**Full Disclosure: I received a mini roller shade courtesy of Blinds.com in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.
I love taking photos on my fence table because of the rustic feel it gives, but sometimes I want a different cleaner (more crisp) backdrop for my photos.
When I was I was challenged in the Blinds.com Roller Shade Design Challenge, I immediately knew I wanted to use it to make a DIY photo back drop. The challenge was simple, use their mini roller shade for anything other than its intended purpose.
Before my mini roller shade arrived, I ran to my local craft store, picked up some 12×12 glitter scrapbooking paper and spray glue. I used my mom’s cricut machine to cut out the characters I’d need to spell out ‘@SensiblySara.’ When the mini roller shade was dropped off at my doorstep, I pulled it out of the package and figured out where I wanted to glue down my letters.
I used a mini clamp (though, a clothespin would work) to hold each letter as I sprayed it with glue. I placed the letters by hand, but pressed them onto the roller shade with a toothpick to minimize the amount of glue left on my fingers. I tried to tie a string to the top of the shade, but that is a little more complicated that it sounds so my husband did it for me. From start to finish, it took about 20 minutes to do the ‘SensiblySara’ side of my DIY photo backdrop.
I made the ‘Sara’ a little funky, because I can’t be sensible all the time, can I?! I like the way it turned out – simple, creative and it screams SARA with the purple glitter and curly ‘S’!
Initially, I wanted the backdrop to be two-sided, but after I created the ‘SensiblySara’ side, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to put on the backside. I thought burlap might be fun, but honestly I haven’t attempted it yet because I am a little scared of messing it up.
What would you make with a Mini Roller Shade?
I love the way it turned out!! You are so creative!
Such a great idea! I need one, too!
We love it Sara! What’s going to be your next photo subject?
I have some toys I need to shoot for a blog post … and then cheesecake egg rolls! 🙂
very cool!!!!
That is a fabulous idea! I have been looking for good ideas for backdrops.
What a great idea! I’ve just recently opened an Etsy shop on top of our website that I manage myself. Those great pictures aren’t as easy to create as it looks. This is so simple and easy to re-create – plus I can roll it up when I’m done 🙂
Awesome! Link me to your shop, I’d love to check it out!
I love that it’s so flexible, too. You could make your name/logo as big or little as you wanted.
My shop is Little Boy Howdy – http://www.etsy.com/shop/littleboyhowdy – and we’re based out of Round Rock, just north of you :). I think I’ll print my logo on fabric and adhere it to the shade…. The wheels are turning now!
I love your stuff!! I’d love to see what you come up with for your backdrop when you finish it.
such a great idea, love how it turned out. Could really use some for my house 😀
What a clever, unconventional use for roller blinds. I love the lettering and placement of @sensiblysara. This is something you can use for a long time to come. So cute, Sara!
Thanks Colleen!
That is so brilliant. I want to make one too now.
so cute! i want that purse
That is a really neat idea you came up with. It turned out really nice.
Very cool…I love this idea!
What a neat idea, I’m definitely going to purchase a few blinds for my photo projects.
That is a really good use of the shade. As a former photographer, I’m impressed.
I love this, plus it seems like it would be a lot more durable than using paper. I never would have thought of this!
What a cute idea! I never would have thought of this. It’s such a time saver over watermarking!
What a great idea! I need to make something like this as I have a shelf I take all my photos on but don’t want the wood look all the time so I use scrapbook paper. Love this idea!
What a great re-purposing of a roller shade! I don’t know what I’d make or use it for. Maybe a play-doh mat for when the kids come and visit. I hate when play-doh gets everywhere.
Great idea! I love your logo on it.
Very cool idea! And they roll up so small so take up little room. Thank you for sharing!
That’s a great idea. I need to use this in my classroom.
What a wonderful idea! I have heard really great things about Blinds.com.
I’ve been thinking for a while this was a business idea for bloggers! What a great one – I’d love for you to make one for me!
What a simple yet great idea! I definitely need to create one for myself and I love the idea of adding burlap to the other side. A great benefit to the shade is that it offers compact storage when not in use.
what a great way to watermark your pictures in a high fashion way! very clever! love it!
Thank you!