Three small masks in a row, one in each colourThree mini canvases or one long one. A purple, a green and a gold mask, each on a ground of another of the three.
A classroom door banner of paper pennantsColoured paper, string, markers. One letter of MARDI GRAS on each pennant, colours in turn.
A mask covered in diamonds, like a jester's suitPencil and ruler. Cross two sets of slanted lines over the mask and fill every other diamond.
A cat-eye mask with corners swept up to the templesPencil and one marker. A wide, flat almond; pull each outer corner up to a point, then draw the eyes.
A feather mask with three plumes fanning from one cornerPencil and markers. Each plume is a curved spine with short strokes off both sides. The middle one is tallest.
A half mask that starts as a figure of eight on its sidePencil. Draw the eight, flatten its top edge, dip the bottom over the nose and add two almond eye holes.
A mask covered in diamonds, like a jester's suitPencil and ruler. Cross two sets of slanted lines over the mask and fill every other diamond.
A mask hanging from a nail by its ribbon tiesPencil. A small nail, two ribbons in a V, the mask below them and a soft shadow on the wall to one side.
A mask on a stick, held at an anglePencil. Tilt the half mask, then rule one stick from its right edge down toward the corner of the page.
A mask outlined in dots, like a row of beadsMarkers. Sketch the mask lightly, then go round it in dots, changing colour every third dot.
A mask seen from the side, ribbons flying behindPencil. One eye hole, a nose curve at the front and two wavy ribbons trailing from the back edge.
A mask split down the nose, purple on one side and green on the otherMarkers. Rule a line down the middle, colour the two halves and outline both eye holes in gold.
A mask with a crown of five points along its top edgePencil. Draw the mask, then five triangles on top, tallest in the middle, and a dot on each tip.
A mask with a fleur-de-lis between the eyesPencil. Three petals tied by a band: one upright, two curling out. The fleur-de-lis is on the flag of New Orleans.
Two masks overlapping, one gold and one purpleMarkers. Draw the front mask whole, then only the parts of the second that show behind it.
Masks to paint on canvas 12
A black mask against purple fading into goldPurple, gold, black. Blend purple at the top into gold below while both are wet. When dry, paint the mask solid.
A feathered mask whose plumes run off the top of the canvasPurple, teal, gold. Set the mask low. Pull each plume up in one stroke of a flat brush and let it leave the edge.
A mask and a jester's cap on one canvasPurple, green, gold, black. The cap in a top corner with its points drooping; the mask below it on a slant.
A mask in a shower of confettiWhite canvas; purple, green, gold. Paint the mask first, then print dots round it with the handle end of the brush.
A mask in front of a night street of lit windowsNavy, yellow, purple, gold. Block in dark house shapes, dot the windows yellow, then the mask large across the front.
A mask made of dabs alone, with no outlinePurple, green, gold. Short dabs side by side fill the mask shape. Leave two bare ovals of canvas for the eyes.
A mask over three bands of purple, green and goldPurple, green, gold, black. Tape two lines, paint the bands, peel the tape, then the mask in black across all three.
A mask with a string of beads looped under itDeep purple ground; gold, green. Mask in the top half; the beads are a sagging line of dots from a cotton bud.
A mask with glitter shaken into the wet paintBlack ground; purple, gold, fine glitter. Paint the mask, shake glitter over it while wet and tap off the spare.
A white mask with gold scrollworkGrey ground; white, gold. Paint the mask white, let it dry, then add S curves in gold with a fine brush.
One gold mask on a black canvasBlack, gold, white. Paint the canvas black and let it dry, then the mask in gold with a white glint on one edge.
Three small masks in a row, one in each colourThree mini canvases or one long one. A purple, a green and a gold mask, each on a ground of another of the three.
Masks and crafts to make 12
A card mask on a stick, edged with sequinsCard, sequins, craft stick. Cut out the mask, run glue along its top edge, press the sequins in and tape on the stick.
A garland of five small masks pegged along a stringCard, string, pegs. Cut five masks from one template, decorate each a different way and peg them in a row.
