how to make a paper mache mask: step by step

1. Starting off with a blank plastic mask of your choice, take off any unnecessary parts such as the strap and foam pieces. This will ensure that you are able to make an even application of the paper and glue.

2. Next take a low grit sandpaper (40 grit) and sand the mask evenly around. This just scratches up the surface of the mask for the masking tape to have a good grip. A smooth glossy mask is no good.

   
   

   

3. Then take a wet paper towel and wipe of the excess plastic from sanding the mask. This is just so you don't have loose material underneath your final piece. Also take a dry paper towel and pat the mask dry to get rid of that wet surface.

   
   

   

4. Next, you're going to want to take your sharpie and draw on a rough sketch on where you want the features, what you want them to look like. Draw what you want your character and your masks to look like. Make it Yours!

   
   

   

   5. This next step is more of a personal preference. For my mask in this tutorial, I'm making it a half face mask. What I did was draw with a pencil where I wanted to cut and took scissors to cut the mask in half. "BE CAREFUL IF USING SCISSORS!"

   
   

   

   
   

   6. Next use aluminum foil to sculpt facial features such as the nose, eyebrows and lips. With the sculpted pieces of aluminum foil place, them in the correct spot you want and cover it in masking tape. These images below show the process of each facial feature put on the mask with this process. Be creative, there is no limits with this step.

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   

   
   

   7. Make sure the mask is completely covered in masking tape. Then comes the messy part. For the paper mache mixture you're going to want to get a small bowl or any time of bowl you have available. Fill the bowl halfway with warm water. Then with glue (I'm using Extra Strong Formula Elmers Glue) put about three glops into the bowl of warm water. The mixture should be about 1/4 - 1/3 glue to water ratio. If it's too thick and mixing it is hard added mor water to make the mixture thinner. DO NOT make it to watery or you won't have enough glue for the paper to stick.

8. Next tear pieces of paper into small pieces. The smaller the piece of paper the smoother your final project will turn out. DO NOT USE SCISSORS TO MAKE THE PIECES! This is because if you tear it, those edges will grip better to each other.

9. To apply the paper to the mask, dip a piece into the mixture and lightly ring it out in between your fingers. You don't want the piece to be soaking wet; that will make it impossible to keep all the pieces still but also a ridiculously long amount of time to dry. You don't want to ring out all the glue water, or nothing will stick. So, find that in-between. Start applying pieces one at a time next to each other covering the mask. DO NOT DOUBLE LAYER ON YOUR FIRST PASS! That means don't put multiple wet pieces on top of each other. One at a time. You should leave about 2 hours Infront of a fan at the least. 24 hours will have it very dry. Then continue layers repeating these steps. My personal preference is about 3-4 layers. The more layers the more durable. It all depends on the purpose. If you're wearing it, more layers. If it's a wall mount, you don't need to overdo it. YOU MUST BE PATIENT WITH THIS STEP, TAKE YOUR TIME AND LET THE LAYERS DRY INBETWEEN!

10. Once the layers are dry you can start getting creative and paint. Use acrylic paint for your masks as it's the best. I encourage you to add more than just. As you can see with mine down below. Have Fun! Email me your Paper Mache Mask projects, I'd love to see what you all can make off this tutorial: blackchapelmasks@gmail.com