So, today is Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday to give it it’s religious title. Pancake Day is also known as ‘Fat Tuesday’ to reflect the practice of clearing the cupboards of fats (making pancakes helps enormously!) in preparation for a period of fasting as a form of penance (Lent).

‘Fat Tuesday’ translates to Mardi Gras in French and that’s what I’d like to focus on in this blog … until I get home, that is, and indulge in a pancake or two with my favourite topping of Nutella, banana and strawberries!

Mardi Gras theme parties are increasingly popular for corporate events, Proms and private parties. So, since today is Mardi Gras Day, I thought I’d share a really simple balloon decoration I’ve been asked for several times over; The Mask.

You’ll probably notice that Mardi Gras balloon designs reflect the traditional colours set by Rex, the King of Carnival, who selected this scheme in 1892, declaring purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power. However, balloon decorations can be tailored to suit other colour schemes by adding carefully selected plain balloons.

For example, when asked for decorations for a Christmas ‘Masked Ball’ theme party with a black, gold and silver colour scheme, I began with a giant gold mask for the entrance:

Giant Mask

• 2 x Helium-filled 36” S Curve Supershape foil balloon
• 2 x Helium-filled 26” Crescent Supershape foil balloon
• Cable ties
• Balloon bond

– Inflate all the balloons with helium, gather them together by the necks and secure them with a cable tie.
– Place balloon bond on the tip of the crescent and join it to the S Curve.
– If it’s looking a little untidy, you can always hide the mechanics by attaching a small star foil to the centre of the mask with balloon bond.

EASY PEASY!

To carry the mask theme through to the table decorations, fancy dress masks with a black trim were added to gold and silver balloons.

On a different occasion, the brief was to create decorations for an ‘Oscars’ Awards Event with a Mardi Gras theme with a purple and gold colour scheme, the solution was to create giant gold masks once again and spiral columns in gold and purple topped with fabulous, holographic 34″ Mardi Gras Feather Mask foil balloons.

Elsewhere, bouquets of Mardi Gras themed foils such as the 18” Mardi Gras Holographic foil balloon and 20” gold star foil balloons were used to bring the theme together.  Gold foil stars were chosen not only as it formed part of the overall colour scheme but also to convey a subliminal message of the employees being ‘stars’ at the awards. Clever, eh?!

I hope this blog has given you a little inspiration should you be asked for ideas for a Mardi Gras or Masked Ball theme party and I hope you enjoy some pancakes tonight! What’s your favourite topping?

Rachel