If you can’t be in New Orleans to catch or throw beads in a Mardi Gras parade, try the next best thing: a Mardi Gras Bead Toss. It’s fun the whole family and you don’t have to do anything too risque to get your own set of beads.

To make your own beaded necklaces, dye some pasta green and some purple. Put the pasta in a plastic bag with a tablespoon of rubbing alcohol and a few drops of food coloring. Shake the bag until all the pasta is covered. Since Mardi Gras colors are green, purple and gold the natural color of the pasta works for gold.

Let the pasta dry completely on a piece of parchment, wax paper or paper towels.

While the pasta is drying make the posts for the bead toss with a 6″ x 6″ foam core square and a dowel or twig about a foot long. Find the center of the foam core and roughly measure the width of the twig.

With a utility knife, make an X in the center of the back of the foam core about the twig width.

Make sure the X cut comes all the way through to the front.

Jam the end of the twig into the X on the front of the foam core so it makes a hole almost all the way through.

Remove the twig. If the twig breaks through the bottom layer of the foam core, use a small piece of paper to protect the surface from glue.

Fill the hole with glue using a hot glue gun.

Insert twig and let the glue dry for a minute or two.

Decorate the posts using paint and glitter.

When the pasta is dry, make the beaded necklaces. It helps to organize the pasta in cups or small bowls.

String the pasta on cotton twine or yarn. Tape the end of the string so it doesn’t unravel while beading.

Make a whole bunch, or have your guests make them at your Mardi Gras party.

Play a bead toss game like horseshoes or make up your own rules.