How to Make a Beautiful Masquerade Mask

Do you want to look mysterious and alluring while attending that special masquerade party? You’re going to need to dress in something as unique and individual as you are, and the best finishing touch is to make your own beautiful mask! Using materials found in every crafts store, you can put together an exotic mask that Greta Garbo, Cher or Madonna would have loved to have worn just once.

Things You'll Need

• Undecorated domino mask from the crafts store (covers just your eyes and has an elastic band that goes around your head to hold it on) in a color matching your costume
• Feather boa which matches the mask
• Long piece of yarn or string
• Small package of bugle beads in a contrasting color
• Sequins or glitter
• Craft glue
• Needle and thread which matches the mask
• Sewing scissors
• Additional feathers, sewing material, old necklace, depending on how elaborate a mask you wish to create

Instructions

1. For a cute mask, take the domino mask and the piece of string, and lay the string all the way around the outside edge of the mask. Allow an inch for overlap, and cut the string at that point. Use the string to measure the length of the feather boa you must cut to fit the mask. Now glue the feather boa around the outside edge of the domino mask. Add bugle beads around the eyeholes, and fill in the rest of the mask area with sequins or glitter. Let the glue dry overnight, and you'll have people wondering who that person is behind the mask when you make your appearance at the masquerade party.

2. For something with more pizazz, get these items too while you're at the crafts store: two long, pretty feathers and a spool of thread that matches the mask. Stop before you glue on that feather boa! Glue on the long feathers, one at each upper outside corner of the domino, so they sweep back over your head very dramatically. Now use a needle and thread (double the thread for strength) to string six graduated drops of bugle beads. Make a set of three for each of the two lower outside corners of your mask: a three-inch strand, 2 1/2-inch strand, and a 2-inch strand should be perfect. Knot the first end of the thread when you start stringing the bugle beads, but don't cut the thread when you get to the length you want. Instead, sew the drop right to your mask, using the same doubled thread the beads are strung on. Add a dab of glue to the knot at the starting end of each drop for strength as well.Now glue on the feather boa, sequins or glitter, and let the glue dry.

3. For an even more detailed mask, purchase a half yard of sheer tulle in a color that matches the mask. With a needle and matching thread, tightly gather the tulle along one of the 45-inch width edges. Tie the thread firmly. Now sew the gathered edge to the lower edge of your domino mask, creating a veil for your mouth and neck. Make the graduated bead 'drops' following directions in Step 2 and sew them to your mask. Glue on the feather boa, and you've got a very glamorous mask.

4. For a ruffled effect, purchase 3 yards of 1-inch wide silk ribbon. Lightly gather one edge of the ribbon with a needle and matching thread, enough to go around the entire outside edge of your domino mask. Use the string to measure the length before cutting the ribbon, as directed in Step 1. Press the gathers into the silk ribbon with a warm iron, and then glue the ruffles to the outside edge of the mask. Add the feather boa glued to the outside edge of the mask, hiding the gathering stitches for the silk ribbon ruffles.

5. For a completely over-the-top look, gather the tulle for a veil and sew it to the bottom part of the domino, then gather and glue on the silk ribbon ruffles all around the edge. Glue the bugle beads around the eyeholes; make three graduated strands for the upper outside edges this time, and sew them on. Glue the long dramatic feathers at the temples of the mask, hiding the quill ends of the feathers under the ruffles. Draw swirls and filigree on the mask with a special fabric paint pen, in a contrasting color that picks up one of the other colors of your costume. Let the fabric paint dry. Then glue glitter all over the mask, following the swirls and pattern you created.

Tips & Warnings

• If you’ve got the time, get a 1/2-yard of lace, cover the domino mask and then use the rest of the material to cover a folding paper fan to match your mask and costume.

• Gather the half-yard of sheer tulle as directed in Step 3, but this time gather the shorter 18-inch edge of it, and sew it to the top edge of your mask, so you can sweep the tulle over your hair to disguise it.

• An old pearl necklace would be lovely used as a dramatic drop from one temple to another and under your chin. (Not your great-grandmother's eyeglasses holder!) Or use one of those necklaces from an inexpensive imports shop that's strung in a waterfall effect made up of hundreds of tiny beads. Just be sure to sew the tiny beaded necklace to the top corners of your mask very firmly.

• Keep any glued-on glitter away from the eyeholes so you don’t wind up with glitter flaking off into your eyes if you brush at your face while you're wearing your mask.

• If you sew on a waterfall necklace, you may also need to add stronger elastic or even a ribbon to tie your completed mask on, as the weight of it will increase quite a bit with all those tiny beads.