February 26, 2011

Mardi Gras Wreath Ideas: One wreath-Three Different Ways!


3 Mardi Gras wreath ideas
Decorating for Mardi Gras is always easier with some inspiration. If you are looking for ideas for Mardi Gras wreaths, here are three: a basic Mardi Gras greenery wreath decorated three different ways. The Mardi Gras greenery wreath form is festive and pretty as it is, but adding other Mardi Gras elements creates a wreath that is uniquely yours.

Mardi Gras greenery wreath form
This 24" wide metallic Mardi Gras wreath is made up of purple, green and gold wired greenery. The wired branches can be bent and shaped. This makes adding in other elements very easy because you can use these wired branches to attach other accents.

From this basic Mardi Gras wreath form, we created three distinctly different Mardi Gras wreaths. Choose the one you prefer and create your own Mardi Gras masterpiece. Here are the finished wreaths and the steps we took to create each one:

Fleur de Lis Mardi Gras Wreath- Option 1

Mardi Gras Fleur de Lis Wreath
The Mardi Gras Fleur de Lis Wreath highlights our beloved symbol, the fleur de lis. Synonymous with New Orleans and Louisiana, the fleur de lis is the perfect accent for a Mardi Gras wreath.

Mardi Gras Fleur de Lis Wreath Supplies
Pictured are the supplies used for this Fleur de Lis Gras Wreath. The basic Mardi Gras greenery wreath, a twig Mardi Gras garland, gold floral wire, Harlequin pattern ribbon, paper-mache Fleur de Lis decoration and Mardi Gras beads.

For added texture, a glittered twig Mardi Gras garland is layered on the front of the wreath. The natural shape and texture of this twig garland contrast nicely with the wreath base. To add the twig garland, use two wired branches on the wreath. Twist the wired branches together, wrapping around the beginning point of the garland.

Continue around the wreath, using the wired branches on the wreath base to attach the garland as you go. When you get back to where the twig garland begins, finish off by attaching the garland into the same branches you started with.

Step 2: Paper-mache Fleur de Lis decoration
Attach the paper-mache Fleur de Lis to the top of the wreath. There is a hook on the back of the Fleur de Lis that you can use to attach it with a wired branch. Thread one of the wired branched through the hook and twist to secure.

Step 3:  Mardi Gras beads
Cut the strands of Mardi Gras beads in half to create a long, strand of each color. Traditional purple, green and gold Mardi Gras beads are used here.

Add the Mardi gras beads to the top of the wreath by twisting the beginning section of beads between two wired branches.
Continue around the wreath. Attach every 5-6" by twisting into two branches to secure the Mardi Gras beads in place until you get back up to the top of the wreath. We used two sets of beads to cover the perimeter of the wreath.

Step 4:  Harlequin Ribbon Bow
To create the bow, we used this beautiful textured Harlequin ribbon. Cut a small piece of floral/craft wire. The wire needs to be about 1 foot long.

To make the bow form a loop about 5" long. Gather the ribbon in your hand as shown. Form a loop on the other side, matching the size. Keep forming loops and gathering the ribbon in your hand until you have created the size bow you desire. This bow has 8 loops. Using the piece of wire, wrap around the center of the bow. Twist to secure.


Cut a length of ribbon for the tail of the bow. Attach this to your bow with the wire. Trim the ends of the ribbon .

Step 5: Attach the bow to the wreath
With the end pieces of the wire attach the bow to the top of the wreath and fluff the bow. You're finished!

Venetian Mask Mardi Gras Wreath- Option 2
Venetian Jester Mask Mardi Gras Wreath
This Mardi Gras wreath features a plush green velvet Venetian style Jester Mask. The mask features a wired top that resembles a jester hat. These wired points can be adjusted up or down to add height if needed.

Venetian Mask Mardi Gras Wreath Supplies
Pictured are the supplies we used for this Venetian Mask Mardi Gras Wreath: the basic Mardi Gras greenery wreath, a green velvet Venetian jester maskpurple feathersgold crushed lame fabric roll,  Mardi Gras sequin ornaments and purple glitzy sticks.

Add the crushed lame fabric at the top of the wreath by gathering a section of fabric between two wire branches, twisting to secure.


Continue around the wreath attaching sections of  lame fabric every 6-8". Fluff the fabric up as you go.

Step 2: Venetian Jester Mask
Add the jester mask to the side of the wreath. Use the loop on the back of the mask to hang it on the wreath.

Pull on of the wired branches through the loop to attach the mask.

Step 3: Purple feathers
Accent the jester mask with a new texture, fluffy purple feathers. Attach these feathers to the wreath both above and below the mask.

Step 4: Glitzy Sticks
Glitzy sticks are flexible glittered wire sticks that can be bent and shaped into any form you desire. The glitzy sticks come in 36" long pieces. Attach the glitzy stick to the wreath form by threading the glitzy stick onto the wire form and twisting to secure.

Using the glitzy sticks, attach a sequin Mardi Gras ornaments in the area across from the Jester Mask. Twist the glitzy sticks to secure and curl ends as shown below.

Shape the ends of the glitzy stick into any form you like, zip-zag, loops, etc. We used 3 standard pencils to form uniform curls. Simply wrap the glitzy stick around the pencils to form circles. The wired glitzy stick will retain this curly shape once the pencils are removed.

