Decorating For Mardi Gras

One place I have always wanted to visit is New Orleans, so when the opportunity arose I jumped at the opportunity to go. The experience lasted four days, included picture perfect weather and memories I'll never forget. Many people have mixed emotions about New Orleans: some hate it and some love it. The key is to go and take in the many sites with an open mind, in which case you are likely to really enjoy it.

I loved it!! The people were wonderful, funny and engaging. The culture, scenery, architecture, food and music were the highlights. There was so much to do and experience.

It was a very inspirational trip which gave me so many creative ideas to bring home. I have never decorated for Mardi Gras and quite frankly haven't paid much attention to it, but my visit certainly changed that. I decided that we will include a small Mardi Gras tree in our home. Why not?......the Christmas decorations are all put away and the house looks kind of dark and quiet. I miss the lights, so what better way to bring them back.

When I got home I went to Hobby Lobby after Christmas and purchased a 5 foot tree. Get this: it's regular price was $59.00 with 80% off, so I paid $12.00 for my little Mardi Gras tree. I was shopping with my mother and she looked at me like I had lost my mind. Just more "stuff"........Yeah, she is probably right.

Perhaps I have lost my mind but this is just another way for me to decorate and for the family to get involved. Most of the ornaments are store bought but several are hand made. I got the kids (teenagers) involved with it and to my surprise they really had fun helping make some ornaments.






It's a fun way to celebrate the holiday.

The ornaments pictured here were purchased in New Orleans in a Christmas store.

The ornaments we made were fun to create and even the kids helped. I just experimented using different things and came up with this. I think that these could be expanded upon in many ways.

Supplies:

• smooth styrofoam balls


• Modge Podge


• Decorative tissue


• glue gun


• flexible wire, gold is nice


• acrylic paints (optional)


• medium sized wood balls


• medium sized wood rings ( available in wood aisle of craft store)


• brush


• brush on sparkle
  
  Most of these items are optional. You could use beads, feathers, sequins, etc.

Where did I purchase my supplies? All available at Joann's Craft store.

Pictured to the left is the styrofoam ball, a small wood ring and a wood ball. Notice the wood ball has a hole in it. That's where you can place a wire so this ornament can hang.

To the right you see that I used a glue gun to fasten both pieces to the ball.

Here is another glued addition. Another use for small wood appliques. Use your imagination and glue whatever you want to on your ornament.

Here is application of Modge Podge with the first small square of decorative tissue.

Here are three finished ornaments. I added gold bows and brushed on sparkle paint. I made a few more of these using the Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold. You can do so much with these. I wanted to hang some crystals at the bases but wasn't able to find exactly what I wanted. I'm still looking......

Just one reminder: the styrofoam balls must be the smooth ones. I used flexible wire that I wrapped around a pencil for shape and hot glued it into the top. Now the ornaments can be hung.

With the addition of some randomly placed acrylic paint the ornaments look like they were made for Mardi Gras.

If you are interested in Mardi Gras history and the traditions, here is a link:

http://www.novareinna.com/festive/mardi.html

Next post: Another "Scratch & Dent" item. How much is cost and what it took to repair it.

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