Party Ideas by Mardi Gras Outlet

Crawfish Season 2012 is here!

noreply@blogger.com (Corrie) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

It's CRAWFISH SEASON!

Crawfish taste the best and are the easiest to peel from February until May. So that means it is the perfect time to enjoy this Louisiana seafood specialty.

Whether you boil them yourself, have someone boil them for you or pick them up from your favorite crawfish place, be sure to enjoy these spicy crustaceans while they are in season.

Ever wonder why there is a crawfish season? Why crawfish taste better and are larger in certain months? This illustrations shows the yearly time line and life cycle of the crawfish...how tasty crawfish go from the rice fields to your boiling pot.

Thanks to Cajun Crawfish blog for sharing it with us!

Now your ready for some hot, spicy crawfish!

Mardi Gras Outlet's exclusive crawfish design cups are perfect for crawfish boils. Cups with the crawfish motif are available in both a clear disposable cup and a frosted dishwasher safe frost flex cup.

We also have festive red latex balloons with the matching crawfish design!

For complete selection, click here: Crawfish Boil Supplies

Mardi Gras Bead Craft: DIY Monogram Letter

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Did you go to any Mardi Gras parades this year? If so, you probably brought home lots of Mardi Gras beads along with your great memories. Left-over Mardi Gras beads inspired us to come up with some easy Mardi Gras bead crafts. Here are some of our ideas for reusing Mardi Gras beads.

Tutorial for a decorative beaded monogram letter-

using only Mardi Gras beads, stiff cardboard and hot glue.

SUPPLIES

Mardi Gras Beads (33" long, 7mm Metallic Gold)

*this 7-inch tall letter used 10, 33-inch strands of 7mm diameter beads

Hot Glue or Skillet Glue

Cardboard

Print-out of Letter

Scissors, Pencil & X-acto knife

Optional: Deco Flex Tubing Ribbon

*Mardi Gras beads and ribbon can be purchased at www.MardiGrasOutlet.com

CUT-OUT THE LETTER

First, print-out a large letter of your choice on your home desktop printer. Use a word processing program on your computer and make the letter as large as you can fit onto a page. The font used here is Monotype Corsiva, and it is 7" tall by 8" wide.

Cut out the letter from the print-out, and then use a pencil to trace around the edges onto a piece of scrap cardboard. Use an x-acto knife or scissors to cut out the letter shape.

WRAP THE LETTER

Cut each of the Mardi Gras beads into single strands. You can use gold beads like this letter or other colors. If you have multiple colors of Mardi Gras beads, simply spray paint the letter when you are done. Use hot glue or skillet glue to attach the beads to the cardboard. Skillet glue is hot glue that is heated in a pan or crock-pot.

Wrap the beads strands around the entire letter, back and front. Make sure the strands stay going in the same direction, and place them close together so that they interlock. This makes the gaps smaller, giving the letter a mosaic look.

Now you have the option of spray-painting the monogram letter with the color you want, or leaving it as is. To make the letter into a wall hanging, simply tie a ribbon and a bow at the top. We used metallic gold deco flex tubing ribbon to create the bow and hanger.

Tutorial for a beaded photo frame

The same idea for making a monogram letter can be used for almost any other shape as well. We also created a 5" square picture frame made from Mardi Gras beads, as shown below.

Click here to see a previous post for creating this beaded chandelier.

DIY MARDI GRAS BEAD CHANDELIER

Still looking for more Mardi Gras bead crafts?

Check out our Pinterest page for lots of other inspiring Mardi Gras bead crafts. You will find lots of great ideas for reusing and recycling Mardi Gras beads such as coasters, Easter eggs, vase fillers, ornaments, decorations, lamps, mosaic art and more!

Here is a sample of what you will find:

Mardi Gras Parade Float Coloring Page

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

MARDI GRAS FLOAT COLORING PAGE

(click above to download)

Carnival season is in full swing, which means parades, beads and good times abound! Create your own parade at home (or an illustration of one ) with this free printable coloring page. This is a great Mardi Gras art activity for kids! Display your colorful floats in a row, lined up just like a real parade.

Happy Mardi Gras!

You will need a PDF reader to open the file, available here for free.

For more free coloring page downloads and other printables, click below:

Free Coloring Page Downloads

Mardi Gras Glitter Leaf Wreath: Three Different Ways

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:53:00 +0000

Transform a simple Mardi Gras glitter leaf wreath into your own personalized Mardi Gras door decoration. A year ago, we posted about how to create three different looks with one basic Mardi Gras tinsel wreath from (click here to see the post). For 2012, we wanted to do the same concept with a new style of wreath form. This basic Glitter Leaf Wreath was easily updated with inexpensive Mardi Gras accents: lime green deco mesh, Mardi Gras ribbon and a glitter wall sign.

The Basic Mardi Gras Wreath

available at Mardi Gras Outlet.com

Option 1: Mardi Gras Sign

SUPPLIES

Glitter Leaf Wreath

2"x10 yard roll Mardi Gras Stripe Ribbon

Glitter Mardi Gras Wall Plaque

Craft Wire

*All of the supplies can be purchased at www.mardigrasoutlet.com

This first Mardi Gras wreath version uses a Mardi Gras sign and bow. You will need to use craft wire to attach both decorative accents.

First, attach the Mardi Gras sign at the bottom right of the wreath at a slight angle. Secure it on both sides with craft wire to the glitter leaf wreath form.

Use the Mardi Gras Stripe Ribbon to make a bow. Form a loop and hold in one hand. Form another loop on the opposite side and hold them in the same hand at the middle. Continue going back and forth until there are 4 loops on each side. Now cut 2, 30" long strips of ribbon and one shorter piece. Use the short length to attach the tails at the middle to the place you have been holding the loops.

Attach the bow with craft wire to the left side of the wreath.

For more detailed directions on how to make a similar bow, click here.

Option 2: Deco Mesh

SUPPLIES

Glitter Leaf Wreath

10" Deco Mesh Roll: Metallic Moss/Apple

Craft Wire

Scissors, Wire Cutters

This Mardi Gras wreath version uses 10" wide poly deco mesh ribbon to add volume to the wreath. There should be enough deco mesh on the roll to fill in the wreath and to make a big bow.

STEP 1

Open up and fluff the Glitter Leaf Wreath so that you can easily reach the brown wreath frame.

STEP 2

Cut about 10 pieces of craft wire that are 10"-12" long.

STEP 3

Cut approximately 16 pieces of the deco mesh. Each piece should be square, measuring about 10"x10".

STEP 4

Form the deco mesh sprays that you will eventually attach to the wreath frame. With a piece of mesh placed curl side up, pinch the very center and bunch it together. Make another and group the two together.

STEP 5

Use the craft wire to secure the deco mesh spray you created to the wreath frame, in between two branches. The mesh should be pointing in the same direction as the wreath's branches. Wrap the wire tightly and securely.

STEP 6

Repeat for each space between the branches, continuing all the way around the wreath.

STEP 7
Using the rest of the deco mesh roll, make a bow and attach it with craft wire at the bottom center of the wreath. For exact directions on how to make a bow with 10-inch deco mesh, CLICK HERE for our previous blog post tutorial on making a bow with 10" deco mesh.

