Over the weekends beginning of February 2013, I was given the task to plan and execute my grandma’s birthday celebration at my house; simply because we have a large hall to accommodate all our family members.

I do have a pet peeve when it comes to birthday celebration is that, I prefer to have a nice backdrop for birthday photos… You know the kind of mandatory photos where everyone would crowd around the cake in batches with the birthday boy/girl for that one photo.

Over in November last year, I had also planned and execute my cousin’s 21st birthday. Planned from designing the invitation, catering food and setup of venue.
And I took the liberty to spend a bit of money since I had 6 months in advance to plan his birthday, so I ordered foil balloons from China Wholesale website to create this gorgeous backdrop:

I realised how huge this is when I took this picture for my lil cousins and their pretty mum~

So for my next event, I thought I would do the same. A backdrop, but this time, not using balloons as I didn’t have much time to import materials.

So, after work one day, I dropped by Art Friend at Buona Vista.
I was looking for red crepe paper.
But to my disbelief, all the red crepe paper has been wiped out!
Not just the reds one… All the colours except the purples, a few pinks, and the oranges are sold!!!
I wonder who is so desperate for so much crepe paper (lol!)
Nevertheless, I chose these 2 colours:

Each roll cost me around SGD0.90 if my memory serves me well.
If you have Art Friend card, you can get a further discount.

I did that so the two colours can distinctively be seen from all around the edge of the flower.

Step 4:
Then I stacked them together. Remember we did the accordion fold so you have to make sure the paper stack on on top of each other in the fold.

And this is how it should look like when I fold the entire strip in half. This should give you an idea how the layers will fan out later:

*Side note:
If you are only using one colour, you can stack all the layers together first, accordion them then cut them all the same length.

Step 5:
Cut two slits in the centre like this, leaving some material left in the centre; like this:

Snipping a line in the centre actually helps to fan out the petals later on, and also making the central core smaller, where you can hold the flower more evenly and prettier.

Step 6:
Then wrap the wire around like this:

Do be careful because crepe paper is pretty fragile and will tear easily.
Once this is done,

Step 7:
You can start to fan the petals out.

I am using a two colour flower to show this.
You have to slowly separate the fuschia petals away from the purple petals by gently pulling them away from each other. In the above photo, I am still holding on to the wire beneath.

Once you put away from each other, you can fluff and arrange them nicely.

This is how it looks from the front:

Step 8:
Now,  you need to make a little hook out from your wire by twisting them into a loop like this:

With the loop, you can stick a hook on the wall ( I use 3M hooks) and hang them up as a wall display.

Now you have a nice deco wall for photos!!
Here is a sample of how backdrop works on the the finished photo looks like:

Here’s another one with my relative family shot with grandma:

The idea of a backdrop not just works on theatre stage, shopping mall, stores, or commercial places. It does give your plain walls at home a nice touch.

Hope this tutorial gives you some inspiration to make some your own!!!

OK!! I’m going to have a mini giveaway on this post!!!
This is open worldwide!!!

Here’s the prize: Maybelline Babylips SPF20 Lip Balm (Orange and Mango Pie flavours)
There will be 2 winners!

Here’s what you need to do:
1. Like my FB page HERE
2. Leave your name(or alias), your email and the flavour of lip balm  you wish to win below in the comments box. (Comments will be hidden, so not to invite spam.)

You have 1 week!
This give away contest will close 08 March 2013.

Start clicking and commenting!!
Good luck!

Cheers~