DIY Mardi Gras Accessories: Masks, Headpieces, and Sunglasses

It’s carnival season in New Orleans, and the Passion Lilie team is ready to celebrate! The world feels heavy, but Mardi Gras is a time for community and joy. One of our favorite parts of carnival season is making our own Mardi Gras accessories for parade days. Whether you’re heading down to the route or celebrating from afar, we’ve got some great ideas for DIY Mardi Gras masks, headpieces, and sunglasses. Plus, by using sustainable and upcycled materials, you can enjoy the festivities in an eco-friendly way. We highly recommend gathering your krewe, combining supplies, and making a fun night out of crafting together. Let’s dive into some fantastic DIY projects that will bring your Mardi Gras look to life!

DIY Mardi Gras Masks

Masks are an essential part of New Orleans Mardi Gras. When Mardi Gras first began, masks allowed revelers to escape the constraints of social society and class hierarchy. Under the cover of a mask, people were free to be whoever they wanted to be. Now, masks are part of our tradition and are actually required by law for parade riders. Krewe members may be fined or even removed from their organization for removing their masks! Masks are such a fun part of the celebration, and they make for the best festive photos. Making your own mask lets you customize the accessory to match your style. Here’s how to create a gorgeous Mardi Gras mask:

Materials:

• A plain mask base (you can cut your own from cardboard or recycled paper, or repurpose an old mask). The Spruce Crafts has some excellent templates you can use to trace your mask.
• Acrylic paints or markers
• Feathers, sequins, beads, or rhinestones
• Non-toxic glue or hot glue gun
• Ribbon or elastic for securing the mask
• Biodegradable glitter for extra sparkle (we love this New Orleans brand, Pixie Dust)

Instructions:

1. Paint or color your mask base in traditional Mardi Gras shades of purple, green, and gold, or choose a unique color palette.
2. Add your glitter!
3. Once dry, use your glue gun to add decorations such as feathers, beads, or sequins.
4. For a festive touch, create swirling patterns with metallic markers or glue on small rhinestones.
5. Attach a ribbon or elastic to the sides to secure the mask to your face.
6. Bonus tip: as parade riders, we often glue cotton balls or soft fabric to the nose bridge of the mask to make it more comfortable for all day wear.

DIY Mardi Gras Headpieces

Headpieces have become a staple of New Orleans culture year-round; no longer serving as just a Mardi Gras accessory. Witches brunches at Halloween, hotel hopping at Christmas, baby showers, or a bar on a random Saturday are perfectly acceptable, even normal, occasions for an extravagant headpiece in New Orleans. Whether you want to make something simple or an elaborate feathered creation, here’s how to make your own:

Materials:

• A headband or old hat
• If you have Styrofoam from used packaging, this is a great place to repurpose it. If not, you can easily make your headdress without it.
• Feathers, faux flowers, or tulle
• Wire, pipe cleaners, or floral tape
• Hot glue gun
• Small beads or trinkets, silver balls, costume jewelry, even keepsakes can find new life in a headdress

Instructions:

1. A mannequin or hat holder makes this project easier, but you certainly don’t need one. Grab your base and attach the Styrofoam block or begin wrapping the base with wire, pipe cleaners, or floral tape for structure.
2. Arrange and secure feathers, faux flowers using hot glue and wire. Layer them for the most dramatic effect.
3. Add beads, charms, or pieces of fabric for extra embellishment.
4. Be sure to let everything dry before you put on your headpiece!
5. Optional: if you want extra height, add a lightweight cardboard backing covered in fabric or glitter paper to extend the height of your headpiece dramatically.

DIY Mardi Gras Sunglasses

You’re going to need sunglasses on the parade route, so you might as well make them fun and festive! Mardi Gras sunnies are an easy way to jazz up your Mardi Gras outfit and keep your eyes comfy on a bright New Orleans day. Here’s how we transform an old pair of sunglasses into something fabulous:

Materials:

• An old or inexpensive pair of sunglasses (maybe you caught a pair at a previous parade?)
• Acrylic paint or permanent markers
• Small beads, rhinestones, or sequins
• Hot glue gun or strong adhesive
• Washi tape or decorative stickers

Instructions:

1. Clean the sunglasses to make sure your decorations will adhere properly.
2. Paint the frames in bright Mardi Gras colors or use permanent markers to create patterns.
3. Use glue to attach beads, rhinestones, or sequins along the top edge of the frames or around the lenses.
4. Let everything dry before wearing your fabulous new Mardi Gras sunnies!
5. Bonus idea: if you want to take your sunglasses to the next level, attach small feathers to the corners or add a tiny mask to one side.

Get Crafty and Celebrate Carnival!

Making your own Mardi Gras accessories is a fun way to celebrate the season without being wasteful. Grab some friends, a king cake, and some supplies for a fun and festive get together. From our little New Orleans home to yours, let the good times roll!