Make This Handheld Halloween Photo Booth
All you need is a cardboard box, some inexpensive supplies and a few Halloween decorations. Bonus: You can make this photo booth for any holiday.
![Halloween Photo Booth in a Box: Final Two Men Make Silly Faces Inside DIY Halloween Photo Booth](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/2/20/0/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_Halloween-Photo-Booth_finished-booth.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1582240602216.jpeg)
Caitlin Dabbs
Amp up your Halloween with this portable photo booth that's perfect for sharing pictures on social media. HGTV Handmade's Crafty Lumberjacks share step-by-step tricks for a haunted photo booth you can whip up with plenty of time to spare for costume prep. Read on for the Halloween how-to.
- cardboard box
- extra cardboard piece
- craft knife
- jar lid
- low-temp hot glue gun
- black acrylic paint
- paintbrush
- double-sided tape
- faux branches
- faux moss
- miniature plastic skeletons
- miniature gravestones
- wrapping paper
- remote control LED lights
- cabinet handles with hardware
- pencil
- small nail
Prep Box + Cut Holes
Open up a cardboard box and use a craft knife to slice the seal open so that it lays flat on the work area. Next, using a mason jar lid as a guide, trace a circle with a pencil on the upper part of the front side of the box to make a viewing hole (Image 1). Then, on the back side of the box, trace a larger skull shape to create a larger viewing hole (Image 2). Use a craft knife to cut out the marked pieces (Image 3).
![Open up a cardboard box and use a craft knife to slice the seal open so that it lays flat on the work area. Next, using a mason jar lid as a guide, trace a circle with a pencil on the upper part of one side of the box to make the viewing circle. Then, on the back side of the box, trace a larger skull shape to create the larger viewing area. Use a craft knife to cut out the marked pieces.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/2/20/0/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_Halloween-Photo-Booth_trace-hole.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1582240602865.jpeg)
Caitlin Dabbs
![Then, on the back side of the box, trace a larger skull shape to create the larger viewing area. Use a craft knife to cut out the marked pieces.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/2/20/0/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_Halloween-Photo-Booth_trace-opening.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1582240603415.jpeg)
Caitlin Dabbs
![Next, using a mason jar lid as a guide, trace a circle with a pencil on the upper part of one side of the box to make the viewing circle. Use a craft knife to cut out the marked pieces.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/2/20/0/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_Halloween-Photo-Booth_cut-hole.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1582240601683.jpeg)
Caitlin Dabbs
Make Panels + Paint
Set aside an extra piece of cardboard to decorate later. This extra piece will add more visual depth inside the box when complete. Now cut out one piece that will fit inside your box, parallel to the front and back. Then, trace and cut out a large oval in the middle of that piece (Image 1). To add more visual dimension, cut out another small piece of cardboard half the size of the middle panel and cut out a wavy shape (Image 2). Next, paint the inside of the box and the middle panel with black acrylic paint (Image 3). Let them dry completely.
![Then, on the back side of the box, trace a larger skull shape to create the larger viewing area. Use a craft knife to cut out the marked pieces.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/2/20/0/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_Halloween-Photo-Booth_cut-opening.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1582240601726.jpeg)
Caitlin Dabbs
![To add extra visual dimension, cut out another small piece that’s half the size of the middle panel (Image x). Then cut out a wavy shape.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/2/20/0/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_Halloween-Photo-Booth_cut-bottom.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1582240602224.jpeg)
Caitlin Dabbs
![Paint the inside of the box and the middle panel with black acrylic paint and let dry completely.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/2/20/0/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_Halloween-Photo-Booth_paint-box.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1582240602652.jpeg)
Caitlin Dabbs
Make Eerie Panels
For the back panel with the large skull-shaped hole, use a low-temp hot glue gun to add faux tree branches and faux moss around the opening (Image 1). On the middle panel, use a low-temp hot glue gun to add plastic skeletons around the center hole (Image 2). Tip: Clip off any overhanging pieces from the toy skeletons so the panel fits easily back into the box. Embellish the smaller cardboard panel with some added faux moss and leftover skeleton pieces (Image 3).
