DIY Photo Booth for a Harvest Party

School has started, and I’ve already received the paperwork home asking how I want to be involved in the classroom this coming year. I have always helped with the harvest party, and this year will be no different. Last year I made a DIY photo booth for a harvest party, and it was a great way to get pictures of all the kids. I wanted to give you a tutorial on how to make it happen for your child’s classroom or church. We made it using a cornhole board.

First, I want to really encourage your to be involved in your children’s classrooms. For some of you that will mean virtually living at the school. For others, it might be a weekly gig. Others of you might be working full time but might want to try and get time off for special occasions and events in the classroom. I have seen my child’s face light up when I walk into her class. It means a lot and also is a great help to the teacher. Further, I think it is important to have a great relationship with the school. I believe once you develop a positive relationship, you have a strong voice that has established creditability with the teachers and administration. Try to avoid being the parent who only shows up when it is time to complain or give constructive criticism.

If you are wanting to contribute to the harvest party at your child’s school, perhaps you would feel comfortable volunteering to create this DIY Harvest Party Photo Booth made from a Cornhole board. 

 Material Needed to Make Harvest Photo Booth

• Cornhole Board
• Brown Wrapping Paper (I used the back of a roll I found at the Dollar Tree)
• Thumb Tacks
• Exacto Knife
• Pencil
• Paint – orange, dark orange, black and green
• Sponge Brush or Paint Brush

Instructions to Make a Harvest Photo Booth

1. Cover the cornhole board with brown paper. I bought a roll of wrapping paper at the Dollar Tree. It had a design on one side, and I just used the back.
2. Using an Exacto knife, cut out the paper where the hole was.
3. With a pencil, trace out the shapes of the pumpkins. They are kind of smooshed circles.
4. Have the kids paint the pumpkin solid orange. I painted the outline of the pumpkin and then let them fill it in.
5. Visit I Should Be Mopping the Floor to see her pumpkin painting tutorial, which is where I got the inspiration for the pumpkin design. This will show some of the strategies for creating the texture and style of painting you see in these pumpkins.
6. Add dark lowlights, black accents, and green leaves, stems & vines to complete the look.

Now the truth about the featured photo booth with the stacked pumpkins is that it did not become our actual photo booth for the party. I’ll be showing you how we used it as a harvest party cornhole game in a post I have coming up about the actual harvest party. The picture of the scarecrow below is the one we ended up using as our photo booth. I followed the same painting techniques to create this one. I only have basic painting skills, so I would encourage you to give it a try if you want to create this fun idea for your own classroom.

If you are looking for more harvest party food, games and activities, stay tuned for a featured post or look back at my featured harvest party ideas post.