Mardi Gras Handprint Masks!

1/30/2021

Regardless of the lack of parades, you can't stop carnival from coming! We love this craft from That's What Che Said. It's the perfect weekend project to bring a little Mardi Gras mambo to the season.

Here's what you'll need:

• Cardstock (glitter or solid)

• Pencil

• Scissors

• Paper Straws

• Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

• Feathers or other embellishments like craft jewels or glitter or washi tape

To begin, trace your little one's hand on the back of a piece of card stock. (Pro tip: After your first tracing, be sure to trace either the other hand or the reverse of the first so that you get hand prints facing opposite directions.) Next, you'll glue them together, slightly overlapping so that there is a little nook for the nose when worn. Then, carefully cut out the eyes. Che used a three-inch center-to-center spacing. Glue a paper straw on the back for a handle. (Bonus points for a straw in Mardi Gras colors!) Last, add feathers, jewels, sequins, and anything else to make the mask the most festive.

For a good story time about carnival, we love Dinosaur Mardi Gras by Diane de Las Casas and illustrated by Marita Gentry. From Good Reads: "Get ready to stomp and chomp to that mambo beat! When carnival time rolls into New Orleans, these hip dinosaurs want to boogie on down. Iguanodon wiggles to the music of a marching band, while Zigongosaurus dances zydeco and Pterodactyal swoops into the crowd. From singing tunes and tossing beads, these big beasts sure know how to party. Laissez les bon temps rugir!"

Child Development Program (CDP) is a preschool in uptown New Orleans providing a center-based and arts focused learning environment for children ages six weeks through pre-kindergarten. For information about admissions, go to cdpkid.net/admissions.