Option 3: Bow and Ribbon

SUPPLIES

Glitter Leaf Wreath

Mardi Gras Stripe Foil Ribbon

Craft Wire

First, form the bow. This bow was made the same way as the first version of the wreath, except there are 10 loops total. Tie the bow with craft wire, and pull and fluff out the loops. Cut a long tail, about 6 feet long, and attach at its center to the back of the bow.

Place the bow at the top of the wreath, and simply loop the ribbon tails all the way around the Glitter Leaf wreath.

One basic glitter leaf wreath transformed into three different wreaths.

Masquerade Mask Favor Centerpiece: Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Party favors act as a memento of a celebration for guests. For a Mardi Gras or Masquerade party idea, combine mask favors and the centerpiece for a festive and impressive decoration. This whimsical Mardi Gras centerpiece uses glittery floral sprays and accents in purple, green and gold colors.

SUPPLIES (click on the product name to buy)

(1) 6" Glittered Green Centerpiece Cylinder

(1) Dry Floral Foam

(1) PGG Philodendron Leaf Bundle

(3) Spiral Curls Mardi Gras Spray

(1) 6.25" Mardi Gras Fleur de Lis Ornament

(1) Gold Angel Grass Shred

(8) Metallic Gold Domino Stick Masks - enough for your guests

Hot Glue

Scissors

Optional: Mardi Gras Beads and Doubloons

*All of the centerpiece supplies can be purchased at www.mardigrasoutlet.com

STEP 1: INSERT THE FLORAL FOAM

Using scissors, cut a piece of the dry floral foam brick that fits snugly inside the green centerpiece cylinder. You may want to place a weight underneath the foam brick to make the centerpiece more stable.

STEP 2: UNTIE THE PHILODENDRON SPRAY

The purple, green and gold Philodendron Leaf Bundle is held together by 2 brown wire ties. To separate the 3 leaf sprays, untwist the ties or cut the ties off.

STEP 3: ADD THE PHILODENDRON LEAVES

Trim the stick ends of the green and purple leaves by a few inches to lower and vary the height of each leaf. Insert the Philodendron Leaf sprays securely into the floral foam brick, all the way down. The gold leaf should be at the center and the green and purple leaves to either side.

STEP 4: ADD THE THREE SPIRAL CURLS SPRAYS

Again, trim the stick ends of two of the spiral curls sprays so that they are a few inches shorter. Secure and insert the three floral sprays into the foam brick so that they fill the spaces between the philodendron leaves.

STEP 5: ADD A FILLER

Gold Angel Grass Shred covers and hides the floral foam at the opening of the vase.

STEP 6: ADD MASKS

Insert the metallic gold domino stick masks into the vase opening. 8 masks were used here.

STEP 7: ADD THE FLEUR DE LIS ACCENT

Using hot glue, attach the Mardi Gras Fleur de Lis Ornament on the front and center of the green cylinder base. Trim the ornament tie off at the top.

You're Finished!

OPTIONAL

You can also scatter Mardi Gras beads and Mardi Gras doubloons around and underneath the masquerade centerpiece for additional party favors and decoration.

Paper Jester Hat Pattern: Mardi Gras Crafts for Kids

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Mardi Gras paper crafts are a fun creative activity for children. This three-dimensional jester hat can be made with some colorful construction paper and this free printable template. All you will need are some scissors, a pencil and some tape or glue. See below for instructions.

FREE JESTER HAT TEMPLATE

Click on the link above to download and print the Mardi Gras jester hat pattern on your printer. You will need to have a PDF reader to open it (free at this website). The hat instructions are also on the template page.

STEP 1: CUT OUT THE TEMPLATES

Print out both pages of the free download jester hat patterns. Follow the dotted line and cut-out each shape with scissors.

STEP 2: MAKE THE HEADBAND

Using the rectangular template on page 2, cut-out 3 pieces from construction paper. For this hat, you can use purple, green and gold, the colors of Mardi Gras, or any other colors you want. Tape the pieces end to end into one long head band.

STEP 3: CUT THE JESTER SPIKES

Using the triangle pattern, cut out 6-8 pieces out of different colors of construction paper. The number of triangles you need depend on head size.

STEP 4 & 5: CONSTRUCT THE HAT

Using glue or tape, secure the triangle bottoms side by side to the head band. Now, fit the headband to your head and secure with tape.

STEP 6: ADD ACCENTS

Use the circle, star and jewel templates on page 1 to cut out decorations for your jester hat. Glue or tape them to the hat.

Happy Crafting!

For more free coloring page downloads and other printables, click below:

FREE PRINTABLES

Curled Paper Bow Gift Wrap with Mardi Gras Paper

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:30:00 +0000

If you find yourself without a bow for your gift wrap, don't worry, making your own is simple with leftover wrapping paper. This present was wrapped with Fleur de Lis Mardi Gras gift wrap, but it needed a festive top to match. Here's a short tutorial on how to make your own curly paper bow.

STEP 1:

Cut about 15 strips of gift wrapping paper that are about 1/2" to 3/4" wide, and 10" to 15" long. They don't need to be exact because different lengths make a fuller looking bow.

You also should adjust the lengths according to the size of the present and how big you want the bow. Longer strips makes a bigger bow and vice versa. Our gift box was 4 in. x 4 in. x 5 in and we made the curly bow over sized, so that it would cascade down the sides.

STEP 2:

Gather all of the strips evenly and hold the stack at the middle.

STEP 3:

Curl them! This is just like curling ribbon: open up your scissors and put the paper between your thumb and the scissors edge at an angle. Pull going towards the end of the paper strip.

Curl both sides of each strip from the middle where you are holding the bow. It is okay to have tighter and looser curls for this whimsical type of bow.

STEP 4:

Staple or tape around at the center where you have been holding the bow.

Finally, attach your bow with tape or a glue dot to the top of the present.

We also made a curly paper bow for a larger sized gift.

And there you go! An easy, fun and inexpensive way to decorate your presents.

Looking for more Mardi Gras or Louisiana gift wrap ideas? Click here to see our previous blog post on how to make this fleur de lis cut-out wrapping. Template provided for free!

Free Mardi Gras Printable Stickers and Labels

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Create custom Mardi Gras Beads, party favors or decorate gift packaging with our free printable stickers and labels. These Mardi Gras graphics include a crown, mask, scrolled fleur-de-lis and harlequin patterns. Similar to our other downloadable designs, you can personalize and customize the labels for a special event, party or parade.

FREE PRINTABLE STICKERS PAGE

FREE PRINTABLE LABELS PAGE

Click on the links above to download each page. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is free here if you don't have it. To customize the Mardi Gras Labels, open the file in Acrobat Reader. You should see some highlighted boxes where you can click and type your text before printing. Or, you can simply print out the labels and write on them by hand. Only the "labels" page has customizable text.

Print these out onto 8.5"x11" sticker paper or cardstock (Avery is a good brand) with your inkjet or laser printer. Any office supply store sells both types of paper. Use a 2" circle cutter or scissors to cut out each circular design.

We have tons of ideas on how to use our Mardi Gras labels, so here are images of what we did.

Easily personalize Mardi Gras beads with these designs! They fit perfectly onto blank discs, which you can buy separately or already attached to a bead necklace at a really affordable price (12 necklaces for only $3.40!). Available at MardiGrasOutlet.com, we used the traditional Mardi Gras colors of gold, green and purple for the beads with white blank discs. If you need more bead colors, click here.

