Mardi Gras is a fun and mysterious holiday, a holiday for disguises and letting loose.
When people think of Mardi Gras costumes what usually comes to mind are sparkly get-ups with splashes of color in green, gold, and purple. There is no better way to express yourself than to design and fashion your own creative, expressive and seductive costume. In this article I will explain how to make three Do-It-Yourself Mardi Gras accessories. A Mardi Gras mask, headband and bedazzled Mardi Gras goblet to carry around with you (hey, it is the perfect ice-breaker and party conversation piece).
The first thing that comes to mind when one contemplates Mardi Gras attire is an elusive and alluring mask. Mardi Gras masks are fun, wearable pieces of art that people wear in celebration of the holiday and to hide their identities from others. The first thing you must decide on is if you will make a mask which ties behind your head or a mask you hold in your hand with a stick.
Purchase materials:
You will need:
1. A blank mask (or cardboard to cut a mask from)
2. Materials to decorate your mask with, this includes but is not limited to: tinsel beads, ribbons, feathers, paint, stickers, glitter, and jewels. Another fun way to decorate the mask is with glow in the dark paint.
3. Scissors
4. Glue (In my experience hot glue guns hold best)
5. Stick or String (depending on if you create a wearable mask or a hand held mask)
When decorating your mask you must remember to be creative, expressive and most importantly, to have fun!
If you’re not comfortable wearing a mask all night, a unique alternative is making a Mardi Gras headband. You will need the decorative materials (which are listed above). Instead of the materials to make the mask you will need a simple black headband to decorate. Making the headband is smart if you are finicky and know the mask will start to bother you. One of the easiest ways to decorate a headband is with large elaborate gold, purple and green feathers (and don’t forget glitter)!
My last suggestion for a Do-It-Yourself costume accessory is a customized, bedazzled goblet (yes, as in a goblet for drinking out of). All you need to do is purchase a plastic goblet (or glass if you dare and are poised enough) and customize and decorate it to your heart’s content. I suggest big purple and green jewels, gold glitter and purple and green ribbon wrapped around the stem of the glass. The Mardi Gras goblet will be a best friend to you and to your beverage at the party.