Need some ideas or help LOL

[bdeditch]

For years we have putting our villages up on the bulk head of our kitchen ( 8 feet high ) and on top of our TV unit ( about 6 feet High). This year I am making a 3 level table that will fit in the front entrance of our house. It will be about 6 feet long and 30 inches wide. I am looking for a nice backdrop to put behind it as far as a christmas scene, but I have had no luck finding anything. When I google backdrop it comes up as the huge 20 foot wide ones. Does anyone know where I could find these. I was hoping with something like small lights for stars etc.

[jimpwa]

Dept 56 sells back drops they are paper, and you just cut them to size.

[bdeditch]

Thank you!!!

[bdeditch]

Heres Dept.6 Response:

Thank you for your interest in Department 56. We are sorry currently all of our Village Back drops are retired.

Sincerely,

Andie

Department 56

[Kim]

I dont know if this will help but i bought a sheet set that has clouds on it and we use that. You can also buy satin material that has clouds on it but it is not as wide as the sheet sets.

I bought them in a department store in Australia but I am sure you will find them in lots of stores in the US.

Kim

[nettnut]

Several years ago I had an old classmate that was really good in art and she painted me a background scene on a large piece of cardboard. It was a several mountains with trees and snow cover. It turned out real nice and I used it in the local library where I had a display behind some glass. So if you or if you know of someone that can paint turn em loose :waycool:

Dennis

[ricksglass]

I have used Dark Blue fabric with twinkling lights behind it. The fabric is dark enough you don't see the light wires but the lights show through like stars.

[cjc2k]

3/4" Foam core boards. Spray paint a dark blue, with a gradient if you can, if your brave you can even spray some night time clouds. Then punch the mini lights through the back.If you dont punch the bulb all the way through, you will get a nice glow instead of a sharp light. this is how i did the backdrop in my rock-center scene, if you can get a fiber optic unit, thats even better !

[Carrie Sansing]

Last year I was able to find a roll of light blue poly batting..it was quite thin and I mounted it to some supports behind the village. I used a string of LEDs behind it and it cast a pretty neat glow.

The picture isn't the best..but it will give you an idea.

[bdeditch]

Thats a great idea. Where di you find it at?

[Toymakr000]

You could use some of that blanket fleece material as well. You can get that at any fabric store.

[dbrfield]

Hi

I was admiring your display and the fantastic job you did on the garage. But what got my attention more than your design washow did you make such rich detailed photographs? I have tried a number of ways but I can't get near what you are showing. Would you mind sharing your secret? Thanks a lot

Darrel

Maryland

[cjc2k]

Was that question directed to me? lol

Im assuming it is because i have the garage display... so thanks fior the compliment!

Every year i try something differnt with photographing the house.
This is what i found to be the best way. Im sure others have covered this topic here but this is the BASICS of what i do.....

1. Plan to do it on a Sunday night....Sunday because there is the least amount of traffic. everyones ususally at home eating dinner, not coming home from work.

2.Figure out on the day before what time it is when it just starts getting dark, the sky should be dark blue, not black, you only have 10-15 minutes to take the pics in this window.

3. Get a really good digital camera (or borrow one) and learnhow to use it as well as you can,and a tripod-very important. NO FLASH
If you keep the camera on automatic, without using a tripod you will get blurry shots because the cameras shutter is staying open longer to capture the light.

4. Night Photos are almost never , what you see is what you get, so dont be dissapointed. Im very picky with my lights not looking "real" to me, but i gave up on that a long time ago, now i just want good color and clear photos.

The one thing im confused about is i could not for the life of me get a clear photo of my Holy Family.....i went back 3 or 4 times and still all slightly out of focus......i think they were trying to tell me something.....

-Chris

[Jeff_Womack]

http://www.shindigz.com/catalog.cfm?cat=25597

[grandma upnorth]

I set my display up in a bedroom. When my daughter was there she papered the walls with blue sky and white clouds (Winnie the Pooh). It looks fabulous behind my display.

[bdeditch]

grandma upnorth wrote:
I set my display up in a bedroom. When my daughter was there she papered the walls with blue sky and white clouds (Winnie the Pooh). It looks fabulous behind my display.
We have the perfect spot in our Front entrance. So I have built a good size platform to put them on. I will be adding some pictures in the next couple of days how its going.

[fireman5214]

On my 8 x 17 foot train display i use a backdrop of blue wrapping paper, cut into 3 foot sections, and put glow inthe dark stars on it. You should see viewers reactions when the lights go out. :waycool: