When I think about homemade backdrops, what immediately comes to mind are the bright floral sheets that we used for our school plays. Of course, if you want a professional looking photograph, scenery could be used. But if you want a backdrop, simple wide muslin is the best thing. It is versatile, comes in a range of widths, comes in natural and a bleached white, and is easily dye-able. It can
. also be painted successfully as well. Airbrushing could be a great way to do that effectively without the mess. You can find more information here: http://www.ehow.com/way_5470920_homemade-backdrops-photography.html