![For the back panel, use a low temp hot glue gun to add tree branches and moss around the large skull-shaped hole. On the middle panel, use a low temp hot glue gun to add plastic skeletons around the center hole. Embellish the smaller dimension panel with some added moss and skeleton pieces.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/2/20/0/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_Halloween-Photo-Booth_add-decor.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1582240601167.jpeg)
Caitlin Dabbs
![For the back panel, use a low temp hot glue gun to add tree branches and moss around the large skull-shaped hole. On the middle panel, use a low temp hot glue gun to add plastic skeletons around the center hole. Tip: Clip off any overhanging pieces from the toy skeletons so the panel fits easily back into the box. Embellish the smaller dimension panel with some added moss and skeleton pieces.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/2/20/0/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_Halloween-Photo-Booth_add-skeletons.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1582240603220.jpeg)
Caitlin Dabbs
![Embellish the smaller dimension panel with some added moss and skeleton pieces.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/2/20/0/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_Halloween-Photo-Booth_glue-decor.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1582240602303.jpeg)
Caitlin Dabbs
Reconstruct + Decorate Outer Box
Put the box back together using a low-temp hot glue gun, leaving the top flaps open. Carefully slide the middle panel with the skeletons back into the box, skulls facing the front viewing hole (Image 1). Tip: Test that everything is securely aligned and in place inside the box by using your cell phone to take a test photo. Then, close the top lid and glue down with a low-temp hot glue gun. Once glued, carefully wrap the outside of the box like a present using black or Halloween wrapping paper and double-sided tape (Image 2). Using a craft knife, cut slits in the paper where the holes are and fold them into the box (Image 3). Next, decorate the top of the box with miniature gravestones, faux moss and a plastic skeleton to create the perfect Halloween scene (Image 4). Finish by placing remote-controlled LED lights inside the box and use double-sided tape to secure (Image 5).
![Now put the box back together using a low temp hot glue gun, leaving the top flaps open. Carefully slide the middle panel with the skeletons back into the box, skulls facing the front viewing hole. Next, close the top lid and glue down with low temp hot glue gun.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/2/20/0/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_Halloween-Photo-Booth_insert-decor.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1582240603219.jpeg)
Caitlin Dabbs
![Once everything is aligned, carefully wrap the outside of the box like a present using black or spooky contact or wrapping paper.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/2/20/0/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_Halloween-Photo-Booth_wrap-box.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1582240603070.jpeg)
Caitlin Dabbs
![Using a craft knife, cut slits in the paper where the holes are and fold them into the box for a clean look.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/2/20/0/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_Halloween-Photo-Booth_cut-paper-holes.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1582240601640.jpeg)
Caitlin Dabbs
![Finish by decorating the top of the box with gravestone miniatures, moss and a skeleton to create a spooky and inviting scene.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/2/20/0/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_Halloween-Photo-Booth_embelish-box.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1582240609789.jpeg)
Caitlin Dabbs
![Place remote controlled LED lights inside the box and use strong double-sided tape secure.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/2/20/0/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_Halloween-Photo-Booth_add-lights.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1582240602909.jpeg)
Caitlin Dabbs
Complete With Handles
Center the cabinet handles on each side of the box, mark with a pencil and puncture holes using a small nail. Then, attach the handles using the provided hardware. Snap a pic through your new DIY photo booth and display for others to enjoy.
![Handheld Halloween Photo Booth: Test Box Alignment Man Holds Photo Booth Box In One Hand, Snaps Pic With Phone In Other](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/2/20/0/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_Halloween-Photo-Booth_photo-test.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1582240602648.jpeg)
Caitlin Dabbs
The Crafty Lumberjacks' NYC Apartment Is Spooky Perfection 24 Photos
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