20 Magnificent Mardi Gras Crafts for Kids: A Carnival of Creativity

20 Magnificent Mardi Gras Crafts for Kids: A Carnival of Creativity

by
Spiders often get a bad reputation. Between their eight scurrying legs and their penchant for dark corners, many children (and quite a few adults!) find them a bit intimidating. However, spiders are vital to our ecosystem, acting as nature’s pest controllers. To celebrate their importance, March 14th is designated as Save a Spider Day. Whether you are teaching your children about the environment in March or looking for a "spooktacular" decoration for a Halloween party, these Gigantic Styrofoam Plate Spiders are the perfect project. They are incredibly easy to make, budget-friendly, and their massive size makes a huge impact on any corridor or classroom wall. If you’ve been busy with work and need a high-impact craft that doesn't take hours of preparation, this is the one for you. Let’s get spinning! Why We Should Celebrate Spiders Before we get into the glue and paint, it’s worth sharing a few reasons why we should "save a spider": Pest Control: Spiders eat more insects than birds and bats combined. They help keep gardens healthy and homes free of flies and mosquitoes. Architecture: Spider silk is one of the strongest natural materials on earth—stronger than steel of the same thickness! Biodiversity: There are over 45,000 known species of spiders, each with unique hunting styles and patterns. The Developmental Benefits of Making Giant Spiders While this craft is a blast to put together, it also serves as a fantastic fine motor activity for young children: Bilateral Coordination: Using a stapler or twisting pipe cleaners requires both hands to work together. Tactile Painting: Using a sponge to apply acrylic paint provides a different sensory experience than a standard brush. Spatial Reasoning: Figuring out where to place the eight legs so the spider looks balanced helps kids with basic geometry and symmetry. Supplies Required One of the best things about this craft is that it utilizes items you likely already have in your recycling bin or kitchen. Styrofoam or Paper Plates: We recommend one large plate (about 18" in diameter) for the body and one smaller plate (about 6") for the head. Note: If you don't have plates, you can trace the largest circular object in your house onto black construction paper or cardboard. Black Acrylic Paint: For that classic "creepy-crawly" look. Sponge: For quick and textured paint application. White Paper Circles or Stickers: For the eyes. Black Marker: To add pupils to the eyes. Black Pipe Cleaners (Chenille Sticks): At least 8 per spider. Stapler: To attach the head to the body. Double-sided Foam Tape: For easy mounting on walls or doors. Newspapers: To protect your work surface. Step-by-Step Instructions: How to Make a Gigantic Spider 1. Prepare Your Workspace Spiders can be messy! Spread out plenty of old newspapers on your floor or table. Lay your plates face down on the paper. Using recycled Styrofoam plates is a great way to be eco-friendly—just make sure they are washed and dried thoroughly before you start. 2. The Painting Phase Take your sponge and dip it into the black acrylic paint. Dabbing the paint onto the backside of the plates creates a textured, "hairy" appearance that looks much more realistic than flat brush strokes. Once the plates are fully covered, let them dry overnight. This is the hardest part for kids—waiting for the paint to dry! 3. Assemble the Spider’s Body Once the paint is completely dry, take your smaller plate (the head) and overlap it slightly with the larger plate (the body). Use a stapler to secure them together. 4. Adding the Eight Legs A spider isn't a spider without its legs! Using Pipe Cleaners: Use a sharp pencil or the end of the pipe cleaner to carefully pierce the edge of the large Styrofoam plate. Push the pipe cleaner through and twist the end to secure it. The Bend: Bend the pipe cleaner in the middle to give the leg a "jointed" look. Repeat this until you have four legs on each side. Alternative: If you don't have pipe cleaners, you can use long strips of black chart paper folded in an accordion fashion. This gives the legs a fun "boingy" effect when the spider is hung up. 5. Giving Your Spider a Face Giant spiders need giant eyes! Take your white paper circles or stickers and place them on the smaller plate. Use your black marker to draw the pupils. Pro Tip: Spiders actually have eight eyes! While two large eyes look cute and "Kawaii," you can add six smaller dots around them to make your craft scientifically accurate. 6. Mounting Your Spooktacular Decor Use double-sided foam tape on the back of the spider’s body. Because Styrofoam is so lightweight, these gigantic spiders will easily stick to your house corridor, front door, or even the ceiling for a real jump scare! Fun Extension Activities for Save a Spider Day 1. The Web-Building Challenge Give your kids some white yarn and masking tape. See if they can create a "giant web" in a doorway or between two chairs. Then, they can try to toss "flies" (scrunched-up paper balls) into the web to see if they stick. 2. Spider Anatomy Lesson While crafting, talk about the difference between insects and arachnids. Insects: 6 legs, 3 body parts, have antennae. Arachnids: 8 legs, 2 body parts (cephalothorax and abdomen), no antennae. 3. Spider Storytime Read a spider-themed book to settle down after crafting. Some favorites include: The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle. Aaaarrrrgghh! Spider! by Lydia Monks. Diary of a Spider by Doreen Cronin. Tips for Success Textured Plates: If you are using leaf plates or textured paper plates, the ridges will help the paint catch the light, making the spider look even more impressive. Glow-in-the-Dark: For a Halloween twist, use a little bit of glow-in-the-dark paint on the eyes or the tips of the legs. It looks incredible when the lights go out! Styrofoam Safety: If children are piercing the plates with pipe cleaners, ensure they are doing so on a flat surface to avoid poking their fingers. Final Thoughts These Gigantic Styrofoam Plate Spiders prove that you don't need a lot of time or expensive materials to create something memorable. Whether you're celebrating the ecological benefits of our eight-legged friends for Save a Spider Day or turning your home into a haunted mansion for Halloween, this craft is a guaranteed hit. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s a wonderful way to spend an evening together after a long day at work.

