How to Decorate Stem of Glasses for Mardi Gras

Everything is more festive with Mardi Gras beads.

Simple wine glasses can be made festive and unique for Mardi Gras by adding individualized decorations to the stems. Bead charms, labels or ribbon bows can add to the party atmosphere and help people identify their own drinks. Use Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold to reinforce the theme. These decorations work beautifully on wine glasses and champagne flutes, and for a true Mardi Gras atmosphere, try using them on hurricane glasses or footed punch cups. Does this Spark an idea?

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Wine glasses
1 inch wire rings
Needle-nose pliers
Beads
Cardstock
Markers
Scissors
1/8 inch hole punch
Ribbon

Instructions

Beaded Wine Charms
- 1
  
  String a few assorted beads onto an opened wire hoop. If you want to use the charms as a way for people to identify their glasses, add a unique charm to each hoop or use beads that have letters stamped on them to identify guests by name or initials.
- 2
  
  Clamp the plain end of the wire hoop between the tips of the needle-nose pliers and bend the end of the wire back around the tips of the pliers to create a hook. Test the hook by catching it through the small loop at the other end of the hoop to be sure it catches securely. If the hoop doesn't stay closed, try increasing the curve of the hook, or pulling the hoop apart slightly so that there is outward tension when the hoop is closed.
- 3
  
  Repeat Steps 1 and 2 to create enough charms for every guest. Make six or eight more charms than the number of guests you expect to allow for dirtied glasses.
Label Wine Charms
- 4
  
  Draw shapes such as circles, stars, diamonds or even masks on card stock, aiming for a size of no more than 2 inches long. If you don't draw well, find clip art online and resize it to a good size for a glass label. Color the labels with markers, adding guest names or Mardi Gras-appropriate phrases if you like.
- 5
  
  Cut out the labels carefully. For a finished look, trace around the outside edges of the cut labels with a black or gold pen to cover the thickness of the cardstock and make the label look more cohesive.
- 6
  
  Punch a hole in one end of each label with a 1/8 inch hole punch. String the labels onto wire hoops, adding a few beads if you like.
- 7
  
  Clamp the plain end of the wire hoop between the tips of the needle-nose pliers and bend the end of the wire back around the tips of the pliers to create a hook. Test the hook by catching it through the small loop at the other end of the hoop to be sure it catches securely. If the hoop doesn't stay closed, try increasing the curve of the hook, or pulling the hoop apart slightly so that there is outward tension when the hoop is closed.
Ribbon Ties
- 8
  
  Cut lengths of different colors and widths of ribbon to about 26 inches long. For ease of handling once the bows are tied onto the glasses, the widest ribbon should be no more than 1 1/2 inches wide.
- 9
  
  Stack three or four lengths of ribbon on a flat surface, with the widest ribbon at the bottom and graduating upward to the narrowest. Center each ribbon on top of the one below it so that all layers show clearly.
- 10
  
  Pick up the ribbons carefully, holding both sides at about 4 inches out from the center point. Tie the layered ribbons into a tight double-knot around the stem of the wine glass.
- 11
  
  Tie the ribbons into one layered bow, or tie each ribbon tail individually to another for a mismatched, multilooped bow. Adjust and twist the loops and the fall of the tails to create an attractive result.