How to Make a Feather Mask

Masks are not just for Halloween anymore. There are so many fun events throughout the year, such as festivals, parades and fairs, that are fun to dress up in costume for, even if your costume is just an interesting mask. One attractive type of mask that you can make yourself is a feather mask. Feather masks are colorful and exotic looking, easy to make, and the materials are very inexpensive. Follow these directions to make your own feather mask for your next event.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Assorted feathers
• Hot glue
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Tape
• Thin Elastic

1. 
    

   Take a thin piece of cardboard, such as the cardboard backing of a legal pad. Sketch a mask form onto the cardboard that is the shape of an oval. The oval should be about 8 inches wide, or wide enough to reach across your face from temple to temple, and 4 inches tall, enough to go from above your eyebrows to just over your nostrils. Cut it out. It doesn't have to be perfect as it will be completely concealed by the feathers, but try to make it even.

2. 
    

   Place the oval across your face. Make a pencil mark down at the spot where the bridge of your nose begins. Cut out a notch that will allow your nose to protrude. Hold it up to your face again and make pencil marks where you feel your eyes are. Cut out notches (oval, or almond-shape) for your eyes. Make sure they are fairly even.

3. Hold the mask to your face once more. Make a pencil mark on each side, just about at the level with the top of your ear. Take a piece of elastic and staple it to one side, on the pencil mark. Hold the mask up to your face again and bring the elastic around the back of your head. Adjust the elastic so that it fits snugly but comfortably and hold it to the pencil mark on the opposite side. Remove it from your head, holding it in place, and staple the other end of the elastic. Cut off any excess.

4. 
    

   Lay your mask on the table in front of you. Begin hot gluing feathers around the edges of the mask, starting from the top center. Radiate them outward from the mask, slightly overlapping them so you can't see the mask form underneath. Use your larger feathers around the top. As you get around to the bottom part, use shorter feathers so they don't protrude down too far, or they can be uncomfortable and tickle your nose and lips. Skip the nose notch for now.

5. 
    

   Glue another layer of feathers around the mask, this time working inside the first circle of feathers. Continue doing this until you fill in most of the mask. Work around the eye holes, radiating outward from them.

6. 
    

   Glue the final feathers radiating around the bridge of the nose to cover the gaps.

7. 
    

   Take four feathers about the length of the eye holes. Cut them in half, along the spine of the feather, leaving the spine intact on only one side of it. Glue the spines of the half-feathers around the eye holes, top and bottom, with the feathers sticking out like false eyelashes. This adds a great finishing touch.

8. Trim any feathers edges that overlap the eye holes. Leave your mask as it is, or add decorative trim around the eyes or edge of the nose, if you prefer, such as ribbons or beaded lining.

Tips & Warnings

• For extra sparkle, spray your mask with glitter glue.