Carnival Ticket Booth

Details: Category: How-Tos; Written by Guy Wolford

This 3 paneled cube was also the basis for our "Amazing Gorilla Machine" scene. It makes a great concept for any place a crate or rickety sort of booth is required, it allows for easy tear down and storage and assembles quickly. The ticket booth is extremely light and portable and is where we hand out our candy during Trick or Treat time. It is free standing and mostly sturdy, although it may require tying or weighting in the event of high winds.

Here's our final version (minus the illuminated "candy" sign that you can find on this tutorial!)

Materials used:

6 6' 2"x 2" boards

6 4' 2"x 2" boards

1 4' 1'x 4" board

2 large fabric bedsheets (approximately 6' x 4' each)

1 smaller fabric sheet (approximately 4' x 3')

Staple Gun

1 3'x 4' sheet of hardware cloth

drywall screws or other self tapping screws.

4 1/4" diameter 5" long carriage bolts
4 washers
4 nuts

24 truss plates (or mending plates) for 2x2 planks (you can actually cut this down to 12 if cost is an issue.

Latex Paint (mixed 1 to 1 with water to create a wash)

To begin, the side and front frames are assembled using 2 of the 6' 2x2s joined to 2 of the 4' 2x2s using 2 mending strips in each of the corners to form a rectangular frame. If mending plates are not available you can substitute anything to get those corners joined together.

We ran out of mending strips, we used parts of an old barbecue grill and some drywall screws to get it all "square"

Measure approximately 11" from the top and bottom of what will be your front face and drill a 1/4" hole through the middle of each 2x2. Measure the same distance on the side face of what will be your 2 side panels and drill the hole again.

Now is a good time to paint your frames with the color wash, it gives it a nice rustic look.

A blue wash on the new wood gave it that weathered carnival look.

Once your paint is dried to the touch staple the large fabric pieces to the sides to create tight clean panels. Also attach the smaller piece to the bottom half of the front panel.

The front fabric of our booth was made of a yellow (YELLOW?) shower curtain liner we found at the local ghetto discount store, this was taken before the middle shelf was attached.

Using some self-tapping screws, attach the 4' 1x4 at the center of the front panel. This should make a sort of "counter" for the front of the booth. I painted ours purple.

This shows our screen secured to the inside edge of the front frame, it contains people as well as chickens.

Paint your sides using the latex paint wash (you could use pre-made carnival style material, I suppose, but in the interest of cost, we used bed-sheets).

After the sides and front fabrics are dried sufficiently attach a side to the front using 2 of the 1/4" carriage bolts, washers and nuts. Once attached, repeat with the other side.

If you're like me, you overestimate your size and underestimate your materials, therefore you have to cut little blocks and drill holes in them to get the abnormally long carriage bolts you purchased to work with your frames.

Attach a sign to the top of your "Ticket Booth" for added awesomeness.

Carnival Ticket Booth

Materials used:

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