Halloween Masks

Halloween is just days away meaning it is the perfect to make some spooky crafts! In my art class last weekend the kids made masks. Masks can be expensive and may seem like a lot of work, but when you pull a few tricks and add some treats, it is a great activity that allows kids to express there inner Halloween spirit.

When I was looking for ideas for making masks, I was surprised by how complicated most of the tutorials I found were. Many craft books will say that you need thick cardboard, foam, plastic mask bases, elastic, paint, and a whole bunch of other materials to make a mask. Well, I say all you need is a paper plate, construction paper, some sequins, a popsicle stick, and of course creativity! It's really that simple! And the best part is that once the paper plate is prepared, all ages can do the craft!

Halloween Masks!

Materials:

• large sturdy paper plates (1 per mask)
•  popsicle sticks (1 per mask)
• construction paper
• crayons/markers
• scissors
• glue sticks/glue bottles
• yarn, sequins, pipe cleaners, etc.
• tape

Directions:

1. Before letting the kids make their masks, cut out two holes for the eyes in the paper plate. Draw the eye shape with a pencil on the plate and then carefully cut it out- you can either mark where your child's eyes are exactly or estimate. I used a template I found online and then printed. Note: The front of the mask is the raised side of the paper plate (the bottom).
2. Now let the kids make any kind of mask they want! They can use the construction paper to make ears or hats, use the markers and crayons to color in the face, and use the yarn and sequins to embellish. (The yarn is best taped onto the mask; the construction paper is best glued using a glue stick; the sequins are best glued using a glue bottle.)
3. Once they are done decorating, tape a popsicle stick to the back of the paper plate.

Mask Ideas:

• Witch mask: Make the hat out of construction paper; tape yarn to the plate for the hair (the girl who made the one pictured above braided pieces of yarn together); add sequins around the eyes or on the hat; color the face green.
• Cat mask: Make ears from the construction paper; use sequins around the eyes or as whiskers.
• Pumpkin mask: Color the mask orange; draw black lines to represent a pumpkin's ridges or color around the eyes and draw a mouth for a jack-o-lantern; cut out a stem from construction paper.

The kids in my art class loved this activity! Since it was all girls this time, most of them made witch or cat masks, but they were all so different and creative. They especially loved adding the sequins and yarn to the mask. :)