All you need for this fun Halloween craft is a little imagination, and
enough patience and time to let the wallpaper glue dry!
by Susanne Myers
You'll need just a few things to make just about any mask you can imagine. Those
items include balloons, newspaper, wallpaper glue and some acrylic paint. A pair
of sharp scissors comes in handy to cut out eyes and mouth. Wear old clothing,
or put an apron on both you and your child. Making the mask can get a bit messy.
Cover your work area in plenty of newspaper to protect it from glue and paint.
Next, cut several newspapers into strips. Blow up a balloon so it is slightly
larger than your child's head. Now dip a newspaper strip completely in the glue
and stick it on the balloon. Continue doing this back and forth until you have
the entire balloon covered in several layers of newspaper. Work out any wrinkles
as you go along. The more layers of newspaper you have, the sturdier the mask
will be.
Finally add any features specific to the mask you are making. For example, if
you are making a frog mask, sculpt two ball shapes at the top of the mask that
you can later paint as eyes. If you are making a cat, dog, or monkey mask, form
the snout and of course don't forget about ears. The only limit is your
imagination.
Allow the mask to dry completely, preferably over night. Once it is completely
hardened, start cutting into the mask to pop the balloon. Cut a large enough
opening so your child can get his or her head inside the mask, then cut eye and
mouth openings. For younger children, you may prefer to cut the back of the mask
out completely, and, instead, wrap a piece of ribbon or yarn around the back of
the head to secure the mask to allow better air-passage.
Paint the mask in a solid color and allow it to dry completely. Then add details
like eyes, nose and lips in different colors. Once that coat of paint is
completely dry, it is ready to wear. For a longer lasting and shiny mask, cover
the mask in several layers of hodge podge before using it.
Would you like to quickly make creative Halloween costumes that you
and your children will be proud of -- for a fraction of the price of
store-bought? Susanne Myers has co-authored a book to show you how -- no sewing
involved. Visit
http://www.ILoveHalloweenCostumes.com to learn more.
