Tragedy and Comedy Mardi Gras Garland

Tragedy and Comedy Garland

Make this easy and decorative tragedy and comedy garland to hang in the classroom or for a Mardi Gras party!

What you’ll need:

• 1 sheet each of purple, yellow, and green construction paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Black marker
• 1 yard of green yarn
• 17 each purple, yellow, and green pony beads
• Glue stick

How to make it:

1. Fold each piece of construction paper in half lengthwise.
2. With the folded end up, use the pencil to sketch two masks (one comedy and one tragedy) on each piece of construction paper. The masks should extend all the way to the top. You should end up with six masks, one of each color for both kinds. Cut each mask out; make sure your folds remain intact.
3. Draw the facial features for each mask using the black marker.
4. Tape one end of the yarn to the table so that when you add the beads they won’t fall off the other end. Thread all of the beads onto the yarn, alternating colors as you go (yellow, purple, green, yellow, purple, green, etc).
5. Lay the beaded yarn down on the table in front of you and tape the other end to the table as well. Move the first three beads to the far left side of the yarn strand.
6. Alternate one mask and nine beads to create your garland. We suggest this order of masks, but you can choose whatever order you like: yellow tragic (sad), purple comedy (happy), green tragic, yellow comedy, purple tragic, green comedy.
7. Open the first mask and coat the inside with a glue stick. Refold the mask, gluing it together, trapping the yarn inside. Slide 9 beads up to the first mask, and then add the next mask after that (purple comedy). Continue this process until all masks are glued in place. You should end up with 3 beads to the left and right outside ends and 9 beads in between each mask.
8. Remove the tape and tie the ends of the yarn to secure the beads. Hang up the garland.

Notes:

• Mardi Gras colors are purple, yellow and green. You can alternate the order of the colors on this project to accommodate what you have on hand.
• Pony beads are available in small packages and large variety packs from your local discount department store and craft supply stores.
• For a bigger challenge, have children cut the facial features from black paper instead of using a marker to add them.