• Masks are a traditional component of any Mardi Gras celebration.masks image by Vaida from Fotolia.com
  
  Mardi Gras is a French expression which means "Fat Tuesday." While many people consider Mardi Gras a tradition exclusive to New Orleans, the French had been celebrating it since the Middle Ages. The French explorer Iberville introduced Mardi Gras to America in 1699. Masks are a time honored staple of any Mardi Gras party and there are many ways you can decorate with them.
  
  

Oversize Paper Mache Mask

• Create a focal decoration for your party by making an enormous Mardi Gras mask using basic paper mache techniques. Instead of using a balloon of ordinary size, blow up an over-sized balloon and cover it with a mixture of flour and water and strips of newspaper. Give it a full 24 hours to dry and then pop the balloon by stabbing the structure with a pair of scissors. Cut the structure evenly in half with an Exacto knife or comparable item. You now have two halves of mask to decorate that you can put at opposite ends of the room. Alternatively, hang one in the center of the room and the other on your front door as a bold decoration. Paint each half of a mask any color you like. You can make the mask face beautiful or grotesque: you have complete creative control. Add decorative flourishes to the mask like sequins or rhinestones.
  
  

Masquerade Masks

• Masquerade masks generally refer to masks which cover just the eyes and attach to a stick. Both the mask and the stick often have ornate patterns and embellishments. Purchase blank eye masks from a craft store or cut your own out of sturdy card stock. Cover the masks and sticks in bright, rich fabrics, hot gluing them to the surface. Add sequins, feathers, rhinestones and beads to the masks to create elaborate designs and vivid patterns. Display them at your party in vases in lieu of flowers or hang them from the walls.
  
  

Face Masks

• Full face masks are another traditional staple of Mardi Gras and easy to decorate to generate original adornments for your celebration. Purchase blank white ceramic or plastic masks at a craft store. If your masks are ceramic you can paint them immediately with acrylic paint, drawing patterns or faces on the mask in bold colors. If plastic, cut strips of newspaper and dip them in a mixture of flour and water and cover the map with them. Allow the strips to dry, and your mask is ready for painting. Add decorative items like silk flowers, bits of lace or velvet, sequins or rhinestones.