Celebrate Mardi Gras Today with a Free Printable Pennant Banner

Happy Mardi Gras! Today around the world, people are celebrating- one last day of revelry before lent begins. This printable Mardi Gras pennant banners is an inexpensive way to decorate for your celebration.  With this free printable, you can make as many as you want!

DOWNLOAD PENNANT BANNER

STEP 1: Download and Print

Click above to download the free printable Mardi Gras Pennant Banner. You will need a PDF reader to open this file.(Click HERE for a free PDF reader from Adobe) 

Print out all 4 pages of the banners, using your desktop home printer or bring the file to a copy or print center. You can print them using regular copy paper or card-stock paper.

STEP 2: Cut-out Pennants

Once you have printed out all four pages, use scissors or an X-acto knife and ruler to cut out each individual flag.

STEP 3: Fold

With each flag cut out from the pages, start folding the top section. Fold it back behind the front of the flag across the top at the white line, as shown above. Use the sides of the pennant as a guide for straight edges.

STEP 4: 

Place the fold around a long piece of string, and then tape or glue the flap down to secure. Continue attaching all of the flags. We used two different strings, but use one long string if you need to. You could also use ribbon or Mardi Gras Beads to create a pennant banner that is more like a garland.

Our finished banner took under 10 minutes to cut out and string together.

The finished banner-garland across a doorway.

We love the pennant banner on a garland or staircase!  A step-by-step tutorial on how to make this Deco Mesh garland is available HERE.

We hope you have a happy Mardi Gras!

Mardi Gras Glitter Leaf Wreath: Three Different Ways

Transform a simple Mardi Gras glitter leaf wreath into your own personalized Mardi Gras door decoration. A year ago, we posted about how to create three different looks with one basic Mardi Gras tinsel wreath from (click here to see the post). For 2012, we wanted to do the same concept with a new style of wreath form. This basic Glitter Leaf Wreath was easily updated with inexpensive Mardi Gras accents: lime green deco mesh,  Mardi Gras ribbon and a glitter wall sign.

The Basic Mardi Gras Wreath

available at Mardi Gras Outlet.com

Option 1: Mardi Gras Sign

SUPPLIES

Glitter Leaf Wreath

2"x10 yard roll Mardi Gras Stripe Ribbon

Glitter Mardi Gras Wall Plaque

Craft Wire

All of the supplies can be purchased at www.mardigrasoutlet.com, for about $34.

This first Mardi Gras wreath version uses a Mardi Gras sign and bow. You will need to use craft wire to attach both decorative accents.

First, attach the Mardi Gras sign at the bottom right of the wreath at a slight angle. Secure it on both sides with craft wire to the glitter leaf wreath form.

Use the Mardi Gras Stripe Ribbon to make a bow. Form a loop and hold in one hand. Form another loop on the opposite side and hold them in the same hand at the middle. Continue going back and forth until there are 4 loops on each side. Now cut 2, 30" long strips of ribbon and one shorter piece. Use the short length to attach the tails at the middle to the place you have been holding the loops.

Attach the bow with craft wire to the left side of the wreath.

For more detailed directions on how to make a similar bow, click here.

Option 2: Deco Mesh

SUPPLIES

Glitter Leaf Wreath

10" Deco Mesh Roll: Metallic Moss/Apple

Craft Wire

Scissors, Wire Cutters

Purchase at www.mardigrasoutlet.com

This Mardi Gras wreath version uses 10" wide poly deco mesh ribbon to add volume to the wreath. There should be enough deco mesh on the roll to fill in the wreath and to make a big bow. The supplies needed for this wreath will be about $26.

STEP 1

Open up and fluff the Glitter Leaf Wreath so that you can easily reach the brown wreath frame.

STEP 2

Cut about 10 pieces of craft wire that are 10"-12" long.

STEP 3

Cut approximately 16 pieces of the deco mesh. Each piece should be square, measuring about 10"x10".

STEP 4

Form the deco mesh sprays that you will eventually attach to the wreath frame. With a piece of mesh placed curl side up, pinch the very center and bunch it together. Make another and group the two together.