A jester's hat from a paper band and three card pointsCard, pom-poms, stapler. An adult staples a band to fit, then three bent points with a pom-pom on each tip.
A king cake made from the rim of a paper platePaper plate, paint, tissue paper. Cut out the middle, paint the ring tan and glue on bands of purple, green and gold.
A mask with handprint plumesCard, washable paint. Print a hand at each top corner of the mask, fingers up and out, so they read as feathers.
A mask with tissue paper plumes in place of feathersCard, tissue paper, glue. Cut long leaf shapes of tissue, snip a fringe down both edges and glue them in a fan.
A necklace of rolled paper beadsColoured paper, glue, string. Roll long paper triangles round a pencil, glue each tip, slide them off and thread them.
A paper crown with a foil jewel on each pointCard strip, foil, tape. Cut zigzag points along one edge, glue a foil circle on each and tape the ends to fit a head.
A paper plate half mask with a feather fan at one templePaper plate, feathers, craft stick. Halve the plate, an adult cuts the eye holes, then glue feathers behind one corner.
A pasta bead necklace painted purple, green and goldTube pasta, paint, string. Paint the tubes in three batches, let them dry and thread them in a repeating order.
A shoebox parade floatShoebox, coloured paper, bottle tops. Cover the box, glue on four bottle-top wheels and build your theme on the lid.
Doubloons of card wrapped in foilCard, foil, a blunt pencil. Wrap each card circle in foil and press your own emblem into it.
Beads, crowns and king cake 12
A crown and sceptre on a tasselled cushionPencil. A cushion with a tassel at each corner, the crown on top and the sceptre laid across in front.
A crown set with purple, green and gold jewelsPencil and markers. A band, five points, a circle on each tip and a row of gems along the band, colours in turn.
A doubloon, front and backPencil. Two circles side by side, each with a rim inside it. A doubloon is a large parade coin of wood or metal.
A hand reaching up to catch a string of beadsPencil. An open hand from the bottom edge, fingers spread, and the strand above it as a twisting loop.
A king cake seen from aboveMarkers. An oval ring of twisted dough with icing on top and sugar in bands of purple, green and gold.
A parade cup stuffed with beads and doubloonsPencil and markers. A plain tall cup, strands spilling over the rim, coins poking out. Cups are thrown from floats too.
A slice of king cake with the tiny baby showingPencil. A wedge with a swirl inside. A small plastic baby is hidden in a king cake for one person to find.
A table with a king cake, a strand of beads and a maskPencil. The cake in the middle, the strand looped round its plate and the mask propped against it.
A tangled heap of beadsPencil. Loop one long wandering line over itself, then draw circles along it, skipping where a strand passes under.
Beads caught on a bare tree branchPencil. One branch across the page with strands draped over it at different heights.
Three strings of beads hanging from one hookPencil and markers. Three U shapes of different lengths, then small circles along each: purple, green, gold.
Your initial made of beadsMarkers. Write the letter large and light, then cover it in dots that touch, in purple, green and gold.
Floats and jesters 12
A child on a grown-up's shoulders watching the paradePencil. Seen from behind: two figures stacked, arms up, and a float as one big simple shape beyond them.
A flambeau carrier lighting a night paradePencil and orange pastel. A figure holding up a tall torch. Flambeaux lit night parades before electric light.
A float built as a giant jester's headPencil. The platform, then a huge grinning head in a three-point cap. Riders stand along the collar.
A float coming straight down the streetPencil. A tall arch shape with a figure on the prow, and crowd lines on both sides that narrow behind it.
A float shaped like a giant crownPencil and markers. Draw the wheeled platform first, then a crown as tall as the page with riders along its band.
A house dressed up as a parade floatPencil and markers. A porch hung with giant paper flowers. In 2021, with parades off, people decorated homes.
A jester dancing on one footPencil. Stick figure first: one knee up, arms wide. Then the diamond suit, the pointed collar and the cap.
