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Last Minute Halloween Mask Ideas

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These last minute Halloween Mask ideas take very little time to put together,  but the creativity of making one definitely adds to the fun of Halloween!

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This idea came to me yesterday out of the blue while racking my brain on how to best create a Jason costume for my 10-year-old son. This easy last minute idea could be used for numerous designs including:

  • Mummies
  • Witches
  • Devils -(just create foil horns!)
  • Frankenstein
  • Ghouls, Zombies and more

What you Need:

  • Flour
  • Water
  • Newspaper, torn into even strips
  • Tin Foil
  • Semi-Patient Child
  • Paints- depending on what kind of mask you’re making
  • Nail

The Jason mask takes about an hour of time to create.

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How to Make a Paper Mache Halloween Mask

This paper mache Halloween mask is really simple. Have your model sit in a chair, as you’ll be molding his or her face first to ensure that mask fits them perfectly.

Tear Off a Sheet of tinfoil and fold it in half to make it thick and sturdy. Place the tinfoil over the face of the person you are making the mask for. (Do this rather quickly so they don’t suffocate!!)

Carefully Form the tinfoil over ALL of the features, paying close attention to the nose and eyes and ears (if desired). Gently Remove from Face.

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Preheat the oven to 200 F

In a small bowl mix 1/2 c. flour & 1/2 c. warm water, stir until smooth.

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Dip the strips of newspaper into the paste and remove excess paste from the strip by running it between your fingers. Apply the strip to the tinfoil horizontally. Be sure to smooth out any wrinkles in each strip before continuing.
Continue applying until the form has 2-4 complete layers.

Bake at 200F for 15-25 minutes, checking periodically for dryness. The more layers, the longer it will take to dry properly.

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Remove mask from oven, let cool 5 minutes.

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In the mouth area, regardless of what type of creature you are creating, you need to poke several holes for breathing. I’ve found that a nail works Quite well for this. Poke out holes in the nostrils as well.

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Depending on what kind of creature you want to be, choose a base coat color of spraypaint. In this particular case, my son wants to be JASON from the Friday the 13th Movies. As you can see, I’ve sprayed his mask White.

Let Dry. (I’m using cheap Walmart paint that is .94 a can, it took 4 minutes to completely dry.

Carefully cut out the eye holes, be sure that they are large enough that the child can see out the corners of their eyes, for safety reasons Apply additional colors as needed to make your mask look like the desired character. Acrylic Craft paints dry very quickly!

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Once dry, apply a coat of decoupage glue to the inside, or spray with clear acrylic spray. Keep in mind, if you are spraying the acrylic spray inside the mask to seal it, you will need to allow time for it to air out (minimum of 24 hours!), otherwise, your child will be breathing in Fumes!!!

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Attach a strap to hold the mask on. In this case, I am using a piece of black braided elastic. Measure your child’s head for the correct size, keep in mind the elastic band has some give.

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The elastic can be attached by making holes with a paper punch or nail and tying a knot. In this case, because Jason Mask was a Hockey mask and had metal buttons on it, I am using easy fasten replacement buttons that I had lying around in a sewing drawer.

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Apply a clear coat of Fast Drying Acrylic Finish Spray or decoupage glue, allow to dry 15 minutes.

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In the meantime, go through mom & dad’s closet and take clothes they should have donated years ago, Parents’ clothes make GREAT Halloween costumes! Just ask my kids!

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More Helpful Tips and Ideas

To make a witch, create a tin foil form of a crooked chin and long nose and apply to face before making tin foil form.

If you are creating a Jason mask and do not have additional paint colors, you can apply grease around the eyeholes and simply toss dirt on the mask, (shake well before wearing) to apply a “dirty coating”. Lipstick works well in a pinch for adding a red streak across the forehead and below the eyes.

Do not skip the step of sealing the inside of the mask. The reason for this process is because your child will sweat and also create moisture from breathing while wearing the mask and the sealer stabilizes it. Otherwise, it will not last throughout the events.

If you plan on keeping your mask long term I recommend adding 1 T. of salt to your flour/water paste. This will help prevent MOLD from growing on your mask.

We created this project over a decade ago and we still have the Jason Mask in our Halloween decorations, it’s held up beautifully and been used many times.

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