Printed onto stiff cardstock, these also make easy and festive gift tags. Use a hole-punch to make a place to thread ribbon or string through, and tie around a gift bag. We filled a purple cello bag with Mardi Gras doubloons and purple, green and gold Mardi Gras beads for a party favor that everyone can enjoy. The cello treat bags come with twist ties that you can use.

Last but not least, customizable stickers are great for drink labels. We put ours on a clear plastic hurricane glass, but this idea works for plastic party cups and glasses as well. Give your guests sharpie markers to write their name on their glass, or use the type-your-own text feature to customize for the special event.

Here are even more possibilities:

Scrapbooking and scrapbook pages

Candy, cookie or praline packaging (click here for a DIY tutorial)

Name tags or seating cards

Cupcake toppers by gluing to toothpicks (see examples here, and Mardi Gras cupcake recipe here)

Appetizer or buffet signs

Making a Mardi Gras Wreath with Deco Mesh

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:13:00 +0000

Celebrate the Mardi Gras season by making a festive deco mesh wreath in purple, green and gold, the colors of Mardi Gras. This wreath is embellished with a jester mask, jumbo Mardi Gras beads and metallic tinsel garland. Keep scrolling down for a tutorial on how to create your own!

SUPPLIES LIST (Click on the product name for supplies source)

(1) Metallic Gold 24" Work Wreath form

(1) 21" Deluxe Mardi Gras Deco Mesh Roll

(1) Deluxe Masked Jester Face Mask

(1) Wired Purple Glamour Rope

(1) 72 inch PGG Whopper Balls

(1) Metallic Spiral Tinsel Garland

(1) Mardi Gras Stripe Ribbon (2"x10yards)

The wreath supplies can be purchased at www.MardiGrasOutlet.com. CLICK HERE

STEP 1: MAKE THE BASIC DECO MESH WREATH
The video above shows you how to attach the 21" Deluxe Mardi Gras Deco Mesh Roll onto the 24" metallic gold work wreath form. You will use the pre-attached tinsel-covered wire ties to secure the puffs of mesh all the way around the inner and outer rings of the wreath form.

The basic Mardi Gras deco mesh wreath should look like this.

STEP 2: CUT THE GLAMOUR ROPE

Using wire cutters, cut the wired purple glamour rope into 6 pieces ranging from 20" to 25" long. Glamour rope is a great creative product, and it comes in many colors. It is also wired so that you can bend it into many different shapes.

STEP 3: ATTACH THE GLAMOUR ROPE

Thread the pieces of glamour rope halfway through the work wreath frame and twist a few times to secure the glamour rope. Place the glamour rope pieces several inches apart from each other so that they are evenly spaced all the way around the wreath.

STEP 3: ATTACH THE GARLAND

Attach the metallic spiral tinsel garland all the way around the wreath. Twist the glamour rope around the garland to secure. Try leaving some slack as you attach the Mardi Gras garland so that it looks wavy.

STEP 4: ATTACH THE JUMBO MARDI GRAS BEADS

Using the glamour rope ties again, secure the giant mardi gras ball necklace to the wreath. Make sure the larger balls are placed at the bottom of the wreath versus the top.

STEP 5: CURL THE GLAMOR ROPE

Curl the glamour rope around a cylinder or tube to form each of the glamour rope pieces into spirals.

STEP 6: MAKE A BOW

For more detailed directions on how to make a similar bow, click here.

STEP 7: ATTACH THE MASK

At the back of the Deluxe Jester Mask, there is a loop. Use a tinsel-covered wire tie on the work wreath form to secure the loop and the mask to the middle of the wreath.

STEP 8: ATTACH THE BOW

Finally, attach the bow you made to the bottom center of the wreath, directly underneath the Jester Mask. Spread and fan apart the bow loops, as seen in the photo above.

Happy Mardi Gras!

Masquerade Column Deco Mesh Centerpiece: Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Create an element of mystery, opulence and elegance for your event with the right centerpiece. Versatile clear column and plate pieces combine to create striking table decorations for Masquerade or Mardi Gras themed parties, proms or events. And, making one of these centerpieces takes only a few easy steps and some key ingredients such as a mask, deco mesh puffs, clear column with base and feathers.

The idea for this tall puff centerpiece with mini lights was inspired by a combination of hanging mesh pompoms from our previous blog post, and feather tree centerpieces (click here for our tutorial)that have been floating around the blogosphere. One of the great things about this centerpiece is that it is easy to change the colors and decorative accents to suit your needs for specific occasions. Here's how to make it.

SUPPLIES:

1. Clear Column Centerpiece Bases: (1) 6" Plate, (1) 18" Column and (1) 10" Plate

2. (1) 21"wide Purple Deco Mesh Roll

3. Phantom Stick Mask in Purple & Gold

4. Angel Grass Shred in Gold

5. Glitzy Sticks in Gold

6. Purple Ostrich Feathers

7. Battery LED Mini Light Strand

8. Scissors

9. Craft Wire

You can find all of these at MardiGrasOutlet.com.

STEP 1: Assemble the Centerpiece Base

Assemble the clear plastic centerpiece bases. The 10" plate should be at the bottom, into which you should insert the 18" column. Finally, place the 6" plate on top. These are perfect for adding height to make tall centerpieces.

If needed, you can add another column and plate to make it taller, or use the 10" column to make the centerpiece shorter. All of these clear plastic centerpiece parts are interchangeable and fit together many different ways.

STEP 2: Fill the Column

For some sparkle, fill the column with purple deco mesh and mini lights. Cut about a 5 inch wide strip from your 21"x10 yard roll of mesh. Roll it tightly. Now, wrap the wired LED lights around the roll. Insert this into the column, with the battery end last, so that it sits on the top plate. You will need to roll the mesh tightly enough to fit into the column.

STEP 3: Make Deco Mesh Puffs

Make 3 deco poly mesh puffs with the purple mesh roll. The puffs give this centerpiece shape and volume. You can always use more puffs for a bigger and fuller centerpiece. 3 pom poms use up a little more than half a roll of deco mesh. For detailed directions, click here to see the previous blog post. Or, scroll down for a summary.

First, cut 3, 12 inch long pieces of craft wire to eventually tie the puffs together. Cut 3 sections of mesh that are each 2 feet long (3 pieces make 1 puff). Gather up one piece of mesh into one hand, and then layer on the other 2 pieces by first bunching in the middle. Tie it with craft wire in the middle where you have been holding. Make a loop with the wire ends so that it is easy to attach them to the centerpiece. Pull and fluff the puffs out.

STEP 4: Assemble the Puffs and Mask on Stick

Insert the end of the phantom mask's stick through each of the wire loops to hold the puffs. The puffs should be spread out evenly, like a tutu, so that the centerpiece looks good from all angles. The mask acts as the focal point for this centerpiece.

STEP 5: Insert

Insert the mask's stick into the column as shown in the photo above. Adjust the puffs and mask and take a step back to make sure the centerpiece looks even.

STEP 6: Create and Add Accents

Now you can add new textures and color accents. Insert 3 purple ostrich feathers around the mask into the column. Add about 5 gold glitzy sticks into the column. Glitzy sticks are wired and easy to twist around tubes to make spirals. You can also bend them into any other shape you need.