Mardi Gras is a festival that defines the word “grandeur.” It is a whirlwind of rhythmic music, towering floats, shimmering beads, and an infectious sense of joy. While many associate the holiday with the bustling streets of New Orleans, at its heart, Mardi Gras has always been a family-centered celebration. For generations, families have gathered with ladders and bags, ready to catch “throws” (beads and trinkets) and cheer for the marching bands.

The term Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday.” Historically, it marks the final day of feasting on rich, fatty foods before the 40 days of Lent begin. Today, it is a global symbol of culture and community. To help your children dive into this vibrant tradition, we’ve curated a list of 20 Magnificent Mardi Gras Crafts for Kids. These activities aren’t just fun—they are a doorway into a world of history, color theory, and fine motor development.

The Meaning Behind the Mardi Gras Colors

Before you open the glitter glue, it’s fun to teach kids about the specific palette of this festival. Every Mardi Gras craft should feature these three iconic colors:

  1. Justice (Purple): Representing the royal history of the festival.
  2. Faith (Green): Symbolizing the traditional roots of the season.
  3. Power (Gold): Representing the wealth of spirit and the grandeur of the parade.

Why Crafting is the Perfect Way to Celebrate

Engaging in festive crafts offers more than just a souvenir. For children, these activities provide:

  • Cultural Awareness: Learning about “Fat Tuesday” and French influences helps kids appreciate global diversity.
  • Sensory Play: Working with feathers, sequins, beads, and glitter provides rich tactile feedback.
  • Creative Expression: Mardi Gras is all about “more is more.” It’s a rare chance for kids to be as loud and bright as they want with their art!

20 Magnificent Mardi Gras Crafts for Kids

1. The Ultimate Masquerade Mask

No carnival is complete without a mask!

  • How-to: Use a sturdy cardstock base. Let kids go wild with purple, green, and gold paint.
  • The Detail: Glue on feathers at the temples and add sequins around the eye holes. Attach a wooden dowel to the side so they can hold it up to their faces.

2. Paper Plate King Cake

The King Cake is the most famous treat of the season.

  • How-to: Cut the center out of a paper plate to create a ring.
  • The Detail: Paint the “frosting” with glue and sprinkle purple, green, and gold glitter or sand. Don’t forget to hide a tiny plastic “baby” or bead inside!

3. Beaded Handprint Tree

Transform those famous Mardi Gras beads into a work of art.

  • How-to: Trace your child’s hand and arm in brown paper to make a tree trunk.
  • The Detail: Instead of leaves, glue strands of colorful beads hanging from the “branches” to represent the bead-tossed trees seen after a parade.

4. Shoebox Parade Float

Let your child be the architect of their own parade.

  • How-to: Flip a shoebox upside down. Use construction paper to create a themed “stage” on top.
  • The Detail: Add toy figurines as the “Royalty” and use pipe cleaners to create colorful railings and decorations.

5. Mardi Gras Shakers (Noise Makers)

Parades are loud, and your house should be too!

  • How-to: Fill empty water bottles or plastic eggs with dried beans or rice.
  • The Detail: Wrap the outside in purple and gold duct tape or ribbons. Shake away to the beat of the jazz music!

