Tips for Making a Fabulous Homemade Mardis Gras Mask

Every Mardi Gras party is not complete without the perfect Mardi Gras mask. Yet not everyone has the time or the patience to do a craft. Making your own Mardi Gras mask can be fun if you follow these instructions.

Before you head out to buy supplies, get a piece of paper out and draw what you want your mask to look like. It may look crazy to completely simple depending on your style. It helps to get a good idea of what type of supplies you will need beforehand. Your vision may change but it makes for an excellent first step.

Second, get another piece of paper out so you can make a list of which supplies you will need to purchase. A list helps keep you focused and on budget. Next, go find a glue gun and some extra glue sticks that are lying around your place. If you cannot find either one, ask a friend if you can borrow theirs for a little bit. Make sure to return it though. If you do not know anyone who has either one, then you are going to have to buy your own. Glue guns and glue sticks are not too expensive but remember to buy one that fits your lifestyle and needs. Afterwards, go find an old newspaper that is still in good condition. It will help keep things clean and prevent any damage to your furniture. Next find at least one pair of scissors that are in good working order and keep them handy for the project.

Before you head out the door, peruse around your place to see if you can find any materials that you can use. Ribbons, sequins, glitter, craft paint and feathers could be just waiting to be used. If anything else catches your attention that might prove useful, make sure to grab it before you forget its location. Do not forget the paint brushes for the paint because the last thing you want to do is make any more trips to the stores. You should try to find a small plate that can be easily recycled or thrown away for the paint. Do an inventory check to see what supplies need to be bought. Add them to the list that you made in Step 2. Next, get directions to your local party store and craft supplies store. Wal-Mart does have a craft supply section at some stores if you are unable to find a craft supplies store in your town.

Now that you have your list, you should first head to the party store and pick up a simple white facemask. If white is not available, pick a different light color that can be easily painted over. Buying a premade template saves time and frustration because you can get to the fun part right away. After making your purchase at the party store, go to the craft store. Bring your list inside the store and carefully check off each item once you find it. If you run into trouble, do not be afraid to ask for help.

Once you have finished making your purchases, head home and plug in your glue gun into the power outlet. Then get out your craft paint, your paint brushes, small plate, and the facemask. Squirt out a small amount of paint onto the center of the plate. Dab your paint brush and start to outline the eye openings on the mask so they stand out.

While the paint is drying, you can start to add glitter and sequins to the mask if you wish. If not, just wait for the paint to dry. Once the paint is dried, you will need to go around the edge of the facemask with some glue from the glue gun. Then place the mask in about the center of the ribbon and fold down by pressing down on the ribbon edges. Try to make it as smooth as possible so it has a finished look. Let the ribbon dry to the facemask. If you have trouble keeping the ribbon in place, attach some clothespins around the mask to keep the pressure on the ribbon. After the ribbon has dried, you can finish decorating your mask with feathers and your remaining decorating supplies with the glue gun.

If you do not want to hold your mask all night long at the party, you are finished once you have decorated the mask. However, if you need a stick for the mask, you are not finished quite yet. Grab your dowel, which should be at least 6 inches in length, and place a large amount of glue from the glue gun on the top right back corner of the mask. Next, place the dowel in the glue and firmly hold it in place until it dries. Once it is dried, you can decorate that side with feathers to hide the stick or just leave it in its current state.

After following these instructions, you should have a great Mardis Gras mask for your Mardi Gras party.