Finally, cover the base with gold angel grass shred to complete the look. Another great thing about this centerpiece is that it is easy to move around the accents till you are happy with the arrangement.

MORE DECO MESH CENTERPIECE IDEAS

This type of centerpiece is easy to customize. Here is a different version topped with a beaded purple and gold princess mask and with about 5 purple ostrich feather placed throughout the mesh puffs instead of at the top.

A black & white color scheme would be great for Masquerade party as well. The only difference would be to use both black and white mesh pieces when you are making each puff.

Shown above is:

1.White Metallic Deco mesh

2. Black and Gold Metallic Mesh

3. Black and White Formal Feather Stick Mask

Having a party, birthday, wedding or event that isn't a masquerade? Here is a simplified version with just the deco mesh puffs and lights, and another with feathers. Since there isn't a stick mask to hold and attach the puffs, simply use a thin wooden dowel or other type of stick. Choose accents and colors to customize for your event.

Deco mesh is a type of soft plastic netting that holds a full shape very easily, and it comes in a huge range of colors, finishes like metallic, and many patterns. Click here to see a great selection.

Have fun!

How to: Fleur de Lis Silhouette Gift Wrap

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Mardi Gras is around the corner, so we wanted to share some inspiration for a short DIY craft project: pop-up fleur de lis gift wrap. It's a simple but elegant way to accent gifts for krewe presents, Mardi Gras party favors and more. Cut-out template provided here for free!

FREE PDF DOWNLOAD

Supplies:

Gold Foil Wrapping Paper

Purple Foil Wrapping Paper

X-acto knife

Scissors, tape & pencil

STEP 1

Wrap the box in gold metallic wrapping paper first. Cut enough of the purple metallic wrapping paper to cover the present.

Place the box at the center of the purple paper, and crease it around the box. This way you can center the fleur-de-lis design. The purple wrapping paper should be frontside down.

STEP 2

Print out the fleur-de-lis template (click here to download), and cut the shape out. You will need a PDF reader to view it, click here to download.

STEP 3

Center the fleur de lis shape on the backside of the wrapping paper; use the creases as a guide. Trace half of the fleur de lis in pencil.

STEP 4

Use an X-acto knife and follow the line you drew to cut through the paper. Erase the pencil lines.

STEP 5

Now simply wrap the box with the purple cut-out paper as normal, following the creases you made. Fold open your fleur-de-lis pop-up silhouette.

This present is about 5 in. x 4 in. x 1 in., but the template can work for many other box sizes as well. You can try putting the fleur de lis at a diagonal or closer to a corner for larger boxes.

Looking for more DIY gift wrap ideas? Browse our previous blog posts:

Gift Wrap with Decorative Wire

Deco Mesh Gift Wrap: A Video Tutorial

Wrapping Small Treats

Valentine's Day Wreath Ideas with Deco Mesh & Work Wreath Forms

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:13:00 +0000

With Valentine's Day around the corner, here are a few more DIY craft ideas using our work wreath forms. These different red Valentine's Day heart wreaths were inspired by some of our previous wreath tutorials. Keep reading for instructions on how to create these wreaths using the work wreath forms, lame fabric and deco mesh!

Crush Lame Heart and Arrow Wreath

This crushed lame heart and arrow wreath was inspired by our previous St. Patrick's Day wreath pictured here. For the Valentine's day version, we use the same concept, but replace the gold clover with a silver arrow and heart.

CLICK HERE for previous blog post with instructions on how to attach the lame fabric to the work wreath form. Use the supplies listed below in place of the ones used for the St. Patrick's Day wreath.

Supplies needed:

(1) 24-inch Red Work Wreath Form

(1) Dark Red Lame Fabric Roll

(1) Aluminum Craft Wire

(1) White Deco Flex Tubing Ribbon

*the supplies needed for these wreaths are available at Mardi Gras Outlet.com

To make the heart and arrow, first insert the craft wire into the deco flex tubing ribbon and shape the heart. Then with two short pieces, form the arrow head and the arrow tail. Attach at opposite corners on the heart before securing to the wreath.

Huge Red Heart Wreath

made with red deco mesh

This is one HUGE heart decoration. By combining two candy cane wreath forms, you create a big heart shape measuring about 36-inches x 40-inches! This large size is great for outdoors or big wall displays.

CLICK HERE for our previous blog post with detailed instructions on how to attach deco mesh to a work candy cane form. Use the supplies listed below and follow steps 1 to 4 in the tutorial section.

You will need to make 2 red candy canes that face opposite directions. Once you have made them, attach them together at each of the top and bottom ends with sturdy craft wire.

Supplies needed:

(2) Red Candy Cane Work Wreath Forms

(2) 21"x10yd Rolls of Metallic Red Deco Mesh

Strong Craft Wire

Grapevine Heart Wreath with Red Bow

For a simple but pretty Valentine's Day wreath, make a big red bow and attach it to our heart shaped grapevine wreath. This bow was created by combining a deco flex tubing ribbon bow on top of a deco mesh ribbon bow, and attached on the left with craft wire. Click here to see simple bow-making instructions.

Supplies needed:

(1) Grapevine Heart Wreath Form

(1) 2.5" Red Deco Mesh Ribbon

(1) Metallic Red Deco Flex Tubing Ribbon

Craft Wire

Wire Heart Wreath with Pink Bow

Crinkle Sheer is a type of fabric with texture and sheen that goes well with this pre-made wire heart wreath form. Attach the crinkle sheer bow to the mesh wire frame at the top left with craft wire. Click here for a video on how to make a bow.

Supplies needed:

(1) Wire Heart Wreath Form

(1) Light Pink Crinkle Sheer Roll

Craft Wire

And if you haven't see the tutorial for this spiral wreath, check it out!

It shows you how to make this super curly deco mesh heart wreath.

DIY Mardi Gras Feather Tree Centerpiece

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Popular feather trees are a great festive, glitzy centerpiece option for a Mardi Gras party. Add in some glittered harlequin masks and Mardi Gras beads and your Mardi Gras themed centerpiece is complete. Here is a tutorial to show you how surprisingly easy and quick these feather tree centerpieces are to make.

Supplies:

Diamond Party Mask: Mardi Gras

Clear Column Centerpiece Base: (1) 6" Centerpiece Plate, (1) 18" Column and (1) 10" Centerpiece Plate

Ostrich Feathers: Purple (2 packs), Green (2 packs) and Yellow (1 pack).

These come in packs of 6 feathers that range from 14 to 16 inches long.

Mardi Gras Beads in Purple, Green and Gold (12mm sized beads in 42-inch long strands)

Dry Floral Foam Brick

Scissors

Hot Glue

Wooden dowel or balloon stick

Optional: Mardi Gras Doubloons

STEP 1: Assemble the Centerpiece Base

Put together the clear plastic centerpiece form using a 10-inch plate at the bottom, the 18-inch column, and the 6-inch plate at the top. These pieces (each sold separately) fit together easily with out any glue or adhesive. The centerpiece form is 20-inches tall. The completed centerpiece with feathers will be about 35-inches tall and 26-inches wide.

If you need a different height, all of the clear plastic pieces are interchangeable. For instance, to make this same centerpiece shorter, use the 10-inch tall column. You can also make the centerpiece very tall by adding the 10-inch or 18-inch column to what you see above, and adding a second 6-inch plate at the top. To see the whole selection of plates, columns and bases, click here.