STEP 5

Use the craft wire to secure the deco mesh spray you created to the wreath frame, in between two branches. The mesh should be pointing in the same direction as the wreath's branches. Wrap the wire tightly and securely.

STEP 6

Repeat for each space between the branches, continuing all the way around the wreath.

STEP 7
Using the rest of the deco mesh roll, make a bow and attach it with craft wire at the bottom center of the wreath. For exact directions on how to make a bow with 10-inch deco mesh, CLICK HERE for our previous blog post tutorial on making a bow with 10" deco mesh.

Option 3: Bow and Ribbon

SUPPLIES

Glitter Leaf Wreath

Mardi Gras Stripe Foil Ribbon

Craft Wire

This version will cost about $25 in supplies from www.mardigrasoutlet.com.

First, form the bow. This bow was made the same way as the first version of the wreath, except there are 10 loops total. Tie the bow with craft wire, and pull and fluff out the loops. Cut a long tail, about  6 feet long, and attach at its center to the back of the bow.

Place the bow at the top of the wreath, and simply loop the ribbon tails all the way around the Glitter Leaf wreath.

One basic glitter leaf wreath transformed into three different wreaths.

Making a Mardi Gras Wreath with Deco Mesh

Celebrate the Mardi Gras season by making a festive deco mesh wreath in purple, green and gold, the colors of Mardi Gras. This wreath is embellished with a jester mask, jumbo Mardi Gras beads and metallic tinsel garland. Keep scrolling down for a tutorial on how to create your own!

SUPPLIES LIST (Click on the product name for supplies source) 

(1) Metallic Gold 24" Work Wreath form

(1) 21" Deluxe Mardi Gras Deco Mesh Roll

(1) Deluxe Masked Jester Face Mask

(1) Wired Purple Glamour Rope

(1) 72 inch PGG Whopper Balls

(1) Metallic Spiral Tinsel Garland

(1) Mardi Gras Stripe Ribbon (2"x10yards) 

The wreath supplies can be purchased at www.MardiGrasOutlet.com. CLICK HERE. All of the supplies needed for this wreath is about $62.

STEP 1: MAKE THE BASIC DECO MESH WREATH
The video above shows you how to attach the 21" Deluxe Mardi Gras Deco Mesh Roll onto the 24" metallic gold work wreath form. You will use the pre-attached tinsel-covered wire ties to secure the puffs of mesh all the way around the inner and outer rings of the wreath form.

The basic Mardi Gras deco mesh wreath should look like this.

STEP 2: CUT THE GLAMOUR ROPE

Using wire cutters, cut the wired purple glamour rope into 6 pieces ranging from 20" to 25" long. Glamour rope is a great creative product, and it comes in many colors. It is also wired so that you can bend it into many different shapes.

STEP 3: ATTACH THE GLAMOUR ROPE

Thread the pieces of glamour rope halfway through the work wreath frame and twist a few times to secure the glamour rope. Place the glamour rope pieces several inches apart from each other so that they are evenly spaced all the way around the wreath.

STEP 3: ATTACH THE GARLAND

Attach the metallic spiral tinsel garland all the way around the wreath. Twist the glamour rope around the garland to secure. Try leaving some slack as you attach the Mardi Gras garland so that it looks wavy.

STEP 4: ATTACH THE JUMBO MARDI GRAS BEADS

Using the glamour rope ties again, secure the giant mardi gras ball necklace to the wreath. Make sure the larger balls are placed at the bottom of the wreath versus the top.

STEP 5: CURL THE GLAMOR ROPE

Curl the glamour rope around a cylinder or tube to form each of the glamour rope pieces into spirals.

STEP 6: MAKE A BOW

Use the Mardi Gras Stripe Ribbon to make a bow. Form a loop and hold in one hand. Form another loop on the opposite side and hold them in the same hand at the middle. Continue going back and forth until there are 4 loops on each side. Now cut 2, 30" long strips of ribbon and one shorter piece. Use the short length to attach the tails at the middle to the place you have been holding the loops.

