrance, mostly because I really wanted to use the arched windows and that super door.
The door was a screen-shot stretched tall with black added at the bottom and a bit at the top and I made two mirrored images to make a big door. I'm pretty sure I will fuss with some moldings later on.
The rest of the basic room backdrops for this project are 2-15"x20"decorated panels. So you get one 2-wall room scene from a piece of 20x30" dollar store foam core. You can of course design yours sized for shelving units for installations, but I'm using these as temporary table top displays.
You can certainly use any sizes you like. It was easy to cut the large pieces of foam core in half with a measuring tape and my large square for a straight edge.
I cut doors that are at least 12" tall by enlarging photos or cutting them from card stock. I chose narrow doors, 3-4"wide. Dolls are skinny anyway.
My first step is to use white or patterned contact paper to cover the entire panel, overlapping around the back side at least an inch. We planned on using colored plastic table cloths on the tables, which would become floors for the PJ Party displays.
I joined the two separate pieces on the back with heavy white duck tape. Now, you could make an entirely different room on the backsides also---still folding them flat for storage. I would cover the backs again in one layer of contact paper cut to fit to the edges.
This is inexpensive contact paper from the dollar store. I have noticed they aren't carrying that much anymore, and only carrying sheets. Hardware stores and the internet are still sources for contact paper.
Why use contact paper? Because it strengthens the foam core, makes it waterproof if you do both sides, and any decor you put on with sticky tape is easily removable or changed. The panels can even be wiped clean with a damp cloth and cleaned if desired.
This 'tiled' room became a bathroom-dressing room and it was fun to see how it worked out. Sorry this one is blurry! There was a lot of picture taking going on!
I always try and add windows and/or doors to 'rooms' to make it realistic.
I used computer printed posters of movies from PJ Party themes-these I can remove. I also used stickers/ and scrapbooking embellishments. I buy these at the $$ stores, thrift stores and anywhere I see something that I know I might use.
Luckily---since I was at my son's house during the demo of the basement, I just took my entire shoebox of embellishments with me. I also took different kinds of tapes, my large square, my paper cutter, some exacto-tools, and my sticky vinyl rolls I've had for other projects in silver, black, white.
Remember everything is removable if you are working on the contact paper. This turquoise 'tile' pattern was great with the Paris theme items and florals that I had. It would work for bathrooms, porches, and kitchens.
I did a KENS' room with 'wood' paneling.
I didn't mess with three dimensional details, but I may go back and redo some moldings around the doors and windows.
Push pins or brads made perfect door handles.
A blue Sports and Chicago theme bulletin board was perfect for the guys theme.
The windows I used were actually from catalog pages of different window companies. Some had great scenes in the windows...giving the idea of an outside. I enlarged these to multiple sizes and printed them.
Add a 'bulletin' board made of textured card stock and some stickers and small photos for realism.
You can take pictures of things from the internet, alter/change the color, enlarge or make smaller and use for your own use. You can not sell them without violating copyright. Since I don't advertise or sell my readers anything, I'm comfortable with showing you these rooms.
This room is half the wood contact paper---I was running out of white for the upper half, so I used some scrapbook paper that was either giraffe or rock pattern.
I can remove the scrapbook paper at least once, add the white contact paper and then replace it with fresh double-stick tape.
Our club members placed their furnishings and dolls in the 'rooms' however they wanted to. This vintage Ken looked amazing, and a leather couch and someone brought a cool shelf filled with toys/games/ and goodies.
This room is one that is completely covered in white contact paper, then the scrapbook paper becomes wall paper. Card stock becomes the door with patterned panels. The patterned embellishments are from a striped paper, cut in strips to use as borders.
I gave this double window a 2-dimensional canopy treatment. It's a fun room, and yellow is the perfect backdrop for all the pink furniture and dolls I knew that would show up at the meeting.
If you are doing the room for specific furniture, you can place your doors and windows
exactly the way you want.
I knew the club would have pink which gravitated to this room! The dolls are having a great time!
Rug is printed felt.
Even though this contact paper pattern is large, it is delicate and works for wallpaper. I used black trimmed photos of windows.
Every bedroom needs a mirrored door. The artists' bulletin board is a personal touch.
It was great the red and pink items gravitated to this room. Love the Suzy Goose Barbie dressing table. I might use this for a dining room some time with the bulletin board removed.
In order to do half walls of wallpaper you need 4 sheets of 12x12 paper. Here I only had 3, just enough to do one wall and then a panel in the middle on the other. I balanced this out with two fancy windows, with turquoise trim.
For the PJ Party I used some old catalog pics of sleepwear and another sign. The door is turquoise card stock with a brad handle.
It looks odd without furniture. But...
this worked great with all the vintage girls and furniture. The sofa/bed was perfect under the panel. A Yellow floor and pink rugs, made it look like it was all planned!
I had to use pink in a room somewhere or it wouldn't be for Barbie. So, the lower half of these panels are a really hot pink card stock, add a strip of 'doll' print girls from some scrapbook paper, and then a strip of striped washi-tape as kick plate trim and border top.
Theme was music and ballet. The door is totally mirrored for 'practice', and the embellishments carry on the theme.
These are 3-D embellishments that I have had for ages---the stickum was dried up on them...LOL, but double stick foam tape came to the rescue.
A Paris street scene works perfectly for this room.
At the meeting, the hot pink table cloth became the floor---the room really works. The light-up dressing table someone brought was PERFECT for a ballet dancer's bedroom. So much fun!
Materials for a 2-wall room 15"tall x 20"wide
1 piece of white foam core 20" x 30"
Contact paper (your choice) 2 Pc. 18" x 24" for the front sides more if you do both sides of each piece.
1 15" piece of heavy Duct Tape ( I use white-Duck brand)
Cardstock for doors and window trims.
Scrapbook paper for wall paper or embellishments 4 pieces of 12 x 12 for wallpaper to cover both sides half way above or below
Embellishments
Vinyl or Mirror sticky papers ( I use silver for mirrors)
Brads or push pins or mini-handles for door.
Print outs of windows your choice.
Double stick tape ( I use cheap $$$ store tape, which you can actually remove if need to.)
Double stick foam tape-non permanent for pieces you want to add depth to. Also good for sticking wood or heavier items on to walls.
Tools
Scissors
Measuring tape
Square to set and measure your straight lines
paper cutter if you can't cut a straight line (I can't-LOL)
pencil
pens
A SHARP Exacto-knife for cutting foam core.
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I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.
I will be sharing at these fine Parties!
All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown. Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi Magle
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