WE'RE FROM NEW ORLEANS (CAN YOU TELL?!!) SO OF COURSE WE HAVE TO SALUTE MARDI GRAS WITH THIS GREAT PROJECT! THEY LOOK GREAT ON A DOOR OR WALL FOR A LITTLE TASTE OF NEW ORLEANS' FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR! WE'LL TRY TO POST SOME MARDI GRAS PICTURES AS SOON AS THE PARADES START SO CHECK BACK AT THE BEGINNING OF MARCH!

MARDI GRAS FEATHER MASK

THIS MASK IS EASY TO MAKE! WE USED TRADITIONAL PURPLE, GREEN AND GOLD FEATHERS BUT YOU CAN EXPERIMENT WITH ANY COLOR. THE FEATHERS AND FLAT-BACK BEADS ARE AVAILABLE AT MOST HOBBY STORES OR WE FOUND OURS AT THE LOCAL WALMART. NOW ALL YOU NEED IS KING CAKE AND SOME MARDI GRAS BEADS AND YOU CAN HAVE YOUR OWN PARADE!

MATERIALS:

1. MULTI-COLORED FEATHERS IN VARIOUS SIZES
2. PICTURE MATTING BOARD PAPER (OR POSTER BOARD)
3. FLAT-BACK JEWELRY BEADS IN CHOICE OF COLOR
4. SEQUINED RIBBON
5. CRAFT GLUE
6. STAPLES AND DESK STAPLER

STEPS:

1. FIRST, DRAW A MASK SHAPE ON THE MATTING OR POSTER BOARD AND CUT OUT (DON'T FORGET THE ALMOND-SHAPED EYE HOLES). IT SHOULD LOOK ALMOST LIKE A FLAT PAIR OF LIPS! YOU CAN MAKE THE MASK ANY SIZE, BUT DON'T FORGET THAT THE FEATHERS WILL RADIATE OUT ABOUT 4 INCHES FROM YOUR BASE. OURS WAS ABOUT 8 INCHES BY 3 INCHES.
2. NEXT, CUT ENOUGH OF THE SEQUIN RIBBON TO HANG THE MASK WITH (ABOUT 18 INCHES). LOOP AND USE THE DESK STAPLER TO SECURE THE BOTTOM OF THE RIBBON PIECES TO THE TOP CENTER OF THE MASK.
3. NOW YOU CAN GLUE THE LARGEST OF THE FEATHERS VERTICALLY AROUND FRONT PERIMETER OF THE ENTIRE MASK AND LET GLUE DRY. THIS IS THE SLOWEST PART BECAUSE THE GLUE HAS TO DRY BEFORE YOU LAYER ANY OTHER FEATHERS ON TOP OF THEM.
4. WHILE THE GLUE IS DRYING ON THE FEATHERS, YOU CAN GLUE THE SEQUIN RIBBON AROUND THE OUTSIDE BORDER OF THE EYE HOLES FOR EXTRA DECORATION.
5. AFTER THE GLUE IS DRY, LAYER SMALLER SOFTER FEATHERS HORIZONTALLY TO COVER THE BOTTOMS OF THE PREVIOUSLY GLUED ONES FORMING THE "FACE PORTION".
6. THEN, CUT SMALLER PIECES OF FEATHERS IF NECESSARY AND FILL IN ANY BARE SPOTS.
7. TAKE 3 LONG FEATHERS AND GLUE IN THE CENTER TOP PORTION FOR EXTRA DECORATION. LET GLUE DRY!
8. NOW, YOU CAN GLUE THE FLAT-BACK JEWELRY BEADS IN VARIOUS PLACES TO DECORATE FURTHER.
9. AFTER ALL GLUE HAS DRIED, HANG ON THE WALL OR DOOR AND ENJOY! HAPPY MARDI GRAS!

MARDI GRAS HISTORY

Our New Orleans version of Mardi Gras came to New Orleans from Paris where it was celebrated since the Middle Ages. In 1699, French explorer Iberville and party came down the Mississippi and set up camp on the bank, which they named Pointe du Mardi Gras. The words Mardi Gras are French for Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday and is the day for parades, masking, and parties. It was intended as a period of fun and celebration to allow Christians to "fatten up" before the fasting of Lent on Ash Wednesday. It is also known as Carnival which is Latin for "farewell to the flesh".