Mardi Gras Beads crafts

 

What to do with the Beads you catch  at Mardi Gras ? 

• 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
  • Chipboard large letter or Cardboard (to make Letter)
• Optional: Deco Flex Tubing Ribbon

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. 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.

What happens to all those beads after Mardi Gras?

The beads are not trashed. A lot of them are cleaned, sanitized and handed

 to ARC (mental health association) that sorts them and then resells

 them to paraders throwing beads the next year

The UL Lafayette Krewe de Coulee is an annual

 post Mardi Gras clean-up event to promote community volunteerism

 to clean up litter left behind after Mardi Gras celebrations along the Lafayette Parade Route.