Attach the other sequin ornaments with glitzy sticks around the wreath to balance out the Jester Mask on the other side of the Mardi Gras wreath. Now, this wreath is complete!
Mardi Gras Jester Doll Wreath- Option 3
This pretty  large jester Mardi Gras doll was the inspiration for this wreath. Such a pretty doll deserves a place of honor. What better place than your front door?

Mardi Gras Jester Doll Wreath Supplies

For a different texture, we added this fun flexible tubing around the wreath. This deco flex product is made of the same material as our popular poly deco mesh, but here it is formed into tubes that you can use as ribbon, garland or floral accents. We doubled the deco flex tubing and attached two at a time. Start at the top of the wreath and attach the deco flex tubing in between two wire branches, twist to secure.


Continue securing the deco flex tubing around the wreath, about 6-8" apart. End at the top where you  began.

Cut  a 12" long piece of gold floral wire.

Wrap this wire around the body or neck of the jester doll and twist to tighten.

Use the wire to attach the doll to the frame of the wreath.

Use another piece of wire to attach the gold scepter to the doll's hand.
 
Step 4:  Make the bow
Using both the green deco flex tubing and the gold glitter mesh ribbon, create a bow by making equal size loops. Gather the middle section in your hand as you go.

Continue making loops until you have created the size bow you desire. Secure the middle section with the gold craft wire. Attach the bow to the side of the wreath with the remaining wire pieces.

Add the purple, green and gold faux fern floral sprays around the wreath as needed.

We used groups of 3 fern sprays together for more impact. With the fern attached, the wreath is now complete!


From the  basic Mardi Gras greenery wreath form
to three creative Mardi Gras wreaths,

we hope you found something to inspire you!

If you are interested in making any of these wreaths, links to the products used are located through out the post. Simply click on the product name and it will bring you to the product page where you can purchase the item at Mardi Gras Outlet.

February 23, 2011

Create a mini Mardi Gras Parade Float out of a shoe box

Krewe of K1 floats


Mardi Gras shoebox float
In Louisiana, schools around the state have their own version of Mardi Gras with small parades at school. Children craft parade floats out of wagons, boxes, crates and shoe boxes. This precious tradition is one that children and parents alike look forward to each year.

Want to create your own mini Mardi Gras parade? Here is our tutorial for a Mardi Gras shoe box float. Making a tiny Mardi Gras float out of standard shoe box is a fun craft for a children's Mardi Gras party. It also makes a great art project for a school class.

The shoe box parade floats pictured here were created by a local kindergarten class for their Fall Festival. 
mini Mardi Gras float ridersThank you to the Krewe of K1 for sharing their Mardi Gras floats and to Lori Stoekle, their talented room mom,  for sharing her tips and tricks for creating this cute shoe box Mardi Gras float complete with mini Mardi Gras float riders (my favorite part).

We recreated a similar mini Mardi Gras shoe box float. Here is the tutorial showing the steps to create your own shoe box Mardi Gras float

Shoe box for float
  Use a shoe box with unattached lid as the form for your mini Mardi Gras float. Choose a color for the float. The traditional Mardi Gras colors are purple, green and gold (preferably one of these colors). We chose a bright kelly green. You can paint the shoe box or cover it in paper. 

We chose to paint our shoe box. Spray paint is an easy and fast paint option. Once the paint is dry or box is covered, attach the back of the shoe box lid as shown to form a backdrop for your mini Mardi Gras float.

Shoe box float supplies
These are the Mardi Gras supplies we used to decorate our Mardi Gras float.

Purple, green & gold craft feathers
Mardi Gras garland
Mardi Gras flags
Metallic crown decorations
Gold tinsel pipe cleaners
Mardi Gras beads
Glue and/or tape

Here are some other Mardi Gras items you could use to decorate a float:

Mardi Gras floral sprays and picks
Comedy and Tragedy mini cutouts
Mardi Gras Doubloons
Mardi Gras Centerpiece
Floral Sheeting/ Petal Paper
Mardi Gras Ribbon or Ornaments or Masks

Garland on shoe box float
Start decorating the float by adding a Mardi Gras garland around the perimeter of the shoe box.

 Attach the Mardi Gras garland with glue or tape. Line both the box and attached lid with garland.

attach Mardi Gras flags

Feather the float
Attach a group of purple, green and gold feathers to each of the front corners of the shoe box.

Add crown decorations
Glue or tape on the crown decorations. Add one to each side of the box and to the back as well.
  
Scatter Mardi Gras beads
Layer Mardi Gras beads across the top of the float deck. Attach as necessary.


Create your own mini Mardi Gras float riders. These float riders are made out of standard size pipe cleaners. Each "rider" is made of 1 whole pipe cleaner and 1 cut in half. This photo shows each step.
Pipe cleaner Mardi Gras men

STEP 1: Cut one pipe cleaner in half
STEP 2: Form a loop for your head and twist to form the body.
STEP 3: Bend the end pieces to form feet.
STEP 4: Twist the 1/2 pipe cleaner onto the body portion to form arms. Bend to form hands.


Shoe box Mardi Gras float
Add your Mardi Gras float riders to the float deck.  Use these shoe box Mardi Gras floats as decoration or add a string to the front of the shoe box and you can pull them down the school hall for your own mini Mardi Gras parade.

With your mini Mardi Gras float and riders ready to roll, Laissez les bons temps rouler!

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