I recently learned about a charming kids' Mardi Gras tradition that began in New Orleans many years ago. During the carnival season, children create miniature parade floats from shoeboxes and enter them into local shoebox float competitions. I could not wait to make one with my kids!
To begin, I covered a shoebox with construction paper. Gift wrap or aluminium foil are also options.
I turned the box upside down and secured the lid to its short side with hot-glue.
Time to decorate! The frill around the sides of the float are ruffled crepe paper streamers. I followed the awesome ruffled streamers tutorial on MADE to assemble them.
While I worked on the foundation of the float, the girls perused pages and pages of Mardi Gras float pictures online. They finally decided to make the float with the enormous, creepy clown face on the front. I think Juju did a great job capturing its menacing expression.
We raided the girls' craft supplies and toy boxes for the rest of the decorations. We chose JoJo the clown and a lion figurine to go with the circus theme. My daughter drew a circus tent for the backdrop. We added beads, artificial flowers, rhinestones and more ruffled streamers. The lion is wearing a Mardi Gras crown and JoJo is carrying a jester's staff made from a lollipop stick and beads.
A few more photos.....
The float needed wheels so the girls could have their own mini Mardi Gras parade. As luck would have it, the shoebox fit perfectly over the top of their toy firetruck. And yes, those are my beads. I acquired them years ago at the Mardi Gras parade here in St. Louis {mischievous grin}.
The girls loved my description of the crazy costumes and the bead and trinket throwing traditions of Mardi Gras. As I type, they are upstairs dancing and throwing beads at each other. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Saw you over on Whipperberry. What a great way to re-purpose a shoe box! And you know kids always have more fun with this stuff!
ReplyDeleteToo cute!!! Love this idea, very clever:)
ReplyDeleteKatie
www.funhomethings.com
Nice work and I like that you showed how to do everything also. Thanks for linking up to What to do Weekends! This is something interesting to do on the weekends, huh. Take care Linda
ReplyDeleteWOW is that cute! Love the beads and the shades! Thanks for sharing at Repurposed Ideas Weekly.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely FUN!!! Love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer... From Dream To Reality last week!!!
What a great idea! (P.S. I LOVE the lime green dresser in the back of your picture). Thanks for linking up to The Weekly Creative!
ReplyDeleteShannon @ Sewing Barefoot
Oh I love this!!! So cute! Great way to reuse a shoe box! This is such a great craft for crafty parents and their kids! Thanks for sharing @ Submarine Sunday!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, I used to do this with my French students. They would make them and then we'd line them up on this huge counter we had in the front office. The kids never really understood the point of it, I think I had more fun!
ReplyDeleteThis is so darned much fun! Featured you: http://igottacreate.blogspot.com/2013/02/spring-fun-and-inspiration.html
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up,
<3 Christina @ I Gotta Create!