How to Design Black & Silver Mardi Gras Masks

Arrive at the next Mardi Gras celebration in flashy style.

Mardi Gras is an event full of flair and flamboyance, with costumes, parades, dancing and camaraderie. Show off your flashy side at the next Mardi Gras celebration by transforming a plain plastic mask into a beautiful Mardi Gras accessory. Make your mask sleek and modern, with a combination of sparkle and metallic sheen. Customize it with crafty odds and ends from around the home for an inexpensive accessory or create a keepsake mask with Swarovski crystal beads.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic mask
• Old newspaper
• Dull black spray paint
• 3 fine-tip paintbrushes
• Shiny black paint
• Decal stencils
• Medium-tip paintbrush
• Metallic silver paint
• Jewelry craft glue
• Crystal beads
• 9 small feathers (about 3 inches tall)
• Metallic silver spray paint

Instructions

1. Lay the plastic mask on old newspaper and spray the entire front of the mask with a dull black spray paint. Let the paint dry according to the paint manufacturer’s instructions.

2. Dip a fine-tip paintbrush in the shiny black paint. Tap the brush. Paint around the eye openings with the shiny paint. Make the line around the eyes about 1/4-inch wide. Let the paint dry.

3. Hold a decal stencil against the mask, just above the eye. Use a simple swirl stencil or a more intricate brocade stencil. Dip a medium-tip paintbrush in the metallic silver paint and paint within the stencil. Apply a thick coat of paint to make the decals stand out. Let the paint dry thoroughly.

4. Move the stencil over the other eye and repeat the above step. Add additional metallic decals around the outside of the eyes. Do not paint in between the eye openings.

5. Apply a drop of jewelry craft glue to a crystal bead and press it against the outer edge of the mask. Repeat all the way around the mask to make a decorative, sparkling trim. Let the glue dry.

6. Lay five of the feathers on old newspaper and spray lightly with metallic silver spray paint. Let the feathers dry, flip them over and spray the back with the paint as well. Let the paint dry.

7. Lay the remaining four feathers on old newspaper and spray these with the black spray paint. Let the feathers dry, flip them over and spray the back. Let the paint dry.

8. Dip a fine-tip paintbrush in shiny black paint and paint a strip down the center of each silver feather. Dip a fine-tip paintbrush in metallic silver paint and paint a stripe down the center of each black feather. Let the paint dry.

9. Spread some glue on the back of one silver feather and press it to the top edge of the mask, over the left eye. Spread glue on two black feathers and press one on either side of the silver feather with the tops angled outward slightly. Spread glue on two silver feathers and press these on either side of the black feathers with the tops angled outward.

10. Apply glue to the remaining feathers and place them in random order in front of the first layer of feathers. Arrange these feathers about 1/2-inch below the first layer to make all feathers visible.