STEP 2: Fill the Column

First, place a piece of clear packing tape at the bottom opening of the centerpiece base, so the beads do not fall out if you need to move the centerpiece. Cut one of each color Mardi Gras bead so that it is one long strand. Hold all three strands together and drop into the column. Use another 1/2 strand to fill up the column to the top.

STEP 3: Insert Floral Foam

Using scissors or a utility knife, cut out a piece of dry floral foam into a 1 in. x 1 in. 4 in. block. Insert into the top of the centerpiece column so that about half sticks out. The block shouldn't wiggle around, but be stuck in at the top. Use hot glue to glue in place if necessary. You can also use a bouquet holder.

STEP 4: Attach the Ostrich Feathers

Start at the bottom, and insert the ends of ostrich feathers into the floral foam. Alternate the colors and go all the way around, turning the centerpiece as you go. The feathers should be angled downward at about 45-degrees, as shown in the photo on the left.

Next, insert the feathers a little higher than 90-degree angle. Again, alternate colors and go all the way around, filling in the empty space.

Finally, insert feathers at the top. Now is the time to move feathers around to fill spaces, and to add extra feathers where needed. Turn your centerpiece all the way around to make sure it looks good from all angles.

STEP 5: Glue a Stick to the Mask

This Diamond Glitter Mardi Gras Mask comes with ribbon ties. Cut these off, and attach a thin wooden dowel or any sturdy, thin stick to the back side of the mask with hot glue.

STEP 6: Add Your Accents

Insert the mask stick into the floral foam and column, near the center. This will be the focal point of the center piece. To add more length and drama to the centerpiece, hang 3 uncut strands of your purple, green and gold Mardi Gras beads from the top centerpiece plate. Secure with some hot glue.

You're finished!

You can also scatter more beads, the same diamond mask and Mardi Gras coins around the base to add a festive feel to the tablescape. These accents can even act as easy party favors for guests to take home.

Happy Mardi Gras!

Here are even more Mardi Gras centerpiece ideas and tutorials:

Custom Mardi Gras Centerpiece

Air-Filled Balloon Centerpiece

Mardi Gras Floral Arrangement with Submersible Aqua Lights

Making a Valentine Heart Wreath with Deco Mesh

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:26:00 +0000

Meet your sweet heart at the front door with this cute heart wreath! Celebrate Valentine's day by creating this deco mesh heart shaped wreath made with a new technique using the deco mesh curls. These deco mesh curls are very easy to fall for! You will see how easy it is to make in this step-by-step DIY tutorial.

SUPPLIES:

Box Wire Wreath Form: 20-inch round

21-inch Deco Mesh Roll: Burgundy

Glamour Rope: Fuchsia

Craft Wire

Scissors

Pliers/Wire Cutters

All of the supplies you need can be found at Mardi Gras Outlet.com.

STEP 1: Bend the Wreath Form

Take the 20-inch round box wire wreath form and bend into a heart shape. This step takes some elbow grease, so use a strong person if there is one around.

An alternative is to use 2 wire coat hangers. Bend both into a heart shape, and then wrap them together with craft wire. This makes it sturdier and wider so that your deco mesh curls will stay put.

STEP 2: Cut the Deco Mesh

Make the curls by cutting pieces of deco mesh that are about 9-inches wide. Deco mesh curls naturally, so an easy way to measure is to let it curl for 1 loop, and then trim (see above photograph). You need about 20 pieces, which uses up most of the roll.

STEP 3: Cut in Half

Cut all of the curls in half except for 1 piece.

STEP 4: Cut Wire

Cut around 20 pieces of red craft wire. They should each be about 10 to 12 inches long.

STEP 5: Tie Curls

Roll a curl tightly, and hold together in one hand with a second tight curl. Use a piece of craft wire to secure them together at the cut end. Leave a few inches of extra wire hanging out.

For a more even-looking wreath, make sure the pair of curls are close together and pointing in the same direction. Notice that the wire doesn't bunch the curls, but holds the ends together flatly.

STEP 5: Attach to Wreath Form

Begin at the bottom left side and secure the curls to the wire wreath form, using the extra loose craft wire. The curls should be pointing down and to the right. Attach a second pair a few inches above the first. The curls should point down and cover where you secured the first pair.

STEP 6: Fill the Wreath Form

Continue attaching the curls until you reach the top center of the heart. Now fill in the other half by starting at the bottom right in the same way.

STEP 7: Cover the Top Center

Once you have filled in the wreath, you'll probably notice some exposed ends at the top center. Remember the one curl you didn't cut in half? Use that and an extra long piece of craft wire to cover it. Attach by centering the curl and tying it only at the middle to the wreath form.

STEP 8: Add Accents

Using wire cutters, cut about 8 pieces of fuchsia glamour rope that are about 10-inches long. Glamour rope is a type of glitter wire that you can bend into shapes. Bend the ends of them into heart shapes and curls with pliers.

Attach to the box wire wreath form by wrapping the other end tightly. Leave space between the glamour rope accents.

You're finished!

Deco mesh and glamour rope come in many colors and finishes like metallic, wide foil and patterns. We think this style of wreath would look great in not only in burgundy, but also in wide foil red, hot pink, metallic pink or white/red stripes. It depends on your personal preference and what best matches your decor.

We have even more ideas for Valentine's Day Wreaths. CLICK HERE to see our new post.

Happy Crafting & Happy Valentine's Day!

*To see more tutorials and ideas on how to craft with deco mesh, click here or click on our "Videos" page above.

Carnival Season is Here! Door Decorating Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:28:00 +0000

Epiphany is today which marks the beginning of Carnival season. Epiphany, or 12th night, is the Christian holiday celebrating the day that the three kings bearing gifts visited baby Jesus.

Epiphany ushers in the Mardi Gras season, which lasts until Mardi Gras day, or Fat Tuesday on February 21st this year. Celebrate the arrival of the carnival season by changing wreath and door entryway decorations over from Christmas to Mardi Gras. Below you will find photographs and ideas to inspire you.

Happy Mardi Gras. Let the fun begin!

This doorway featured above goes all out with Mardi Gras deco mesh, Mardi gras beads, metallic fleur de lis and a custom wreath. Top it all off with a big bow.

Making your own deco mesh garland and wreath gives you big glitz and glam. This decorating theme wraps the whole door way in fun with purple metallic mesh, lime metallic mesh and a custom Mardi Gras wreath. Work wreath forms make creating a custom wreath very simple. Click here to see a list of our easy video tutorials.

Accent the basic deco mesh garland and wreath with foil ribbon, tinsel garland and fun Mardi Gras swirl ornaments.

For a simple garland, drape different types of tinsel garland over the door. Adding multiple garlands, one hung straight and the other swooped, creates more visual interest.

The Traditional symbols of Mardi Gras include fleur de lis, masks, beads, crowns, jesters, feathers and anything glitzy. Any basic wreath can be accented with Mardi Gras items to turn a plain wreath into a carnival wreath. Above a plain grapevine wreath was accented with beads, masks and ribbon.

Use one of these Mardi Gras symbols to add a simple accent to your door. This pair of doors uses simple metallic fleur de lis accents instead of a wreath.

Not feeling crafty? This metallic Mardi Gras ball ornament wreath looks crafty but is available already assembled for you. Easy and festive, this ball ornament wreath looks great on this darker-colored door.

