What To Do With All Those Mardi Gras Beads
Mardi Gras is over, but the throws are everywhere. Zulu coconuts, King Arthur grails, and Muses shoes are scattered all over your house. Those beads that made you feel like God’s favorite child when they finally landed in your hands on St. Charles Avenue now just feel… like clutter. And yet, you don’t want them filling up a landfill.
Here’s how to put those beads to good use!
My Favorite Bead Craft: Mosaic Decor
One of my all-time favorite projects is turning Mardi Gras beads into beautiful home decor. My personal favorite is this tissue box cover I made, but you can also create picture frames or mirrors for a simpler craft.
What you need:
- Mardi Gras beads
- White tile grout
- Scissors
- A flat-edge tool (like a butter knife)
- A base piece (mirror frame, picture frame, wooden board, etc.)
- A protected work surface (trust me, grout dries fast)
How to do it:
- Pull out your glass or mirror from the frame first so you don’t get grout on it.
- Cut and lay out small bead strands on your piece to plan your design.
- Spread a ~½-inch layer of grout on a small section.
- Press beads into the wet grout in your pattern.
- Continue section by section until complete.
- Let it dry flat for at least 24 hours before touching or displaying.
- If you’re doing sides (like on a box), work one side at a time and let each cure fully.
This makes gorgeous, permanent statement pieces out of the beads you already have.
Other Fun Mardi Gras Bead Projects
Whether you want a big project or a quick DIY pick-me-up, beads are a goldmine for craft ideas:
- Bead fringe on clothes: Use hot glue to add dramatic trim to jackets, skirts, or even sneakers.
- Beaded canvas art: Glue beads to a canvas in patterns or shapes for wall art.
- Clear ornament fillers: Split the strands and fill clear ornaments for Mardi Gras Christmas trees.
- Use as paintbrushes: Dip beads into paint to create interesting textures.
Easy Decor Ideas (No Craft Skills Needed)
If you’re not feeling glued to glue guns, you can still make your beads useful and beautiful:
- Display Zulu coconuts or your favorite signature throws in a large glass cylinder.
- Drape strands on stair railings, porch railings, or mantle decor.
- Hang big beads on door hooks or knobs for year-round color.
Need more ideas? Check out Five Ways to Use All Those Mardi Gras Beads. And if none of these ideas are speaking to you, consider recycling beads, which keep plastic out of landfills and waterways, and in many cases support local nonprofits.
