Building The Mask Foundation

• 1). Cut a strip of cardboard 1 to 2 feet long and 2 to 3 inches wide.
  
  
• 2). Form the strip of cardboard into the shape of the outline of the mask so that the width of the strip is vertical and the length of the strip is horizontal. Masks can be circular, rectangular, square, oval or any other geometric shape. Tape the ends of the cardboard strips together to hold the shape.
  
  
• 3). Place the outline of the mask on a piece of newspaper.
  
  
• 4). Form pieces of newspaper into tight balls and fill the outline of the mask with the balls until the top of the balls is just slightly higher than the top of the mask outline. Cover the outline, and the newspaper balls, with a layer of plastic wrap.
  
  
• 5). Cut strips of newspaper about 1 inch wide. The length does not matter.
  
  
• 6). Mix 1 cup of flour with 1 cup of glue until the mixture forms a smooth paste without any lumps. If the paste is too thick, add a little extra water.
  
  
• 7). Dip the drips of newspaper in the flour paste. Use your fingers to remove excess paste, and lay the soaked strips across the mask foundation. Apply two or three layers of newspaper strips, allowing each layer to dry thoroughly before applying the next.
  
  
• 8). Mix 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup water and 1/4 cup carpenter's glue together. Use an old paintbrush to coat your mask foundation with the mixture. Allow the mask foundation to dry completely.
  
  
• 9). Lift the mask foundation and remove the cardboard, balls of newspaper and the plastic wrap, leaving only the hardened paper mache structure.
  
  

Customizing The Mask

• 1). Sketch the design of the mask on the paper mache structure with a pencil.
  
  
• 2). Use a craft knife to cut out the eyes and mouth of the mask. Adults should perform any cutting.
  
  
• 3). Use craft clay to create any three-dimensional effects, such as a nose, eyebrow ridges or other desired additions. If you add three-dimensional effects, coat them with an additional layer of the glue mixture used in Step 8 of "Building The Foundation." Allow the additions to dry completely.
  
  
• 4). Paint the mask as desired using acrylic craft paint. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly.
  
  
• 5). Coat the painted mask with a clear sealant and allow the sealant to dry.
  
  
• 6). Add dried leaves, twigs, straw or other adornments to the edge of the mask to represent hair.
  
  
• 7). Use a sharp pencil or craft knife to poke a hole in either side of the mask edge. Tie one end of a piece of elastic to one of the holes and the opposite end of the elastic to the opposite hole.
  
  
• 8). Hang your mask for all to see.