Coordinate your wreath with accents on the porch and and even your greenery. This home not only decorated the door with a wreath hung low to keep the window clear, but also added a touch of sparkle to the porch light and planter. The metallic Mardi Gras bow on the light is a fun accent. Custom bows are easy to create. See our tutorials for details. Adding festive metallic floral picks into the planter creates a third point of interest around the door.

Here are some links to the supplies used on this porch:
Glitter fleur de lis ornaments, bows and feathery floral sprays work well together for this entryway.

Keep a look out for more Mardi Gras decorating ideas now that Carnival season is here. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

*Supply list for the leading photo:
Mardi Gras Stripe Deco Mesh
Mardi Gras Stripe 4" Ribbon
Glitter Fleur de Lis
Jumbo Mardi Gras Beads
Jester Ornament
Tinsel Wreath
Feathers

Masquerade Mask with Crepe Paper Flowers- Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Disguise your eyes behind a beautiful royal purple mask for Mardi Gras or a New Years party. This tutorial shows you how to decorate a basic mask with handmade crepe paper flowers. Decorating your own mask is an easy way to customize a mask for an event and to get in some craft time for those craftaholics out there.

We decided to embellish a basic paper mache mask with purple crepe paper rosettes for an elegant and ornate mask, at a budget-friendly price. Purple ostrich feathers are an optional addition.

For this mask, you need:

(1) Basic Paper Mache Eye Mask in Black (only $2!)

(1) Purple Crepe Streamer

Glue (Hot Glue Gun, Craft Glue or Skillet Glue)

Scissors

Optional: (2) Purple Ostrich Feathers

These supplies are available at MardiGrasOutlet.com.

STEP 1

Cut about 25 strips of the crepe streamer that range from 10" to 15" long. Don't worry about making each length exact; it is actually easier later on to have rosettes that are smaller and bigger in size. Fold each strip in half lengthwise.

STEP 2

To form a paper flower, start rolling a paper strip at one end, pinching the folded side as shown. As you continue rolling, twist the crepe paper every few turns. Also, add a dab of glue as you are rolling to keep the rosette together. When you have finished twisting, cover the bottom with glue. You need about 25 to cover the mask.

STEP 3

Now you can glue the rosettes to the mask. This basic paper mache mask comes painted black, so that the mask base doesn't show through the edges. If you have a white mask, apply dark purple or black acrylic paint.

To cover the mask, start at one corner and work your way across the mask. Apply glue to the bottom of each rosette. Pick and choose the smaller or larger rosettes so that they fit together snugly.

OPTIONAL

Glue and poke two purple ostrich feather through and around the rosettes at the corner. The feathers should lean up and to the right.

You're finished! You can also try this in different crepe paper colors; just make sure the feathers coordinate with the mask.

This mask can also be used for table decor, centerpieces and other decorations.

Enjoy!

Gateau de Sirop, a perfect Louisiana Christmas Dessert

noreply@blogger.com (Corrie) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:46:00 +0000

Photograph by Brian Finke via Bon Appetit

Sweetened with sugar cane syrup, Gateau de Sirop is the perfect Louisiana Christmas dessert. This classic Cajun cake is sweetened with Steen's sugar cane syrup. Steen's syrup is an original pure food product, produced the same way today as the original, created in 1910 with 100% cane syrup and no preservatives or additives. This simple deep caramel sweetener adds a unique Cajun flavor to Gateau de Sirop.

We hope you have a sweet Christmas filled with delicious goodies like this one!

10 Servings

Recipe by John Currence

Reprinted from Bon Appetit

Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
2 1/4 cup sall-purpose flour, plus more for pan
2 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup Steen's cane syrup
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon grated peeled ginger
1/2 cupwarm buttermilk
1 tablespoon powdered sugar

Special equipment:

An 11”-diameter tart pan with a removable bottom

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°. Butter and flour pan; set on a rimmed baking sheet. Whisk 2 1/4 cups flour and next 6 ingredients in a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat 1/2 cup butter and sugar until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add sour cream; beat to blend. Add cane syrup and 1/2 cup hot water; beat until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time; blend well between additions. Add ginger. Beat in dry ingredients in 3 additions on low speed. Add buttermilk; beat just to blend. Pour into pan; smooth top.

Bake until tester inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Let cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Cloisonne Louisiana Ornaments for Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Decorating your home and Christmas tree are all part of the holiday fun!

However, plain Christmas ornaments just aren't personalized enough for our Louisiana and Cajun loving tastes. So, we have found festive and collectable cloisonne ornaments with a Louisiana theme for our tree. Cloisonne ornaments are great gift ideas if you are looking for something special and unique.

They aren't just for the Christmas tree, but make great keepsakes as well. These beautifully detailed Louisiana, Baton Rouge and New Orleans ornaments are genuine handmade cloisonne.

Cloisonne is a process that allows for bright colors and intricate designs, making them very collectable. Copper is formed for the main shape, and a design is formed by copper filaments that create small compartments (cloisons). These are filled with several layers of enamel that are then fired in a kiln. When this is done, the ornament is polished down until the cloisons are exposed. As a last step, the exposed edges of copper are electroplated with 24 karat gold for extra sparkle.

We love this round ball ornament featuring Baton Rouge, Louisiana! It has fleur de lis, pelicans, crawfish and cypress trees all the way around on a blue background.

This New Orleans ornament has colorful river boats, St. Louis Cathedral, crawfish, and Bourbon street signs. Perfect for those who love NOLA!

All of these ornaments and even more designs are available at Mardi Gras Outlet.com.

New Orleans Ornament

New Orleans Food Ornament

Baton Rouge Ornament

Louisiana Ornament

Mardi Gras Ornament

Mardi Gras Mask Ornament

Fleur de Lis Mardi Gras Ornament

Ideas using Deco Mesh: A Video

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:30:00 +0000

Poly Deco Mesh is our latest obsession, and this informational video gives you an array of ideas for deco mesh wreaths, garlands and much more. Don't know what deco mesh is? You will learn what styles it comes in, its qualities and see a huge range of examples of this decorative material in use.

From wreaths and garlands to gift wrap and bows, deco mesh can be used in so many ways. The possibilities are endless! Click here to view all of our previous blog post tutorials on deco mesh.

We have also featured detailed video tutorials on how to use deco mesh to make bows, wreaths, wall trees, garland, wine bottle packaging and even to decorate a Christmas tree for the holidays.

Here is the informational deco mesh video:

Want more ideas?
To view our complete list of video tutorials, see the Mardi Gras Outlet Channel on Youtube.

Or check out our Pinterest page for lots of inspiring photos of projects using deco mesh. Below is a sample of what you will find.

For a complete selection of poly deco mesh products, shop at Mardi Gras Outlet.com.

Happy crafting. We hope you create the perfect Holiday for your family!

Gift Wrap Ideas with Decorative Wire: Monograms & Stars

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Decorative wire monograms and tinsel shapes are a fun way to transform Christmas and holiday gift wrapping from plain to festive. If you are looking for a creative way to wrap your gifts without a traditional bow, these wire accents are a good option. In this tutorial, you will learn the simple steps for transforming pipe cleaners and wired rope into star shapes and monogram letters, perfect for decorating presents.

