DIY Western "Wanted Poster" Photo Prop: Step-by-Step Guide

Materials You Will Need:

• Custom "Wanted Poster" design (from Etsy or created by you)
• Canva (for custom design creation)
• Adhesive poster (available at Walgreens)
• Foamular Insulation Foam board (I get mine from Home Depot)
• Lighter (for vintage burn effect)
• Drill
• Jig saw 
• Hot knife (for trimming foam)
• Black paint (for border and back)

Step 1: Create or Purchase Your Design

You can either:

• Purchase a pre-made design from Etsy or another marketplace.
• Create a custom design using Canva or similar design software, as I did. If you choose to create your own design, make sure to leave enough space in the middle for people to stand behind. Here’s the link to the FREE custom one I made.

Tip: If this is for a single event feel free to customize it as much as you want (such as using the year of birth for the reward amount like I did) but if this is a prop that you’ll want to use for more than one event, you’ll want a more general design.

Step 2: Print Your Design as an Adhesive Poster

Once your design is finalized, have it printed as an adhesive poster at Walgreens or a similar store. This will be like a large sticker that you'll later apply to the foam board. I selected the 24x36 adhesive poster

Step 3: Trim the Excess and Cut Out the Middle

After receiving your adhesive poster:

• Trim off any excess white background surrounding the design to keep the focus on the poster. 
• Cut out the middle of the poster, where people will stand behind for photos. Note that cutting the middle portion now can make applying the vinyl to the foam board more challenging later on. Consider waiting until the vinyl is attached to the foam board if you're concerned about this step.

Step 4: Burn the Edges for a ‘Worn Western’ Look

To achieve the authentic Western vintage look:

• I used a lighter to carefully burn small sections of the edges of the poster. You can do this same thing or just use scissors to create a similar look. 
• Blow out the flame quickly to avoid burning too much at once. This method gives you more control over the burn and enhances safety.
• Work in small sections to ensure the burn effect looks realistic and doesn't get out of hand.

Safety note: Be cautious and work slowly to avoid injury or damage. Use the burn method at your own risk.

Step 5: Adhere the Poster to the Foam Board

I get my insulation foam board from Home Depot, it comes in different widths, I use the ½ inch thick 4’x8’ foam.

Once your design is ready, carefully apply the vinyl adhesive poster onto the foam board. Ensure there are no bubbles, and smooth it out as you go.

Tips: If you chose to cut the middle out in step 3, consider taking your time to align everything properly. 

Sometimes the foam board has a clear film on top… be sure to remove this BEFORE applying the adhesive poster.

Make sure that you cut down the foam board before using the hot knife so that you’re working with a smaller piece that needs less trimmed off.

Step 6: Remove the Middle of the Foam Board

For the photo cutout:

• Drill pilot holes in each corner of the section you want to remove.
• Using a jigsaw, cut out the middle of the foam board where the photo will be taken. Here’s a link to the cordless jig saw I have and the link for the saw blades I used. 

Step 7: Final Foam Trimming with a Hot Knife

To maintain the burned effect from earlier and clean up any excess foam:

• Use a hot knife to trim away additional foam. This will give you smooth, precise edges while preserving the shape created during the burning step. Here’s a link to the one I used. 

Tip: A hot knife helps ensure that the edges look neat and match the burnt sections of the adhesive poster.

Step 8: Paint the Borders and Back Black

For the final finishing touch:

• Paint the inside and outside borders, as well as the back of the foam board, with black paint. This adds a polished, professional look to your prop.

Let the paint dry, and you're done! Your custom Western "Wanted" poster photo prop is now ready to be used for your next event.

Additional Tips:

• Handling the foam board carefully during cutting and trimming will help prevent accidental damage.