Whether for Mardi Gras, Halloween or a masquerade ball a fancy carnival mask is a fun accent to any costume. These masks can sell for hundreds of dollars, but you can make one of your own at a fraction of the cost with a little time and a few craft materials easily found at hobby, craft and art shops.
Instructions
Assembling Your Carnival Mask
1. Lay the dowel on a flat surface and measure 18" from one end and mark with a pencil. Using the garden clippers cut on the mark. Sand the raw end with sandpaper to smooth. Paint the dowel with black acrylic craft paint (or other color if you choose), and set aside to dry.
2. You can find black satin mast forms at a craft or hobby store, usually 2 to a package. The mask form is made of white plastic and the front side is covered with black satin. Remove the mask from the package and remove the elastic string from the back. Lay flat on your work surface. Trim the eye holes first. If the mask is for a woman, it is fun to trim the eye holes using false eyelashes. You can find many outrageous styles- even metallic ones. Using craft glue (not the glue found in the eyelash package), glue the lashes to the edges of the outside upper eye holes. Let dry. After drying, trimming the eyeholes further with rhinestones or sequins by gluing them on is a nice touch.
3. Next decorate the face portion of the mask. You can use a variety of means to do this: painting designs with fabric paint, embellishing with sequins and/or rhinestones, collage using Modge-Podge medium and paper, or adding layers of feathers. Be sure to let applications of paint or glued items to dry between applications to keep your work neat and clean.
4. The outer edge of your mask can be made as grand as you wish by applying layers of large craft feathers. You may apply them to the top half or the mast only, giving the appearance of a headdress, or apply all the way around the outside of the mask, which will hide the entire face when the mask is used. If you have purchased single-color feathers, a nice touch is to spray the feather tips lightly with a contrasting spray craft paint before applying. This is best accomplished outdoors to avoid overspray and paint fumes indoors. After applying the feathers to the mask edge, allow to dry overnight.
5. Attach the dowel to the edge of the mask using the Gorilla Glue, or a jewelry adhesive. Gorilla Glue works best and keeps the mask handle in place. It will withstand continued use and will support your mask no matter how heavy it is after decorating. Allow to dry thoroughly before using your mask. You may want to attach multi-colored ribbon to the handle close to the mask to complete the trimming fo your mask and create a festive finish.
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