How to Make Paper-Mache Masks

How to Make Paper-Mache Masks

The fun and easy way to make paper-mache masks.

There are many different projects you can make with Paper-Mache, but one of the most popular projects is Paper-Mache Masks. Making paper-Mache masks can get messy, especially with younger kids. If you wish to by it, Michaels and wal-mart usually have it. It is around $10 per roll of Paper-Mache if you buy it, but I do think it works better when you buy it instead of making it yourself.

What You Will Need

  • Scissors
  • Vaseline
  • A bowl of water
  • A flat surface (table)
  • 1-2 rolls of paper-mache (newspaper if making by self)
  • a friend
  • paint
  • paintbrushes

Method

  1. Cover table with newspaper (especially if little kids doing the projects).
  2. It doesn’t matter if you make it or buy it, cut the paper-mache into strips
  3. Cover your face with the Vaseline. Make sure you cover everywhere, including your lips, chin, eyebrows, and ears to make sure the mask doesn’t hurt when you take it off.
  4. Once you start this step, try not to make the person who is getting paper-mache on there face talk or laugh. This will ruin the mask. Dip a strip of paper-mache into the bowl of water and put the strip on the person’s face. I usually start with the forehead and the nose bridge. Cover the entire face with paper-mache (except for the eyes and around the eyes. No need for paper-mache going in someone’s eyes!!!). When covering the lips, make sure you open your mouth a bit to give the mask’s lips shape. Make sure you get the piece of skin in between your nostrils!
  5. Repeat step 4 at least one or two more times. This helps to make the mask stronger and less likely to break.
  6. Don’t pull the mask off. If you do this, your mask will break or become misshaped. When it is dry, it starts to pull off by itself. When it is mostly dry and feels like it is about to fall off of your face, carefully take off the mask. CAREFULLY! . Then set it somewhere, like on a piece of newspaper to dry.
  7. Decorate to your liking.
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6 Comments

Karen N, posted this comment on Aug 26th, 2008

This could be a fun project for a rainy day.

Maik - Michael, posted this comment on Oct 18th, 2008

Hey… I just love it… I usually make it unfinished (w/o design)

clare, posted this comment on Apr 2nd, 2009

but doesnt paper mache take days to dry

Missy1549, posted this comment on Apr 29th, 2009

well, not usually. It depends on how big your project is and how long it takes to make it. Since a mask is pretty small and you are just adding layers, it is almost completly dry by the time you finish it! Then you just wait a bit longer, and it will start to come off by itself! XD

Addy posey, posted this comment on Aug 1st, 2009

how long does it take to dry usually??

tyler, posted this comment on Aug 17th, 2009

you can wear this mask right? and how longdoes it take for it to dry if your making it something like a jabbawockeez mask

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