It's Mardi Gras Blog Hop

Welcome to our Mardi Gras parade. I must warn you though while you may enjoy jumping up to catch beads, doubloons, cups, stuffed animals--whatever! Please yell at the float riders "Throw me something, Mister!" Bring a large, sturdy plastic or cloth bag to hold all the treasure you'll be catching - if you try to put all of your beads around your neck, you'll have a hard time standing up straight! Be prepared: some people get so overcome with excitement they will occasionally jump in front of you to grab what a rider has thrown to you. Don't get into a tug-o-war....there are many more floats on the way! If you're from far away, some visitors hold up a sign saying where they are from.. our local riders love to see people from far away have a good time and will throw to them to make sure they do!

The colors of Mardi Gras are: Purple which reprsents justice; Green which represents faith; and Gold which represents power. Mardi Gras is always held the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is music, parades, picnics, floats, excitement ... and one big holiday in New Orleans! Everyone is wearing purple, green, and gold; and adorned with long beads caught from the beautiful floats. They sit on the ground throwing balls, playing music, having a picnic, and watching the crowds walk by between parades.

Instead of beads, coconuts (which apparently is the most prized throw from floats) and other baubles, we have a great sponsor: 

$15 Gift Card for Treasure Box Designs (http://www.treasureboxdesigns.com/). They are asking you to stop by their blog and checking out their Guest Designer projects and leaving a comment at http://treasureboxdesigns.blogspot.com/. They are a part of the parade route!

$50 Gift card from Anita Meadows Cannon 

Sew, sit back with your beverage of choice, just keep in mind the police will be in full force watching for drunken lewdness as this is a family event! Feel free to watch in costume, as this is a festive hop!! If you have arrived from Theresa's blog on the parade route, then you are sitting at the best seat in the house! If you have just happened to be visiting me today, don't get me wrong as I always love visitors, I would love for you to start at the beginning of our parade route at Lynne, your hostess along with Kimberly, at http://slasewcraftiness.blogspot.com/.

The mask was cut from the Designer Calendar's cartridge on black cardstock. I embossed the handle with Stampin' Up's Melon Mambo. If you have been a follower for awhile, you know I despise glitter. Well, for Miss Lynne I sucked it up used purple glitter on my mask.I added Stampin' Up adhesive pearls to embellish it. I had no feathers so I had to improvise. I used mulberry paper and liquid glue for decoupage and outlined in glitter glue. I added ribbon from my stash and wrapped it around. How fun is this!

Hope enjoyed my float in the parade. To continue on the parade route, Your next stop is Laura's blog. I would love for you to throw me your comments as to my tribute to Mardi Gras! Until next time....