enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

Board

If you follow me on Instagram or twitter, you've seen peeks of this already, but I wanted to share here anyways…

Boardjoy

I have a new craft fair backdrop!

Boardroom

One of the most enjoyable parts of prepping for this craft fair has been reformatting what I already have to work for new product. I tend to be much more creative when there are parameters so knowing that I had to re-use those teal boards was an exciting challenge for me.

Boardpaper

As mentioned on Monday, my original plan was giant, poster-size stamp images. I was going to get each blown-up large and use them to cover the backdrop. But the logistics (of fitting them perfectly, deciding what size to make each) were overwhelming, so instead, I had Office Depot print 10 copies of each stamp on letter size paper.

Boardsprogress

Then, Tuesday, while watching Dancing with the Stars, I covered each board. This was one of those projects where at first it looks terrible, but it improves as you keep working.

Boardhinge

By the end I was nearly dancing with joy (but that might have been more because of the show than the boards…).

Boardtape

I used regular scotch tape to stick the papers to the boards and to each other. The papers that ran off the edge were wrapped around the wood and staple-gunned into place. It's sturdy and, happily, the hinges still work fine so I can fold the two wood pieces and pack this up easily.

Boardsign

The
"Elise Joy" banner is the same one I have used before, but I painted over the
original sunshine yellow felt to make it more of a golden yellow. Yellow
and gray are the only colors in the display, which is sort of strange,
but they match my new business cards, so I am rolling with it.

Boardbottom

It's a little crazy (and might cause eye strain if you look at it for too long) but as mentioned, the tiny stamps need help making an impact and this is going to do it… for sure. I had to laugh that in Monday's post I said I hoped it wouldn't be too cluttered. This is the epitome of clutter. But thankfully, in black and white, it works.

ps… unrelated to a craft fair.. I think this would be an awesome way to "wallpaper" just one wall of a room (for the right person at the right age) with various mantras or words. When I was in high school, this would have been my dream bedroom wall. I wish I could go back and tell 16-year-old-Elise about it.

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23 responses to “building a craft fair backdrop.”

  1. Pink Ronnie Avatar

    Looks amazing Elise – I wouldn’t have thought of doing this myself! It’s going to work so well with the shelving unit that you’ve made as well. So inspired by you!
    Ronnie xo

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  2. rachel swartley Avatar

    Your backdrop makes quite a statement! Love it!

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  3. J3SS1C4 Avatar

    This really is big impact! I love how it turned out, too! Now I wish even more that your stamps were digital files though, because enlarging them looks like it would be awesome fun!

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  4. Joy Avatar

    I think it’s great – gives a good idea of what each stamp looks like, instead of straining your eyes to see on the actual stamp itself. Very creative!

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  5. Susan Avatar

    this is absolutely awesome and very eye-catching!!! your creativity abounds. are you only selling stamps or mini-books too?

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  6. elizafitz Avatar
    elizafitz

    it looks great, Elise! So weird, I actually had a dream that you posted about this & said you’d ordered huge stamps and stamped full sheets of paper to make this, ha! 🙂

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  7. Heather Johnson Avatar

    I just wanted to comment and let you know how your blog is such an important part of my day. Love your energy, your creativity, the time you have–many times you remind me of me in my mid-twenties. Now that I am in my late thirties, with two kids, and no sleep, you seriously perk me up each morning girl! Keep doing what you love, it’s a wonder to watch:)

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  8. Skye Avatar

    Wow! This looks great and makes me want to buy ALL of your stamps. 🙂 So glad to see the banner come back- it looks great. It was actually my dream in high school to collage all of my bedroom walls, but I never took the time to do it… I totally should have.

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  9. Michelle Avatar

    This is so cool and PERFECT for your booth. I really love how your Elise Joy banner pops out. Best of luck at the craft fair!!

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  10. jodi Avatar

    i LOVE it!!!

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  11. Dana Avatar

    hi Elise. I am a photographer and have started using polystyrene insulation sheets from Home Depot. the are large yet Eliot weight and paintable. probably sturdy enough. just a thought for future. if you are interested email me and I will dig up the toot for attaching feet.

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  12. Nat Avatar

    There are so many things I’d want to do to my walls if I was still my 16-year-old self. I did manage back then to create an entire wall covered with magazine collages.

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  13. Tammy Silvers Avatar

    Love the backdrop! I think it is the perfect compliment to your stamps! Too funny about this being a teenager’s perfect wall. My daughter didn’t have a collage wall, but instead we let all her friends sign the walls whenever they came over. Family and friends would leave notes and by the time she was a senior it was a scrapbook of her high school years. Wonderful. We took tons of pics before we painted over it. Gotta love Kilz!

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  14. elise blaha Avatar

    thanks so much! just stamps this time!

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  15. elise blaha Avatar

    haha – that would be insane…

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  16. elise blaha Avatar

    very cool. I am set for now with these, but if I decide to replace, I will be in touch. 🙂

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  17. jennifer Avatar
    jennifer

    I think you rocked it! Love your imagination 🙂 Good luck at the show…

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  18. sophie Avatar

    what a great way to make an impact! i can’t wait to see this in person. wishing you lots of luck at the show!

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  19. nihal Avatar

    Great! Good luck at the fair!
    A Circus Of Her Own

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  20. Christine Avatar

    It looks lovely! Black and white makes such an impact.

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  21. Erica Avatar

    I love the idea of using this for a wall! Maybe a back closet (or bathroom) wall for a little extra motivation in the morning.

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  22. recruitment consultant Avatar

    Nice photos! This is really a very cool post. I love it so much! Really amazing.

    Like

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