If you have seen one of these giant pink boxes at a birthday party, you know exactly the reaction it gets. The birthday girl steps inside, strikes a pose in the window, and suddenly she is the doll on the front of her very own Barbie box. It is one of the most popular photo moments at Barbie themed parties right now, and you have two options for getting one: build it yourself or buy one ready made.
How Barbie Boxes Are Made
The classic Barbie box photo booth is basically a giant, walk in version of an actual Barbie doll box, built around a large cardboard frame or foam board panels.
- Start with a large appliance or furniture box (a refrigerator or sofa box works well) sized to fit a child or adult, or build a frame from foam board, coroplast, or plywood if you want something sturdier and reusable
- Cut out the front window with a straight edge and a utility knife, leaving enough of a frame around the opening to look like the box edge
- Cover the outside in pink bulletin board paper or a pink vinyl wrap, and the inside back panel in blue or silver so it reads as the doll box backdrop
- Seal the seams with strong gummed packing tape so the box holds its shape through a full party
- Add the Barbie logo across the bottom as a cutout or vinyl decal, and personalize the top banner with a name, age, or birthday edition text like the one in this photo
It is a very doable weekend project if you like to craft, and there are full video tutorials online that walk through the whole build step by step.
Where to Buy One If You Would Rather Skip the DIY
If building a giant box is not how you want to spend party prep week, you are not out of luck. Etsy has a number of sellers who make these full time, offering both kid size versions around 4 feet and adult size versions around 6 feet, usually built from durable coroplast or Correx board with a full color vinyl wrap so they hold up to a whole party of guests posing in them. Many can be personalized with a name or age, and some ship flat for easy setup at home.
If you would rather not store a giant box after the party is over, local party rental companies in a lot of cities also carry Barbie box photo booths and will deliver, set up, and pick up for you. It is worth a quick search for party prop rental in your area if that sounds easier than buying or building.
Complete the Look
Whichever route you go, the box is only half the picture. Browse our Barbie Outfits & Dresses collection for the perfect handmade outfit for her big photo moment, and pair it with a bow or headband from our matching hair accessories for a complete, camera ready look.
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