6. Handprint Mardi Gras Bird

The tropical colors of the festival lend themselves perfectly to feathered friends.

  • How-to: Use a yellow handprint for the body.
  • The Detail: Use green and purple feathers for the wings and tail. It creates a vibrant, 3D effect.

7. DIY Bead Necklaces (Pasta Style)

If you don’t have plastic beads, make your own!

  • How-to: Dye dry penne pasta using vinegar and food coloring (purple, green, and gold).
  • The Detail: Once dry, have kids string them onto yarn. This is an excellent fine motor activity for preschoolers.

8. The Jester Hat Headband

Jesters are the classic entertainers of the carnival.

  • How-to: Cut long triangles out of felt or paper.
  • The Detail: Attach them to a headband so they flopped over. Glue a small bell or a pom-pom to the tip of each triangle for that classic jester “jingle.”

9. Ribbon Wand for Parades

Perfect for toddlers who want to dance along with the music.

  • How-to: Tie long strands of purple, green, and gold ribbon to a wooden ring or stick.
  • The Detail: Add a few bells at the top so it makes music with every wave.

10. Mardi Gras Slime

A sensory delight for older kids.

  • How-to: Create a basic clear glue slime recipe.
  • The Detail: Divide it into three batches and dye them the signature colors. Add star-shaped gold sequins for extra “Power.”

11. Coffee Filter Sun Catchers

Watch the sun shine through the carnival colors.

  • How-to: Use washable markers to color coffee filters in sections of purple, green, and gold.
  • The Detail: Spray with a little water to let the colors bleed together. Once dry, cut them into mask or fleur-de-lis shapes and tape them to the window.

12. Fleur-de-lis Suncatcher

The Fleur-de-lis is the symbol of New Orleans and Mardi Gras.

  • How-to: Cut the symbol out of black construction paper to create a “frame.”
  • The Detail: Fill the center with purple and green tissue paper for a stained-glass look.

13. Paper Chain Garland

Decorate your mantle or classroom with a classic.

  • How-to: Cut strips of construction paper.
  • The Detail: Interlock them in a purple-green-gold pattern. It’s a great way to practice sequencing!

14. Mardi Gras Crown

Every child deserves to be Mardi Gras Royalty.

  • How-to: Cut a crown shape out of gold cardstock.
  • The Detail: Use “jewels” (plastic gems or sequins) to decorate the points of the crown.

15. Paper Bag Jester Puppet

  • How-to: Use a white paper bag as the base.
  • The Detail: Draw a laughing face on the flap and add a three-pointed paper hat at the top. Use curled ribbons for the hair.

16. Painted Bead Canvas

  • How-to: If you have broken bead strands, don’t throw them away!
  • The Detail: Glue them onto a canvas in abstract swirls and paint the background black to make the colors pop.

17. Mardi Gras Lanterns

  • How-to: Fold a piece of construction paper in half and cut slits (the classic paper lantern method).
  • The Detail: Use a gold marker to draw patterns before stapling it into a cylinder.

18. Feathered Wreath

  • How-to: Cut a ring out of cardboard.
  • The Detail: Glue purple, green, and gold feathers all around it until no cardboard is showing. Hang it on the bedroom door!

19. Tambourine Craft

  • How-to: Staple two paper plates together with beans inside.
  • The Detail: Punch holes around the edge and tie ribbons through the holes. Paint the plates with glitter paint.

20. Mardi Gras “Calm Down” Jar

  • How-to: Fill a jar with water, glycerin, and lots of purple and gold glitter.
  • The Detail: Shake it up to see a “carnival in a jar.” It’s mesmerizing and relaxing.

Safety Tips for Crafting

  • Bead Safety: Small beads can be a choking hazard. Always supervise younger children and ensure they aren’t putting “throws” in their mouths.
  • Glitter Management: To avoid a glitter-covered house, use a tray for all glitter-related steps.
  • Washable Paints: Mardi Gras colors are bold! Ensure you are using washable tempera paints to protect clothing.

Conclusion

Mardi Gras is more than just a party; it’s a celebration of life, family, and creativity. By bringing these Mardi Gras Crafts into your home, you’re giving your kids a chance to participate in a storied tradition that spans centuries. Whether they are wearing a jester hat or shaking a homemade tambourine, they are learning that life is meant to be celebrated in full color.

शेयर करें:

Leave a comment

Close