5 Crafty Fun Things to Do with Mardi Gras Beads

I'm sure most of us are probably recovering from a crazy night out on Bourbon Street last night, wondering what we're going to do with the huge heap of gaudy plastic beads we're not really sure how we ended up with in the first place...right?

...Or, more realistically, we're surveying the living room, wondering how these beads managed to get strewn all over the place and why exactly teachers feel the need to give each kid twenty of these things to bring home anyway.

Now, even if you're not a huge fan of the purple, green, and gold color combo that signifies Fat Tuesday (which, incidentally I find to be a rather harsh moniker and believe that Tuesday's personal preference would be something more along the lines of "Big-Boned Tuesday" or "Tuesday with a Thyroid Problem", or even just "there's more of Tuesday to love"), don't give up on these hideous beads just yet.

I want you to consider one very important fact: you can spray paint these guys any color you want so don't worry! You don't necessarily have to be stuck with something that looks like a King Cake threw up when you're finished.

Now, without further ado, I will proceed to blow your mind with some amazing ideas I found (on Pinterest, of course...where else?) for using those ugly things and transforming them into something beautiful!

5 Crafty Fun Things to Do with Mardi Gras Beads:

1.) Melt them!

This first one is a bowl made with melted/ fused recycled Mardi Gras Beads from Green is Universal. This is so cool!  The link doesn't have an actual step-by-step tutorial, but if you watch the video you can get the gist and if you feel comfortable melting plastic in your own oven, maybe play around with it!

This next one much has better tutorial qualities and more info regarding melting temperature, etc. FilthWizardry makes lovely Christmas tree ornaments by melting Mardi Gras Beads in muffin pans!

2.) Make a chandelier!  

This yellow one is my favorite but unfortunately there are no how-to instructions for it.  However, the others do have step-by-step guides so it shouldn't be to hard to figure out:

                                                                   Source: mylittleapartment.blogspot.com 

Style for Style offers a tutorial for this Gold Chandelier (follow the link then click on her "last chandelier makeover" link for instructions).

And Gus and Lula have step-by-step DIY instructions for this lovely turquoise chandelier:

                                                                              

3.) make a wreath!  

This post by Sew In Love has a great tutorial for making your own Mardi Gras bead wreath:

                                                            

4.) Make Seasonal decorations 

or just general home decor. (Remember, you can paint them any color you want, so have fun!)  This is a 

guest post by Less Cake {More Frosting!} on the eighteen25 blog for some Halloween decorations!

                                                                  

5.) Make a Tray! 

This one is used as a boot rest in a mud room. (Find the tutorial by MetalAndMud here) How cool!

I hope you've enjoyed these Five Fun and Crafty Ways to use Mardi Gras Beads! I'd love to hear your creative ideas too!