In the south, we love monograms. We have found a new place to put our favorite letters- on a gift. Here is how to create this monogrammed gift:

Monogram Gift Wrap Supplies:

Metallic Tissue or solid colored gift wrap

Wired Glamour Rope (a bendable glittered wire that comes in assorted colors)

White string or ribbon

Pliers/wire cutters

First, wrap the present in metallic tissue or solid colored wrapping paper. Tie string or ribbon around the present as shown.

To make the letter, cut a short length (about 5 in.) of glamour rope with wire cutters. Glamour rope is a type of glittered decorative rope that has a wire at the center so it can be shaped and curled. You can find more information on glamour rope, here

With needle nose pliers, bend the glamour rope into the shape of the letter you want. Curl the ends of the letter to make the shape more whimsical. Look to your favorite fonts for inspiration on the shape of the letter.

Option: colored Aluminum wire will work well for forming letters as well.

Attach the wire monogram letter to the gift with a glue dot or by tying into the ribbon wrapped around the present.

These festive monogram letters make fun gift tags for your presents.

Metallic tinsel pipe cleaners are perfect for creating fun shapes like these three different stars. But don't limit yourself to the stars. This idea will work for any simple shape you like. Here is how to create these shapes:

Star Burst Gift Bag Supplies:

Tinsel Gold Piper Cleaner Stems

Scrap cardboard

Gift Bag and Metallic Gold Tissue
Scissors & Pencil

A glitzy star accents are a great way to spice up a plain brown gift bag.

To make this open five-pointed star, fold a pipe cleaner four times. This way there are 5 lengths between the folds. Using each bent corner as the star tips, fold the pipe cleaner into a star shape. Twist the two ends to hold the star together.

To make this second star, start with three pipe cleaners. Twist at the middle to hold them together. Bend each length into thirds, so that it goes over the center and back around to the point. Twist the end a little at each point. For five points, twist one length around another point.

For this solid star, you will need some scrap cardboard. Draw a star on the cardboard and cut out the shape. Now, wrap the star with pipe cleaners. We used about three pipe cleaners for each star. Make sure you cover all of the cardboard by wrapping around each tip. Leave ends tucked in at the back. With this technique, you can cut out any shape you want from the cardboard, so be creative and experiment!

Now you can attach each tinsel star to its own pipe cleaner.

Finally, attach the group to one of the gift bag handles.

Enjoy and Merry Christmas

from Mardi Gras Outlet!

Gift Ideas: Fleur de Louisianne Products

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:28:00 +0000

If you're from Louisiana or have ever lived here, you know that Louisiana loves Fleur de lis. By combining two loves- the Fleur De Lis and our unique culture, Fleur de Louisianne designs created the perfect gift for Louisiana. Whether you need a present for family and friends in Louisiana, visitors to the state, or just someone who has a sweet spot for our culture, these Louisiana themed gifts are sure to please.

"Fleur de Louisianne" is a product line of gifts, kitchen accessories and stationary that features a hand-drawn fleur de lis design filled with Louisiana and Cajun cultural words and phrases. This pretty graphic includes Louisiana words like: lagniappe, Who's ya mama?, roux, who dat, y'all, Mardi Gras, Cajun, Geaux, boudin, Louisiana, jazz, creole, gumbo, merci and mais cher.

From the creators of "Fleur de Louisianne":

"Artist, Julie Siracusa has given the fleur de lis, the icon of Louisiana, a fresh look. Siracusa has always believed that keeping drawing alive in design keeps a human element present. By combining beautiful words that are unique to Louisiana in the shape of a fleur de lis the "Fleur de Louisianne" has come to life. Together, Julie Siracusa and Denise Landry have taken the "Fleur de Louisianne" from the drawing table to a great line of products."

The photograph at the top features the Fleur de Louisianne paper drink coasters, note cards and a gift set which includes a kitchen towel and roux spoon.

For those southern cooks out there, the Fleur de Louisianne product line also includes a platter, oven mitt and kitchen towel, as shown here.

Sculptural metal ornaments of fleur de lis and our boot-shaped state are prefect for the Christmas tree or as accents on a gift. Accent the neck of a nice bottle of wine with these pretty ornaments for two gifts in one- one to keep and one to enjoy!

Joyeaux Noel, cher!

Everything you have seen here is available at MardiGrasOutlet.com or in the links listed below:
Fleur de Louisianne Coasters
Stationary-Note Cards
Roux Spoon Gift Set
Oven Mitt
Kitchen Towel
Round Platter
Louisiana Ornament
Fleur de lis ornament
Louisianne ornament

Looking for even more Louisiana and Cajun themed gifts and party decorations? Click here!

DIY: Wire Christmas Tree Decorations

noreply@blogger.com (Corrie) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Perfect holiday decorations represents Christmas, but offer a fun twist on the traditional. These tree shaped wire Christmas trees are exactly that kind of modern and fresh decor. Inspired by the traditional Christmas tree shape, but made with modern gold toned aluminum wire- a new favorite craft product- these trees are easy and fun to make. In this post, you will learn how to quickly create these wire trees in any size and color you choose.

Supplies:
Aluminum wire -2mm Gold shown here
Cone Shape -12" Styrofoam craft cone shown here
Wire cutters

Aluminum craft wire comes in various colors, millimeters and styles. The 2mm version we used for this wire tree is super easy to bend and cut. It is sturdy enough to hold a shape as well.

To make the wire trees, simply wrap the wire around the cone form. A standard 12" tall Styrofoam cone shape is used here. The form can be used multiple times for this project- so you will only need one cone shape for multiple trees.

Start at the bottom. Wrap the wire around the cone working toward the tip. And then back down again. Continue wrapping until you get the desired look you want for the tree. Make sure to sure to wrap the bottom in even circles so your tree will stand up once the form is removed.

Slide the wire off the top of the cone and adjust the wire/base as needed to make the tree stand up straight.

We created three trees like this-each one a different height- by wrapping just the top portion of the cone form to create the smaller trees.

The 12" tall large tree took approximately 12 yards of wire. The two smaller trees - approximately 3-4 yards each. In total we used less than 2 rolls of the 2mm gold wire, which you can purchase here. A great look for less than $8.00 worth of aluminum wire.

Good luck creating your own Holiday decorations this year!

Free Printable Christmas Labels

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:00:00 +0000

New labels for the Christmas and Holiday season, free for you to download, print and use for anything and everything! Choose from a peppermint, a cheery Christmas tree, a big red bow or an adorable snowman. These modern designs are great for candy, cookie or treat labels, gift tags, gift bags, stickers, party cup or bottle labels or even scrap-booking.

You can even customize these as shown in our photos. First, click here to download the labels. Next, open the file with Adobe Acrobat (free at this website). You should see some high-lighted boxes over each label. This is where you can type in any words to personalize the labels before printing from your ink jet or laser printer. If you want to hand write on these, don't worry, the highlighted boxes won't show up when you print. The labels are just as cute left blank, too.

FREE DOWNLOAD CHRISTMAS LABELS

Print these out on card stock or sticker paper, depending on what you need them for, and cut out each label with a 2" circle cutter or with scissors.

You can print the holiday labels out on sticker paper and place them on blank disc beads. These can be used for inexpensive party favors, stocking stuffer or Christmas ornaments. MardiGrasOutlet.com sells the blank discs and beads in many colors. The necklaces here use blank discs on green beads, white blank discs and red and white beads.