For more detailed directions on how to make a similar bow, click here.

STEP 7: ATTACH THE MASK

At the back of the Deluxe Jester Mask, there is a loop. Use a tinsel-covered wire tie on the work wreath form to secure the loop and the mask to the middle of the wreath. 

STEP 8: ATTACH THE BOW

Finally, attach the bow you made to the bottom center of the wreath, directly underneath the Jester Mask. Spread and fan apart the bow loops, as seen in the photo above. 

Happy Mardi Gras!

Carnival Season is Here! Door Decorating Ideas

Epiphany is today which marks the beginning of Carnival season. Epiphany, or 12th night, is the Christian holiday celebrating the day that the three kings bearing gifts visited baby Jesus.

Epiphany ushers in the Mardi Gras season, which lasts until Mardi Gras day, or Fat Tuesday on February 21st this year. Celebrate the arrival of the carnival season by changing wreath and door entryway decorations over from Christmas to Mardi Gras. Below you will find photographs and ideas to inspire you.

Happy Mardi Gras. Let the fun begin!

This doorway featured above goes all out with Mardi Gras deco mesh, Mardi gras beads, metallic fleur de lis and a custom wreath. Top it all off with a big bow.

Making your own deco mesh garland and wreath gives you big glitz and glam. This decorating theme wraps the whole door way in fun with purple metallic mesh, lime metallic mesh and a custom Mardi Gras wreath. Work wreath forms make creating a custom wreath very simple. Click here to see a list of our easy video tutorials.

Accent the basic deco mesh garland and wreath with foil ribbon, tinsel garland and fun Mardi Gras swirl ornaments.

For a simple garland, drape different types of tinsel garland over the door. Adding multiple garlands, one hung straight and the other swooped, creates more visual interest.



The Traditional symbols of Mardi Gras include fleur de lis, masks, beads, crowns, jesters, feathers and anything glitzy. Any basic wreath can be accented with Mardi Gras items to turn a plain wreath into a carnival wreath. Above a plain grapevine wreath was accented with beads, masks and ribbon.

Use one of these Mardi Gras symbols to add a simple accent to your door. This pair of doors uses simple metallic fleur de lis accents instead of a wreath.

Not feeling crafty? This metallic Mardi Gras ball ornament wreath  looks crafty but is available already assembled for you. Easy and festive, this ball ornament wreath looks great on this darker-colored door.

Coordinate your wreath with accents on the porch and and even your greenery. This home not only decorated the door with a wreath hung low to keep the window clear, but also added a touch of sparkle to the porch light and planter. The metallic Mardi Gras bow on the light is a fun accent. Custom bows are easy to create. See our tutorials for details. Adding festive metallic floral picks into the planter creates a third point of interest around the door.

Here are some links to the supplies used on this porch:
Glitter fleur de lis ornaments, bows and feathery floral sprays work well together for this entryway.

Keep a look out for more Mardi Gras decorating ideas now that Carnival season is here. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

*Supply list for the leading photo:
Mardi Gras Stripe Deco Mesh
Mardi Gras Stripe 4" Ribbon
Glitter Fleur de Lis
Jumbo Mardi Gras Beads
Jester Ornament
Tinsel Wreath
Feathers

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

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.

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

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.

Step 1: Mardi Gras twig garland

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

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 mask, purple feathers, gold crushed lame fabric roll,  Mardi Gras sequin ornaments and purple glitzy sticks.

Step 1: Crushed Lame Fabric

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.

Step 5: Sequin Ornaments

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

Here are the supplies we used for this wreath: the basic Mardi Gras greenery wreath, large 18" Jester Mardi Gras Doll, gold sequin scepter, deco flex green tubing, gold glitter mesh ribbon, gold floral wire and three purple, green and gold glitter ferns sprays.

Step 1- Deco Flex Tubing

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.

Step 2: Mardi  Gras Jester Doll.

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.

Step 3:  Gold sequin scepter

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.

Step 4: Faux Glitter Mardi Gras Fern

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.