How to: Paper Plate Snowman Mask

Craft sticks are a quick way to hold up your mask.

Homemade masks are a quick costume solution as well as a collaborative art project for you and your kids. This hands-on task allows children to express their creative side and sharpen their motor skills. For a winter-themed birthday party or snowy-day activity, put together a snowman mask using an everyday product that you’ll likely have on hand: a paper plate. Take advantage of this simple and inexpensive craft and help your kids construct their own paper plate snowman masks.

Things You'll Need

• Paper plate
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Orange and black construction paper
• Black or brown buttons (optional)
• Ruler
• Glue stick
• Large Popsicle stick, string or elastic
• Craft glue (optional)
• Hole punch (optional)
• Cotton balls (optional)

Instructions

Parts Preparation

1. Hold the plate up to your child's face and mark where her eyes are to determine the approximate placement for the eye holes of the mask. Draw the eye holes near the top of the paper plate but not on the grooved area.

2. Trace two circles with a pencil to outline the eye holes, using the end of the glue stick or another round object of about the same size as a guide. Trace the circles on the backside of the mask (the side of the plate you usually eat on) so that the pencil markings will not show on your mask.

3. Fold the plate slightly in the middle of each of the circles, without creasing the plate if possible. This will allow you to more easily cut out the circles by creating a surface for the scissors to grab onto. Cut the circles out and flatten the plate out again.

4. Draw a triangle on the orange construction paper. The triangle should have one short side, about 1 inch long, and two long sides, each about 4 or 5 inches long.

5. Cut out the triangle and turn the paper over so that the pencil markings do not show. Set this aside; it will be the snowman’s carrot nose.

6. Trace five circles on the black construction paper, using the end of the glue stick as a guide. These will be arranged in an arc to form the snowman’s smile. If you cannot see your pencil lines on the black paper, try using a white colored pencil. Cut out the five black circles. You can also use five or six brown or black buttons to make the smile.

7. Draw the shape of a top hat on the black construction paper, using the ruler to ensure straight lines. Draw a brim at the bottom that is wider than the top and slightly wider that the paper plate. Cut out the hat shape. Another easy way to make a hat shape is to cut out a square and a rectangle that is wider than the square, and then glue the rectangle along the bottom edge of the square.

Placement and Attachment

1. Place all of the parts of the snowman’s face on top of the plate in the appropriate places. Put the carrot nose with the flat side in the middle of the plate and the pointed side hanging off the edge of the plate. Arrange the five black circles or buttons in a curved line below the nose, and place the top hat above the eyes.

2. Put glue on the back of each part of the mask and press it onto the paper plate. Put glue only on the parts of the paper that will touch the plate. Wait about five minutes for the glue to dry.

3. 

   Craft sticks are a quick way to hold up your mask.

   Glue a large Popsicle or craft stick in its vertical position to the bottom of the mask using craft glue. Use the stick to hold up the mask. Another option that will leave your hands free is to punch one hole on each side of the mask and thread string or elastic through the holes, tying them to the plate so that the mask fits snugly on your head.

Tips & Warnings

• Use an all-white, non-waxed paper plate with grooves around the sides. This is usually the cheapest and best-looking option. For younger children with smaller heads, try using dessert- or cocktail-sized plates.

• If the top hat is too tall and flops over, glue a craft stick to the back to provide structure and support.

• For a 3-D nose, draw a triangle with a 2-inch short side and 5-inch long sides. Fold the triangle in half the long way and fold a ½ inch tab under on the flat end. Spread glue on the tab to attach it to the plate.

• To add a little flair to your snowman mask, glue cotton balls around the outside rim of the plate using craft glue.

• To avoid cut fingers, have an adult complete the tasks that require scissors.

References

• Craft Club: Snowman Mask

Resources

• "Little Hands Paper Plate Crafts: Creative Art Fun for 3 to 7 Year Olds"; Laura Check; 2000
• "Look What You Can Make With Paper Plates"; Margie Hayes Richmond; 1997