To make the labels shown above, use toothpicks with two stickers back-to-back to attach the labels. These cuties can be used as cupcake toppers, appetizer flags or buffet signs.

Enjoy!

Deco Mesh Christmas Tree made with a Tomato Cage: Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:16:00 +0000

Great Christmas decorations ideally make a big impact and are inexpensive! This cute lighted Christmas tree made with deco poly mesh and a tomato cage is both. And it's really easy to create! The tutorial below shows you how to create one with budget-friendly supplies like a simple wire tomato cage and basic green deco mesh. At 3 feet tall, this tree makes a big statement- great for stair landings, fireplace surrounds, buffet tables, porches, front doors or anywhere else you want a touch of Christmas cheer. You can also use it as a topiary by placing it on a planter.

Deco poly mesh is a type of soft plastic netting that has a full puffy shape. It is durable enough for the outdoors, so this Christmas tree would be a perfect way to light up an entryway or front yard. Deco mesh rolls and ribbon come in many different colors, patterns and finishes for you to choose from.

MardiGrasOutlet.com sells deco mesh and other supplies you will need for this project.

SUPPLIES:

For this tree you will need:

(1) 21"x10yd roll Metallic Emerald Green Deco Mesh

(1) Tomato cage

(1) White Christmas Lights 100-Light

Craft Wire

Wire Cutters & Scissors

Optional:

Red Wire Balls

Gold Small Wire Balls

4" White Iridescent Deco Mesh Ribbon

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Using wire cutters, cut 4"-6" lengths of craft wire. You will need around 25-30 of these to attach the white lights and the deco mesh to the tomato cage. If you are attaching ornaments, cut more wire.

STEP 2

Start attaching the light strand to the bottom of the tomato cage. We started with the first light after the plug and twisted the craft wire around the cord and wire cage. Wrap the light cord around the tomato cage, working your way all the way up and leaving only a little slack.

Use the craft wire you cut to secure and hold up the cord. It wasn't necessary to tie craft wire every time the cord touched the tomato cage, just every once in a while.

When we reached the top of the cage, there was still a length of lights left. Simply wrap it around again

going down. Leave the plug end in the middle of the cage. The first plug should be left hanging out from the bottom, so that you can plug in your tree in later.

STEP 3

Now you can wrap the cage with the Emerald Green Deco Mesh.

First, bunch the end of the mesh and attach to the top of the tomato cage with a piece of craft wire. Notice in the left photo how the cut end of the mesh is hidden and facing down, leaving only a nice puff for the top. Wrap the mesh around once and attach to a vertical bar.

As you bring the mesh down and around the tomato cage, bunch and attach the mesh at every other vertical bar with craft wire. It also helps to fold as you gather the mesh for better looking puffs.

Notice how each new puff hides a previous wire tie where you attached the mesh. This is why it is important to skip over the next vertical bar of the tomato cage as you go down and around.

STEP 4

When you reach the bottom, make sure the mesh goes around and covers the cage base before you cut the mesh. This tree used one roll of deco mesh, with a couple feet to spare. Hide the last wire tie and the end of the mesh behind a puff. Your Christmas tree should look like this!

MAKING A BOW

STEP 5: Ornaments

To spice up the plain green Christmas tree, we added gold and red decorative wire ball ornaments. Click here for more colors of wire balls. To attach them, take a piece of craft wire and loop it through a section of the wire ball. Twist the craft wire and then attach the ornament to the tomato cage or mesh. You can also use hot glue to adhere ornaments that can not be wired on.

The tree was topped off with a bow made of 4" Metallic White Iridescent Ribbon \. See our previous post, Making a Bow, for directions on how to make this pretty Christmas Bow. That tutorial uses 10" wide deco mesh, but works the same for 4" wide ribbon.

Deco Mesh Christmas Tree - lights turned off

For the full list of video tutorials on making deco mesh wreaths, garland and more, click here.

For more craft and deco mesh ideas, click here.

Gift Wrap Ideas with Deco Mesh: Video Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Need a fabulous way to create unique gift wrap for the holidays? Deco mesh is the answer! Below is a video tutorial showing how to use poly deco mesh for festive wine bottle packaging. In a few minutes, you can create a professional, designer inspired gift wrap. The same technique shown in the video can be used to wrap other types of gifts, vases and containers.

A festively wrapped wine bottle complete with Fleur de Lis wine stopper is the perfect hostess gift for Christmas, as well as birthdays, congratulations, housewarming or wedding. All you have to do is choose different colors of deco mesh to customize this gift wrap idea for your event.

Poly Deco Mesh is a type of colored plastic netting that holds its shape. Mesh comes in a wide range of colors, sizes and finishes. It can be used for a large range of creative projects, from creating wreaths and garland to trimming your tree. For this Christmas bottle wrap, you will need:

SUPPLIES:
21 inch Red and Lime Plaid roll of Deco Poly Mesh
Lime Deco Flex Tubing Ribbon.
optional: Fleur de Lis Wine Stopper
Bottle of wine of your choice

This video shows you how to use the natural curl in deco mesh to package a wine bottle, and also to make a bow out of Deco Flex Tubing Ribbon. Use this bow to secure the wrap around the bottle.

Pictured below is a different version using the same technique, but for a small gift box.

The gift wrap shown above uses:
21" Deluxe Metallic Stripe Mardi Gras deco mesh
Purple Deco Flex Tubing Ribbon

For a complete selection of optional colors in decorative mesh and deco flex tubing ribbon,

see Mardi Gras Outlet.com.

To view our complete list of video tutorials, other deco mesh creations and do-it-yourself Christmas decorating ideas, see the Mardi Gras Outlet Channel on YouTube.

Party Ideas by Mardi Gras Outlet

Crawfish Season 2012 is here!

Mardi Gras Bead Craft: DIY Monogram Letter

Mardi Gras Parade Float Coloring Page

Mardi Gras Glitter Leaf Wreath: Three Different Ways

Masquerade Mask Favor Centerpiece: Tutorial

Paper Jester Hat Pattern: Mardi Gras Crafts for Kids

Curled Paper Bow Gift Wrap with Mardi Gras Paper

Free Mardi Gras Printable Stickers and Labels

Making a Mardi Gras Wreath with Deco Mesh

Masquerade Column Deco Mesh Centerpiece: Tutorial

How to: Fleur de Lis Silhouette Gift Wrap

Valentine's Day Wreath Ideas with Deco Mesh & Work Wreath Forms

DIY Mardi Gras Feather Tree Centerpiece

Making a Valentine Heart Wreath with Deco Mesh

Carnival Season is Here! Door Decorating Ideas

Masquerade Mask with Crepe Paper Flowers- Tutorial

Gateau de Sirop, a perfect Louisiana Christmas Dessert

Gâteau de Sirop

Ingredients

Special equipment:

Preparation

Cloisonne Louisiana Ornaments for Christmas

Ideas using Deco Mesh: A Video

Gift Wrap Ideas with Decorative Wire: Monograms & Stars

Gift Ideas: Fleur de Louisianne Products

DIY: Wire Christmas Tree Decorations

Free Printable Christmas Labels

Deco Mesh Christmas Tree made with a Tomato Cage: Tutorial

Gift Wrap Ideas with Deco Mesh: Video Tutorial