Celebrate Mardi Gras with your own shoe box floats! Since it's been rainy and cool outside, the kids and I decided to make our own Mardi Gras shoe box floats. These were so fun and we used materials that we had already at home. This activity is great for all ages.
Supplies:
Shoe box with an unattached lid
Wrapping Paper, Tissue paper or any other craft paper
Tape, Hot Glue, Staples
Scissors
Doubloons
Beaded Necklaces, Mardi Gras garland
Decorative toys, masks, dolls, cars, buttons, candy
Markers, crayons, feathers, paint, flags, pipe cleaners, glitter
Optional: Small axles, wheels and string
Supplies:
Shoe box with an unattached lid
Wrapping Paper, Tissue paper or any other craft paper
Tape, Hot Glue, Staples
Scissors
Doubloons
Beaded Necklaces, Mardi Gras garland
Decorative toys, masks, dolls, cars, buttons, candy
Markers, crayons, feathers, paint, flags, pipe cleaners, glitter
Optional: Small axles, wheels and string
Steps:
1. Pick a shoe box, one with an unattached lid works best.
2. Think of a theme for your float. "A Pirate's Life" "Under the Sea" "Amazing Superheroes" are some examples. We found cake decor amidst their toys and followed a pirate theme.
3. Cover the outside of box and all sides of lid with paper or paint. Turn the shoe box upside down to form the base.
4. Choose to attach lid to the side of box to form a backdrop or support above base.
- Attach lid to the short-side of box by standing it up straight to create a high back for the float : use a stapler or hot glue gun (with parental guidance).
- Suspend the box lid above the base by attaching straws, dowels or other long, thin material (we found bamboo skewers) to the box along the sides. Hot Glue or Tacky Glue may be needed. If you choose this option, decorate the lid first!
6. Optional - attach a string and wheels so you can have your own parade! You may even find a toy car that the shoebox can fit over.
Remember our awesome Macaroni Kid Pipe Cleaner Person? They make great float riders on your shoebox floats!
Laissez les bons temps rouler!
