In this article you will learn to make Tiki Masks, an Island Photo Op, and the all important Tiki Bar, no luau is complete without a Tiki Bar!
Luau parties are extremely popular, but they also can be extremely expensive. Try these money saving decorating tips, so that your party can be fashionable and affordable.
Tiki Bar
Luau Bar Supplies
In order to make the Luau Tiki bar you will need some bamboo table runners, wide ones if you can find them, grass table skirting, a table, and if you are outside it helps to be under a Pop-up tent. Don’t forget the beverages! Mai Tai’s anyone?
Putting Together your Luau Tiki Bar
On the table arrange the mats or table runners so that they drape over the front of the table to the floor. Panel the entire front of the Tiki bar and tape the mats to the underside of the bar, or use Velcro tape. Dark brown construction paper, or paper bags can be used to cut out the letters to spell Tiki Bar. Then tape these letters to the front. If you are inside thumb tack or tape the grass table skirts to the ceiling to mark off the perimiter of the Tiki Bar. If outside safety pin the skirt to the canopy.
Tiki Masks
When I threw a Luau with my class we had trouble finding affordable Tiki Masks. So I volunteered to make some.
Tiki Mask Supplies
With some large free cardboard boxes I acquired from local businesses, a utility knife, two cans of spray paint (one light brown, one dark), a hot glue gun, and some twine I was able to accomplish some very believable Tiki Masks. Also, with the same materials I managed to escape captivity, and disarm a bomb MacGyver style, but I will save that for another article.
Tiki Mask Designs and Cutting
First design what you would like your Tiki Mask to look like. It needs to be a simple pattern. Check out my design slides for ideas if you need inspiration. Cut out the shape of the mask, and then cut out facial features to lie on top. Cut all of the pieces in half so that there are two equal vertical sides. Like two sides of a face. Also cut some triangles that are around 150-175 degrees. After you decide the angle of the first one use the first one as a template to cut the others. These will be used to decide the angle of the Tiki masks. The angle helps the mask appear real.
Painting and Gluing your Tiki Masks
Spray paint the features light brown and the base dark brown. Now glue the features to the base of the mask. Then you should have two equal parts, glue the support triangles to one side of the mask. If your mask is large use three triangles one at the top, middle and bottom. If it is small only use two at the top and bottom. Punch two holes in the top support and tie a twine loop so that you can hang your mask from it.
Tiki Mask Options
At this point if you would like a more finished look, spray paint the inside of the mask, either dark brown or black. The mask featured in this article has three layers of cardboard. The concept is the same as the others only you add additional layers. The mouth and eyes with the fire was achieved by cutting through the base layer. Then I added clear plastic left over from large clamshell deli containers, if your grocery store is nice you can score some of these. I attached tissue paper to the underside of the container pieces using white glue diluted with a little water, to make it easy to brush on. I attached these to the underside of the mask. At the party I put small lights behind them, like the kind that go in small ceramic houses or plastic toy soldiers. They were Tiki Mask lights!!
Luau Photo Op!
Opportunities to take a picture of you and your friends looking like parrots cannot be passed up! Some artistic ability is required for this project.
Luau Photo Op Supplies
For this project you will need two large three panel display boards, like the ones you used in school when you gave a presentation on volcanoes. You will also need a variety of paints, spray for the background and acrylic for the foreground. If you are doing birds colored copy paper is a nice addition but not necessary. A few pieces of scrap cardboard or foam board, some duct tape will also be necessary.
Background-
Lay the two display boards so that one is on top of the other. Spray paint a tropical background. The two that work best are a sunset, just lay down yellow into red or pink, then light blue then dark. Let the colors blend. If you want a more day time Luau background paint aqua up about half way then dark blue. Below the aqua put a line of sand color.
Luau Designs-
This is where the artistic end comes in. You can attach them now or later, but I found it easier to work with them detached. The idea is two have a hole for someone to put their head through that will really be the head of an animal or another funny character.
Possible Luau Photo Op Ideas-
When I did this project it was for my Aunts Birthday party another Luau I made a photo op flamingo. For people who aren’t good at drawing faces that is the easiest part of the project. Draw a circle about the size of a face. Then draw the body of a flamingo coming off of it. Some things to keep in mind are the height of most of the people attending the Luau. If most of your guests are kids make the holes lower. If they are mostly adults then about in the middle, and if it is for the basketball team I suppose you could put the holes at the top.
Other than the flamingo, try a Hula Dancer body, a surfer, or parrots. Paint the body with acrylic paints. If you choose a bird a fun thing to do is to glue or staple paper feathers to the bird.
Stand Up and Shoot!
Lay out the dried design face down on a large flat surface. Make sure the display boards are flush against one another. Then use the duct tape to secure them together. Take pieces of card board and lay them vertically across the seam and tape them tightly to the board. Do not cover the vertical creases. At the party stand the cut out up, and allow guests to take their pictures!
Hope your Luau is Great!
Even one of these Luau ideas will add some festive fun to your party!
