How To Recycle Mardi Gras Beads

A Long List Of Ways To Celebrate With Mardi Gras Beads All Year Long

Recently, while in Tampa,  I went to Gasparilla.  Gasparilla celebrates the arrival of the pirates to Tampa Bay.  Like Mardi Gras it's a big celebration that includes parades, floats and beads.

As I looked around and saw people covered in beads, I could not help but wonder what was going to happen to them once everyone got home!

So, here is my list of ideas to utilize Mardi Gras Beads, as well as, some pretty creative Mardi Gras bead recycle and upcycle ideas:

• Use beads to make costumes 
• Give beads to the kids to play dress up 
• Have a pirate party and decorate with beads
• Use beads for Holiday decorating (A bowl of festive colored beads for New Year, Hanukah, Christmas or use beads to trim your tree and other decorations)
• Use beads in crafts (see some ideas below)
• Donate them to a teacher for classroom crafts
• Donate them to a senior center for crafts
• Make crafts with the kids
• Use them to adorn gifts instead of ribbon
• For more recycle ideas and upcycle crafts check out planetpals.com. 

So, next time you go to a Mardi Gras Parade or Gasparilla event, and go home covered with beads, think about recycling them.  Remember, if you can't use them, someone can! 

But whatever you do--don't just trash them.  Remember-thrift stores are glad to take them, too. Also, don't forget free cycle.

If you live in New Orleans you can recycle your beads at the following locations:

• 925 S. Labarre Rd., Metairie
• 5700 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans
• 333 Sala Avenue, Westwego
• 3406 Hessmer Avenue, Metairie

Here are some of our favorite Mardi Gras bead Craft Ideas:

From Blue Green Arts on blogspot - Mardi Gras Beads Crafts

From Rubypr.com A Mardi Gras chandelier ...all you need is imagination.  Embellish and existing one--or make a new one! 

From Embelishedbyyou A Mardi Gras table decor or hostess gift.  You could also do this during the holidays or any other time of year: 

Also from Embelishedbyyou a Mardi Gra Bead covered Candlestick. 

From Artist Mark Kirk this exquisite Mardi Gras bead lamp:

This Mardi Gras Bead tree is way cool--why not cover a box or plant pot! 

 

Mardi Gras Bead Lamps 

 

This work of art Mardi Gras Bead covered Piano called TEMPTATI Is from New Orleans Artist John Lawson:

From Artist Emen Levy Mardi Gras Bead art. Try this yourself or with kids!

 

 From Etsy Mardi Gras Bead Jewelry:

Make costumes parts such as glasses with beads: 

  

Lot's more recycle crafts for your beads

© jag planetpals.com all rights reverved.  

Just Bead It - Mardi Gras Beads Crafts

Getting the loot is a hoot but now what?

Events like Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Gasparilla in Tampa are a lot of fun.  But it adds up to tons of waste. Much of that is plastic beads that end up in a landfill.

Oh, but it was so much fun!

Yes, you went to a celebration and you got a neckful of the dangles.  Now what do you do when you get home?  This article has some information where you can send or bring your beads.  But, perhaps you would like a momento of that fun day. What can you do with those beads so you can keep the memory around a long time?

Here are a plentitude of fun craft ideas, even you can do, with just a glue gun and your bead collection.

 

Cover a plant pot or any other container. Use Christmas Colors for Christmas, Hanukah colors for Hanukah, Orange and black for Halloween. Red and pinks for Valentine's, and so on.  Make everyday pots for all your plants.

Add a little sparkle to your front door or dorm room with your initials. Make a plaque.

A holiday themed mosaic.  This one is mardi gras...why not a pirate for Gasparilla, or a santa or Christmas. 

This is one of my favorites.  Simple and elegant, bead coasters. Certainly a the conversation piece for your next party.

A bead wreath. Too simple.  Just wrap a wrath from the craft store.  Leave it plain...add a bow..add other baubles. Any holiday will do!

No brainer.  Dress up any clear glass vase or jar with beads.  Match a room, or a holiday. 

Wrap a wine bottle.  Turn it into a vase.

This is a rather elaborate skull.  A sculpture of any kind! 

Lastly, wrap an old lamp or vase to recycle and upcycle.

What else can you do with beads? 

• Make a bead curtain
• Line plant pots for drainage
• Bead your Christmas Tree
• Adorn wrapped gifts
• Make Jewelry 
• Dress a holiday table
• Make place cards
• Cover a frame
• Make a costume
• Make a work of art

Remember, Waste Not 

Plastic does not biodegrade in the landfill for hundreds of years! Please discard beads responsibly.  Find a grade school,artists resource center or senior center that might want to make crafts out of your extra beads.  There are reclamation centers. List them on freecycle or craigslist. Someone will be grateful to have them for their art!

For more Bead ideas go here

To learn more about recycling go here 

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Be Crafty for Earth - Earthday Craft Contest 2015

Planetpals is helping you get crafty with an Earthday Craft Contest.  Lot's of prizes!

Planetpals Be Crafty for Earth - Earthday Craft Contest.

Contest open to all.

Planetpals has a fun Earthday contest for schools, groups, individuals and kids. Wether you are a classroom, a girls scout troop, a family or individual kid...send us a video of yourself or you and your PALS! 

Show us how you are a PLANETPAL with your craft! Show us how you recycle! 

Think up an Earthday Crafts that includes the use recycle materials and/or natural materials. One that symbolizes nature, recycling, sustainability, eco friendliness or Earth.

Complete details here….Learn More

CHECK OUT OUR COLLECTION OF GREAT RECYCLE CRAFTS HERE….get some ideas!

Happy February Full Moon

Happy Full Moon Pals!

February full moon names are: Trappers Moon, Budding Moon, Bony Moon, Little Famine Moon, Storm Moon, Snow Moon, Ice Moon, Raccoon Moon and the Moon When Trees Pop. Go here for a complete list of full moon names.

This Month's Full Moon is February 3 11.09pm UT ~ 14º 47’ Leo  

Feb 2015 Moon Phase Dates

All dates and times are ET. 

	Full Moon: February 3, 6:09 P.M.
	Last Quarter: February 11, 10:50 P.M.
	New Moon: February 18, 6:47 P.M.
	First Quarter: January 25, 12:14 P.M.	©Farmers almanac

Go here for a complete list of Moon Phases

Is It A Super Moon?
No, but February's new moon is!  

According to Earthsky.org y that definition, the year 2015 has a total of six supermoons. The first supermoon, for 2015, will come with the January 20 new moon. The new moons on February 18 and March 20 will also be supermoons. The full moons of August, September and October will be supermoons, too, by Nolle’s definition. Thus, the full moon supermoons – aka near-perigee full moons – in 2015:

Full moon of August 29 at 18:35 UTC

Full moon of September 28 at 2:50 UTC

Full moon of October 27 at 12:05 UTC 

The full moon on September 28, 2015, will present the closest supermoon of the year (356,896 kilometers or 221,754 miles). What’s more, this September 28, 2015 full moon will stage a total lunar eclipse, concluding a series of Blood Moon eclipses that started with the total lunar eclipse of April 15, 2014.

Super Recycle Crafts For A Super Bowl Party

Score Big And Get Big Cheers For Your Football Bash!

Whether you are celebrating Super Bowl with a big group of friends or not, make it festive with some of these super recycle crafts and fun foods.  It's Planetpals best collection of recycle crafts and ideas for Superbowl and Football ever!

A Football field full of RaRaRa-Recycle ideas from Planetpals on Pinterest:

Score Big With These Super Bowl Ideas