Since moving to the south, I am enjoying all the fun that goes along with Mardi Gras. And, of course, I needed some type of decoration for my house! So, I took a hour or two one day and made this Mardi Gras bead wreath.
It’s Easy as 1-2-3! You only need a wire wreath base, beads and wire for a hanger. I did not have to buy a thing – love that part! I took the dry greenery off of a wire frame that I had left from Christmas to use for my base. Then I gathered up the beads we caught the night before at a parade and starting wrapping my wreath.
Tie one strand of beads onto the frame. Then connection on more strands.
To connect them, just lay one strand over the other, then pull one strand under and through the end of the other.
Pull through to connect 2 strands. I used smaller beads for the base because those were the size that I had the most of. You could use larger beads, but I would reccomend that you use all similar size so the thickness will be the same all the way around. Continue on wrapping at an angle until you get close to the finish size you would like.
At this point I added in my larger beads to provide more interest and texture. I also added more of the small beads, but after I connected them together, I knotted them a second time to create clusters to scatter about.
Just play around and see what you come up with – that’s part of the fun! I ran a piece of wire from the back to create my hanger and then put it up on my front door – a few days before Fat Tuesday! Now that I have made this one, next year I’ll be able to put it up lots earlier!
My front door is not decorated as elaborately as some others around town -but I like it simple!
Remember to enjoy the Simple Pleasures! We know they are the best!
xoxo
Angie
P.S. Join the Road to Simple community and receive your Free 7 Simple Steps Decluttering Guide!
That looks great. What a fantastic idea!
that is beautiful. I have a Styrofoam wreath I want to use to do one of these. Hopefully styrofoam will work. I have a lot of Mardi Gras beads. I hope it turns out as good as yours.
Thanks, Gale.I’m sure it will work on styrofoam as well. Good Luck!
How did it turn out on styrofoam?
Approximately how many strands did you use?
Sorry I did not see your post earlier. I did not count how many strands I used, but it was a lot! I’m going to guess around 70 or so.
Hi just wanted to say that is beautiful I am going to try next year. For the person who wanted to use a styrofoam the beads may be to heavy I tried to do a fabric wreath where the fabriic was pin pushed in and it broke. Please let us know how it turned out.❤️
awesome! going to attempt to make right now. how did you finish it – tie off the last bead strand to another already within the wreath?
Sorry I missed your question, Kim. I just tied it off to another strand within the wreath. Hope you had fun making your wreath!
Beautiful! I grew up in New Orleans and have moved all over the country (and out) carrying beads and doubloons with me. I love this idea and will give it a try for myself and gifts. I think I’ll glue doubloons in maybe??? Thanks for the how to!
Glad you like the idea! I had fun making it.
I made a great wreath this morning using this method! I will be giving it to my son for his front door. We gather at his house before every parade and walk to the parade route. Happy Mardi Gras from Mobile, Alabama, home of the first Mardi Gras celebration in what became the USA!
Hi Marthajane! Glad to hear you made a bead wreath for your son! I’m sending Happy Mardi Gras wishes to you from Lake Charles, La.!