Venetian masks are great for Halloween and Carnival costumes, masquerade parties or theatrical performances, but they can be expensive to buy at costume shops. Creating your own Venetian papier-mâché mask is a fun way to customize its effect. This article will teach you how to make a Venetian mask with your personal style.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Making your own papier mache mask
Step 1. Make the glue for the papier mache
The process is incredibly simple and requires items you probably already have around the house.
- Put two teaspoons of white flour in a bowl and slowly add warm water.
- Start with just a cup of water, mixing with a fork, a whisk or a kitchen mixer to eliminate lumps and obtain a uniform mixture.
- Continue adding the water a little at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.
- You should get a soft consistency that doesn't run but isn't too thick either.
Step 2. Tear off some newspaper strips
You will cover the mask with newspaper strips to get a nice surface to decorate. Keep in mind that glossy paper in promotional coatings and flyers don't work very well, so use newspapers.
- Cut the newspaper into long strips about 1.5 cm wide.
- You will need to make about three layers of newspaper on the mask, so make a lot of strips.
- The length of the strips doesn't matter how much the width, but strips as long as a newspaper page will become bulky and messy when soaked in glue.
Step 3. Get a Venetian mask template
You can purchase Venetian mask molds inexpensively at craft stores or online. If you have access to a printer, simply find a venetian mask template on the internet and transfer it to iron-on transfer cardboard.
- Load the inkjet printer with transfer film.
- Print the image of the model on the transfer film.
- Remove the plastic backing and press the image against a piece of cardboard.
- Use an iron to heat the back of the transfer film for 20 seconds or so (follow the manufacturer's instructions).
- Slowly peel off the back of the transfer to reveal the image transferred to the cardboard.
- Use a utility knife to carefully cut along the edges of the template and create a cardboard mold of the mask.
- Make sure you cut the eye holes as well.
Step 4. Drill holes in the corners of the mask
You need the holes in the corners of the mask so that you can insert a string or elastic to keep the mask on your face. Use a hole punch or a pointed object such as a knife, utility knife, or scissors to make the holes.
Step 5. Cover the template of the mask with strips of papier mache
This process can be very messy, so it's best to do it outdoors - weather permitting. If you are working indoors, place a newspaper on the surface you are using to protect it from the papier mache glue, which will drip all over the place.
- Dip a strip of newspaper in the glue you made with flour and water, so that it gets completely soaked.
- Run your fingers along the entire length of the strip to remove excess glue.
- Place it on the Venetian mask model, taking care to smooth out folds and bumps.
- Repeat this with the other newspaper strips until you have completely covered the model.
Step 6. Cut out the holes for the eyes and the lanyard
While the newspaper strips are still quite moist, use the utility knife to locate and cut out the two holes you made for the eyes and the holes for the string from the template. If you wait until you're done laying the papier-mâché, you may struggle to find the holes, so it's best if you do this for each layer of newspaper strip you apply.
Step 7. Apply two more layers of newspaper strips
Place the strips in different directions - horizontally, vertically and diagonally - for a more even and natural effect.
Remember to cut the eye holes and lanyards from time to time so you don't lose track of where they are
Step 8. Let the mask dry
Once you have placed at least three layers of papier-mâché on the model, you can let everything harden.
- Put the mask in a quiet place and let it air dry for a day.
- You can put it in the refrigerator to speed up the hardening process.
- When it is completely hard and dry, you are ready to decorate your mask.
Method 2 of 2: Decorate your Venetian Mask
Step 1. Cover the mask with a primer
The primer is a tack paint that prepares the surface to be painted. Use a clean brush to completely coat the cling mask, then set it aside to dry.
You can purchase the primer at any art, DIY, or paint store
Step 2. Paint the mask with acrylic paint
If you want to use a single color for the entire mask, go ahead and paint the entire surface. If, on the other hand, you want to get a drawing with more colors, first draw the pattern with a pencil. Painting within the lines will look more professional than trying to do it freehand.
- You may need to apply multiple layers to create a matte surface. Let the paint dry before applying a new coat.
- Let it dry completely before moving on to the next step.
Step 3. Decorate with feathers and sequins
Once the paint is completely dry, use a hot glue gun to attach sequins and feathers to the mask if that's what you want. You can make the entire mask sparkle, or you can create a sequin design that also shows the colored paint underneath. Attaching a single large feather in one corner of the mask is a common decoration for Venetian masks.
Be careful when using the hot glue gun, the glue may burn your skin before it cools down
Step 4. Attach a string or elastic to the mask
Once you are done decorating the mask, insert a string or elastic in the two holes you made in the sides to keep the mask on the face. A rubber band works much better than a simple lanyard.
- Insert the cord or elastic through one of the holes and tie it with a sturdy knot.
- Insert the other end of the rope into the other hole, but do not tie the knot yet.
- Place the mask on your face, with the string behind your head.
- Pull the free end of the cord to see how tight it needs to be to fit your head.
- Mark where the string is to be attached to the second hole, and tie the second knot after removing the mask from your face.
