Have a drive-in movie night any time without leaving home. You can get as fancy or relaxed as you want for outdoor movie night but the two most important things to have, besides snacks, are a Movie Screen and a Projector. Here, we will show you how to DIY the movie screen for $50-$60. The movie projector can be found on Amazon or other online electronic retailers. Get one that will hook up to a DVD player (or Xbox). It can also be hooked up to other gaming consoles for larger-than-life video games.
Supplies you need:
- 4 – ten feet long pieces of 1 1/2-inch PVC pipe
- 2 –90% elbows (that fit 1 1/2-inch pipe)
- 4 – T fittings (that fit 1 1/2-inch pipe)
- 8 – 10-inch spikes (found in nail section)
- 1 king size white flat sheet
- 6 pieces of 3/4 grosgrain ribbon, 18 inches long each
Tools you need:
- Sewing machine
- Compound miter saw (or handsaw to cut pipe)
- Drill
- Hammer
Instructions:
Start by cutting the PVC pipe in the following measurements:
- Cut two of the 10 foot pieces so you get two 7 ft pieces and then two 3 ft pieces
- Cut the second two so you have two 6 ft pieces and two 2 ft pieces
NOTE: If you use smaller than 1 1/2 inch PVC pipe, it will not be very stable. I tried multiple sizes, but this kind will hold the weight and be stable enough to hold up well over and over again.
Next, using the graphic above, assemble the frame. The 7 ft pieces go at the top and bottom, the 3 ft pieces are the legs, and the 2 ft pieces are the “feet” that holds it all up.
Then, get started sewing the white sheet which will be the movie screen. First, take the shorter sides of the sheet and turn it down one-fold, then run a stitch close to the edge to make a pocket for the top of the frame. Put it onto the top frame to measure where it needs to be hemmed on the bottom. Take it back off the frame and run another pocket for the bottom. If you sew it just a little small means the screen will stretch out nicely and not wrinkle. Before putting it back on the frame, sew the ribbon on the sides at the top, bottom and middle by folding the ribbon in half and stitching it down to create tabs to tie it to the sides of the frame.
Lastly, drill holes in the pipe at an angle towards the center to help the stakes get enough stability to hold up. Now, decide where to place it in the yard and drive the stakes into the ground with a hammer. You can also use bags of sand over the “feet” to keep it stable.
Pick out a movie for the whole family to enjoy.
Tips for a fun outdoor movie night
- Seating: grab beanbag chairs, picnic blankets, throw pillows, camp chairs, etc. Make sure everyone is comfortable and not have to sit in the dirt or grass.
- Snacks: Set up a snack table with candy, drinks and prefilled paper bags of popcorn or make up snack trays with Dollar Store items like these:
Image courtesy of cookeatgo.com
- Theme movie nights: pair your movie and snacks in themes such as Star Wars night.
Image courtesy of fernandmaple.com
Thanks to theshabbycreekcottage.com for the DIY Outdoor Movie Screen tutorial.
