Famous Shipwrecks
13 September 2024
Sunken treasure – the oldest shipwreck in the world Sailing around the Mediterranean in the
We have a trio of fabulous festival mask ideas for you to make at home – which one will you choose?
BASICS:
• Strong card (e.g. recycled from a board-backed envelope)
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Mask template (download here)
FOR THE COMICS MASK:
• An old comic
• Glue stick
• Hole punch
• Elastic
FOR THE HARLEQUIN MASK:
• Dark blue or black paint
• Small paintbrush
• Silver glitter glue
Gems, sequins, beads and/or stick-on stars
• PVA glue
• Bamboo skewer or short dowel
• Stick
• Patterned sticky tape (optional)
FOR THE BIRD MASK:
• Coloured or patterned paper
• Feathers
• PVA glue
• Sticky tape
• Thin card
• Glue stick or double-sided tape
• Hole punch
• String or yarn
To make sure the mask fits your face and you can see through the eye holes, snip out a version from scrap paper first. You can then make it bigger or smaller, or move the eyes, ready to retrace onto cardboard and cut out the final, perfect-for-you version.
This is your mask, so experiment with different colours and patterns until you find something that appeals to you. And, If you’d rather hold up your bird mask with a fancy stick, or add sparkly elastic to the starry version, then go for it!
Copy the mask template onto cardboard and carefully cut it out. Ask an adult to use some scissors to help with the tricky eye holes if stuck. This is the base for all three masks.
Tear the pages of an old, unwanted comic into small pieces.
Spread glue over the back of each piece in turn, and press down onto the front of the cardboard mask. Overlap the edges, and add them at different angles so it looks more interesting. Fold the pieces around the edges of the mask for a neat finish.
Cut a strip of elastic long enough to stretch around the sides and back of your head. Tie a double knot at one end.
Punch a hole at each side of the mask. Thread the elastic through one of the holes, going from back to front. Thread it through the other hole, this time from front to back. Tie another knot to stop it slipping back out of the hole. Trim the end for a neat finish.
Cover the front of the mask with blue or black paint. Leave it to dry then brush another coat on top.
When dry, squeeze glitter glue around the edges of the eye holes. Gather together your sparkly gems, sequins, beads and/or stars.
Arrange them on the mask and, when you’re happy with how they look, glue each one into place.
Decorate a bamboo skewer or stick with paint or strips of patterned sticky tape.
When the front of the mask is dry, turn it over and add a line of PVA glue near one of the side edges. Press the end of the stick down onto the glue. When it has stuck, add a few strips of sticky tape ontop for an extra-firm hold.
Cover the front of the mask with coloured or patterned paper using the template to make the contrasting area around the eyes.
Turn it over, and squeeze some PVA glue onto the back of the mask, between the eye holes.
Gather together a small bunch of feathers and press the ends down into the glue. When dry, add 2-3 strips of sticky tape on top, to hold the feathers together, and stop the ends scratching your skin when you wear the mask.
Copy the beak template onto thin card and cut it out. Score, then fold along the dotted lines. Decorate the beak with more coloured or patterned paper – perhaps something that contrasts with the mask. Add glue or double-sided tape to the shaded sections.
Carefully press the beak down onto the front of the mask, lining up the bottom corners with the bottom of the mask.
Cut two 1-metre lengths of string or yarn, and fold them in half. Punch a hole at each side of the mask, and thread one piece of folded thread through each hole pulling the length through the loop you’ve created. To wear the mask, tie the ends together at the back of your head in a simple knot or bow.
We’d love to see your masks. Why not send a picture to the address on the AQUILAnauts’ page of the AQUILA website, and we’ll share as many as we can.
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Written by the AQUILA Team
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