Easy to Make Mardi Gras Masks

Masks are worn by everyone riding floats in Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans.

Make Mardi Gras masks with your family and friends whether you are celebrating the holiday at home or at a carnival. The carnival season begins on Jan. 6, the Twelfth Night feast of the Epiphany. Mardi Gras Day, French for Fat Tuesday, occurs 46 days before Easter. For the masks, use the customary Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold, which symbolize justice, faith and power, respectively. Serve a king cake -- a pastry baked and covered with purple, green and gold sugar -- while everyone works on their Mardi Gras masks to get into the party spirit.

Things You'll Need

• Paper plate
• Scissors
• Purple, green or gold paint
• Paint brush
• Yarn
• Tape
• White glue
• Gold glitter
• Purple, yellow and green feathers
• String of gold beads
• Hot-glue gun with hot-glue sticks
• Green or purple glitter
• Green or purple string of beads

Instructions

1. Cut a paper plate in half. In the center of one half, along the straight edge, cut out an upside-down U. This opening allows the mask to rest on the bridge of your nose.

2. Place the plate on your face, and determine where the eye holes should be. Remove the mask, and cut out two 1-inch diameter circles for the eyes.

3. Paint the mask on both sides with purple, green or gold paint. Let dry.

4. Cut a 12-inch length of yarn, and tape the end of the yarn to the left side of the mask. Place the mask on your face, and wrap the other end of yarn around the back of your head. Tape the loose end of the yarn to the right side of the mask, so that the yarn is taut enough to hold the mask on your face securely. Remove the mask.

5. Smear white glue over the front of the mask. Sprinkle gold glitter liberally over the glue. Shake away the excess glitter, and let the glue dry.

6. Tape purple, green and gold feathers to the back of the mask, so the feathers extend from the top and sides of the mask.

7. Cut a string of gold beads so they are long enough to wrap around the edge of the mask. Squirt hot glue around the edge of the mask, and press the gold beads down to trim the mask.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not have gold beads and gold glitter, replace this color with purple or green glitter or beads.

References

• The Holiday Spot: Make Mardi Gras Masks Yourself
• A Big Slice: Mardi Gras Masks
• Mardi Gras New Orleans: Mardi Gras Colors

Resources

• Making Friends: Mardi Gras Crafts