DIY Masquerade Eye Masks

Masquerade masks can be elaborately decorated.

Masquerade masks are highly decorative and typically cover the top half of the face. Using plaster bandages purchased from a craft store, you can make a mask that custom fits the person you are making it for. Once the mask has been made, you can decorate the surface with raised textures, jewels, paint and feathers. Handmade masks are one of a kind -- each a unique work of art.

Things You'll Need

• Plaster bandages
• Petroleum jelly
• Warm water
• Bowl
• Scissors
• Nail
• Hot glue gun
• Paint
• Plastic jewels
• Feathers
• Black felt
• Elastic cord

Instructions

1. Tear a roll of plaster bandages into 4-inch strips. Tear some of these in half to give yourself more size options.

2. Apply a thin coat of petroleum jelly to a model's face. Work it especially well into the eyebrows to prevent the plaster bandages from getting stuck.

3. Dip the first bandage in a bowl of warm water, then squeegee off the excess between your fingers.

4. Smooth the bandage onto your friend's forehead.

5. Apply more bandages to your friend's face in the shape of the eye mask. Do not cover the eyes. Leave holes open so your friend can see.

6. Apply a second layer of plaster bandages to the mask, then let them dry.

7. Remove the mask from your friend's face and trim the edges with a pair of scissors as needed.

8. Punch a hole in either side of the mask with a nail. These holes will eventually hold the elastic band that holds the mask in place.

9. Create a decorative border around the front edge of the mask with hot glue, applying lines and dots. Allow the glue to dry, giving raised texture patterns to the mask. Add other patterns to the mask if desired.

10. Paint the mask as desired with acrylic paints. You can also decorate the raised areas with metallic markers or a different color of paint.

11. Hot glue jewels and other decorations to the front of the mask.

12. Hot glue feathers to the mask as desired. Attach the base of each feather to the back of the mask around the border.

13. Cut out a piece of black felt that fits onto the back of the mask. Hot glue the felt in place to make the mask more comfortable.

14. Tie a piece of elastic cord through the two punched holes so the mask will be snug when you wear it.

References

• Venetian Mask Society: How to Make a Mask
• Simply Masquerade: History -- Venetian Masquerade Mask Making
• Craft Jr.: Make Masquerade Masks