Plaster Mask Making

This popular 3rd grade craft has been recreated annually at our school for longer than I have been there (20 years).  It requires lots of parent helpers, but it is an activity that parents like to participate in and kids like to do.  Students that I taught years ago, who visit while in middle school or high school, tell me that they still have their mask hanging in their room.

This craft was introduced by Debi Lyon, and after she left, carried on by Sylvia Leong, who thankfully recorded the steps for all of us to follow.

Pull hair away from face & apply a generous layer of Vaseline to student's face to protect skin & help the finished mask to slide off.  Apply a plaster bandage diagonally over bridge of nose, use a 2nd bandage in the opposite direction making an"x".  Next, cover the upper lip, then the chin and lower forehead.

                                                                            

Continue applying strips around the face filling in empty space.  When the 1st layer is finished, add 2 more layers.

Allow 12 - 15 minutes drying time before attempting removal.  Kids need to refrain from "making faces" while the mask dries.  When plaster is dry to touch & appears to be lifting from skin, gently loosen at edges & lift off. 

                   

Finished masks

I was disappointed last year, my 1st try, that many of the masks turned out a little "muddy" after they were painted.  Kids did not let one paint dry before starting in on the next.  

As a remedy, this year I had each student divide his/her mask into 2 sections with masking tape, then choose 2 colors to paint with.

Paint mask with acrylics.  Pull off the tape after the paint has dried.

This time our masks came out quite geometric with nice clean colors.

Add feathers, jewels, and ribbons.  Voila!