A jester's cap with three points and a bell on eachPencil and markers. Three curling horns from one band, a circle on each tip. A jester's hat is called a cap and bells.
A jester's shoe with a curled toe and a bellPencil. A slipper whose toe rolls up into a spiral, with one small circle hanging from the tip.
A marotte, the jester's stick with a small head on topPencil. A short rod with a tiny capped head. The marotte was the jester's sceptre, mirroring the king's.
A parade float from the sidePencil. A long box on small wheels with a fringe along the bottom. A float: a decorated parade platform.
Float riders tossing beads to the crowdPencil. Masked riders along the rail, arms out; strands in the air as loops; raised hands along the bottom edge.
Posters and cards 12
A card whose front is a mask with cut-out eyesFolded card, markers. Draw the mask across the front, an adult cuts the eye holes, and the greeting shows through.
A classroom door banner of paper pennantsColoured paper, string, markers. One letter of MARDI GRAS on each pennant, colours in turn.
A countdown poster with one mask for each day leftPoster paper. Draw a row of small masks and cross one off each morning. The date of Mardi Gras moves every year.
A king cake party invitation cut as a ringCard, markers, scissors. Cut a ring, colour its sugar bands and write the details round it.
A parade route poster with an arrow and a row of floatsPoster paper, markers. One long arrow across the sheet, three small floats above it, and the time and place below.
A poster in three upright stripes with a mask, a crown and beadsPoster paper, paint. One purple, one green and one gold stripe, with one symbol in black on each.
A poster of the three colours and what each stands forMarkers. Three blocks, one word in each: purple for justice, green for faith, gold for power.
A poster that says Fat TuesdayMarkers. Thick capitals with stripes inside the letters. Mardi Gras: French for Fat Tuesday.
A poster with one huge mask over the words Mardi GrasPoster paper, markers. The mask fills the top two thirds. Letter the two words in thick capitals underneath.
A thank-you card with a string of beads for a borderCard, markers. Draw a line of touching dots all round the edge and write inside the frame it makes.
An invitation to a mask-making partyCard, markers. A half mask at the top, then the date, the place and what to bring: feathers, glue, sequins.
Bubble letters spelling MARDI GRAS, filled with beads and confettiMarkers. Draw the letters fat and touching, then pack each with dots and tiny squares in three colours.
How it works
Mardi Gras art ideas for the weeks before Fat Tuesday: 72 masks, beads, crowns, king cakes, floats and jesters, sorted by whether you draw, paint on canvas, build from card and paper plates, or letter a poster.
Read the full guide
A Mardi Gras mask easy to draw from one shape
Start with a figure of eight on its side. Flatten the top, dip the bottom edge over the nose and add two almond eye holes. Most masks in the Easy masks to draw group grow from that shape: plumes at one corner, a stick, diamonds, a crown of points.
A mask on canvas wants a dark ground
Mardi Gras mask canvas painting ideas mostly come down to gold over something dark. Paint the canvas black or deep purple, let it dry, then lay the mask on top so it glows. The twelve in Masks to paint on canvas each name their colours.
Before the eye holes are cut, hold the mask to the face and pinch the card where each eye sits.
Keep to purple, green and gold, plus black or white. The three together are what say Mardi Gras.
Questions and answers
What are some Mardi Gras arts and crafts ideas for a class?
A paper plate half mask with a feather fan at one temple, a pasta bead necklace painted purple, green and gold, and a shoebox parade float. Those and nine more are in the group Masks and crafts to make.
What do the Mardi Gras colors mean?
Purple means justice, green faith and gold power. The three colours were first named ahead of a New Orleans parade in 1872.
When is Mardi Gras?
The day before Ash Wednesday, 47 days ahead of Easter Sunday, so it moves each year between 3 February and 9 March. The name is French for Fat Tuesday.
What is a king cake?
In Louisiana, a ring of twisted dough topped with icing or sugar in purple, green and gold. A small plastic baby is hidden in it, and whoever finds it buys the next cake or hosts the next party.