Mardi Gras 2015 March 1, 2015

In this post: Mardi Gras treats, crafts, parade fun, and a lapbook.

Hello dear ones! We celebrated Mardi Gras as a family for the second time. We’ve come up with our own traditions, like decorating a float for our family parade. Anywho, this is how we did Mardi Gras.

• We began with a Mardi Gras lapbook and several videos on Mardi Gras’ history. I’ll include a link at the end.

 

• Michael made a jester mask.

• Michael and I watched The Hunchback of Notre Dame because it has the Festival of Fools in it. It’s not the same holiday but the style is similar. I also like the lessons on sin and grace in the movie. Rio and The Princess and the Frog are also good for this time.

• We had a small feast for supper. We had ham which is a rare treat. We don’t give up anything during Lent, but it was a nod to the history of Fat Tuesday and how people ate all their meat before fasting during Lent. I found the centerpiece at the Dollar Tree.

 

• We made a King cake using cinnamon rolls. We put it in the oven while we had our parade.

Here’s Chris braiding his part.

 

Into the oven!

 

• Michael and I made a parade float out of Leeland’s wagon. We used tissue paper and masks. Then we filled it with beads, moon pies, and coins. Teddy played the king/jester and rode in the float.

 

• I turned up the jazz music and we had a parade. Michael and I took turns throwing things. We put on masks and beads.

 

• Lastly, we decorated and enjoyed our King cake! Mmmmm….we just used the icing that came with the cinnamon rolls and sprinkled it. I couldn’t find purple sprinkles so I used glaze.

You can find the lapbook, videos, and other ideas here:

Mardi Gras on Pinterest

God bless & remember the High King lives! ~Amber Dover

Mardi Gras past
https://amberdover.wordpress.com/2014/03/29/mardi-gras-dr-seuss-birthday/

https://amberdover.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/crafty-monday-gods-love-hearts-galore-plus-mardi-gras-celebration/

Another good Disney film to watch for Mardi Gras is The Princess and the Frog. Here are some ideas to give you that New Orleans’ flavor:

https://amberdover.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/crafty-monday-disney-countdownpinocchio-the-princess-and-the-frog/

Marie Antoinette Party May 18, 2014

In this post: An original and glamorous Marie Antoinette party as we learn about the French Revolution! Come join us!

Dear ones, I hope you are well. I’m thrilled to share this fun party with you. We ended our study of the French Revolution with a Marie Antoinette party. Marie never said “Let them eat cake”, but her over the top fashion is great inspiration for a glamorous party…and delicious cake ;). Here’s how I did it:

The Set

• Black and White fancy table cloth & plates. I bought the table cloth at Walmart and the plates at the Dollar Tree.
• Pink napkins with fancy clock napkin holders. I took tulle and wrapped it around the napkins. For the clocks, I printed out old Victorian looking clocks and I taped them into layed cupcake holders. I stuck that on the tulle.
• Marie Antoinette project board~ I bought the project board and the girly French stickers at the Dollar Tree. My Mom miraculously had some black and white tissue paper that she gave me. I modge podged it on and put a paper doll of Marie on top of it. Then I made designs with black and pink paint.
• Fancy clock~ this was a thrift store find that I also used for Hannah’s baby shower.
• Vase of pink flowers and black and white flowers. I found the flowers on sale at Michael’s craft store, 50 cent each!
• An old key, pearls, vintage looking bags with crown designs on them. I believe these were on sale at Michael’s awhile back.
• Marie Antoinette shadow box frame~ I bought the frame and the wooden chandelier and chair at Michael’s. I painted the frame black and pink. I painted the wooden chair and chandelier black. I cut out a paper Marie and modge podged her. I used the black and white tissue paper to encircle her. I glued on fake pearls in a heart shape. I glued on a feather. I cut out paper butterflies and modge podged them on both sides so they would shine. I wanted them to be 3D.
• Marie cage lantern~ It’s hard to tell what this is but in person it lights up. I took a small cage from the craft store and put a fake candle in it. I put a Marie paper doll on a popsicle stick and stuck it in the cage. Then I took black and white tissue paper to form her dress.

I loved this set so much. I had a hard time taking it down. I did keep the shadow box for my office. 🙂

Food

• Pink cupcakes with pearls on top~ I used a box of strawberry cake mix and a can of pink frosting. I found edible pearls also at Walmart.
• Salmon patties and mac n cheese for our fancy candle lit dinner.
• Apple juice in fancy goblets.

The Costumes

• Marie Antoinette (mua)~ My Aunt’s prom dress from the 70’s. Yeah, I’ve taken good care of it. My hair did not get as puffy as I’d hoped but I had two fake hair pieces under it. I think next time I’ll put them closer to the front. I’ll include my Pinterest link at the bottom. I put fake pearls in my hair so it’d drape across my forehead. I took a paper mask and glued a pink feather and fake gems on it. Then I attached the mask to a dowel. My makeup looks a bit funny because I powdered my face with very light powder. You can’t tell as much in these pictures but I put concealer on my lips and then drew a heart shape with lipstick. I put on a good bit of blush.
• Michael~ He wore a nice black shirt and pants. We got his purple hat at the Dollar Tree. He also wore a paper mask which he decorated purple with shapes.

Activities

• A Candle Lit dinner
• The Marie Antoinette movie from the 30’s
• A waltz...sort of.
• A funny video on the secrets of Marie Antoinette’s hair

I hope you are inspired! 🙂 Links are below the pic…

Marie Antoinette ideas on Pinterest (about half way down)

God bless & remember the High King lives! ~Amber Dover

More Parties by Me

The 1700’s Week 3: https://amberdover.wordpress.com/2014/05/19/the-1700s-week-3-australia-the-french-revolution-lord-byron/