How to Make Vejigante Masks
In Puerto Rican culture, the Ponce Carnival is enlivened with vejigantes, which are people dressed up as brightly colored monsters. It is all a part of the fun and tradition of the carnival. Vejigantes wear a suit, cape and a mask. Vejigante masks cover the entire face and often have horns. The color scheme is completely up to you, making vejigante masks customizable. After using them in celebration, they are colorful and vibrant enough to use as a decoration on a wall or shelf, as well.
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Things You'll Need
- 9-inch balloon
- Newspaper strips
- Glue
- Bowl
- Spoon
- Razor blade
- Small scissors
- Tape
- 8-1/2-by-11-inch sheets of paper
- Single-hole punch
- Ribbon
- Paint
- Paint sealer
Instructions
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1
Inflate 9-inch balloon fully and tie it off.
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2
Stir together a mixture of one part glue and one part water with a spoon in a bowl. Dip the strips of newspaper entirely into the mixture, and generously apply the dipped strips onto the balloon until it is fully covered. Cover completely with a second layer of strips, and let dry completely.
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3
Cut the covered balloon in half. One half will be used for the mask. The other half can be discarded or used for another mask.
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4
Hold the mask up to the face of the person who will be wearing it. Mark where their eyes fall on the mask, then use the razor blade and scissors to cut out eye holes. Hole it up to the face once again to ensure you can see through it, and adjust if necessary.
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5
Fold a sheet of 8-1/2-by-11-inch paper in half to make a 8-1/2-by-5-1/2-inch rectangle with one of the long edges facing you. Then fold both top corners down to the centerline of the paper, and shape the paper into a big nose. Tape it together with masking tape; then tape the paper to the mask. Trim if necessary. Don't worry about the masking tape showing, as it will all be covered later.
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6
Fold four pieces of paper into four cones, taping each together with masking tape. Tape three of them on the forehead and one on the chin. Trim the one for the chin, as it should be shorter.
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7
Cover the horns with newspaper strips dipped in the glue mixture. This will make the horns pliable, so take advantage and make them curved to give them a scarier look.
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8
Punch holes in the side of the mask at the same level of the eyes. String a piece of ribbon through each one. This will secure the mask to your face, so make sure there is enough ribbon to tie the mask.
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9
Remove the ribbons, and cover the entire mask in more newspaper strips. Be sure not to cover the eyes or the holes where the ribbons go. Allow to dry.
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10
Paint the mask in whatever bright colors you want. Pay special attention to the mouth area, as you should draw a mouth, preferably with sharp fangs to make it look scary. Lay down where it won't get disturbed so it can dry thoroughly.
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11
Spray the entire mask with a sealant and allow it to dry. Reattach the ribbons, and your mask is ready to be worn.
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Tips & Warnings
If the 1/2 glue 1/2 water mixture begins to get too sticky or thick to work with, add a little more water and stir.
Always spray paint in a well-ventilated area because the fumes can be harmful. You may also want to wear protective face mask and eye gear.
Make sure all paint and sealant is completely dry before wearing the mask, or else it will still have a smell that can be nauseating. If you can, make the mask three days or more in advance to prevent this from happening.
References
- Photo Credit DC Productions/Photodisc/Getty Images
