| Looking for some Halloween masks that would be fun | | | | spray paint the sheet orange around the area that will |
| to make? Halloween is sneaking up on you and if you | | | | cover the head before cutting out the pattern. To be |
| get caught without a costume, it could be scary! Don't | | | | really creative, after the stencil is cut into the sheet, |
| scream. With a creative mask pattern or stencil you | | | | outline the holes with some black acrylic craft paint. |
| have the start of a unique Halloween costume. Plus | | | | This makes the openings stand out and also helps the |
| you'll have a great time making it yourself. And as you | | | | edges from becoming frayed. |
| may have guessed, there are many ways to use | | | | Halloween stencils offer an easy way to trick (or |
| stencils to create a costume. We are going to explore | | | | treat!) out a t-shirt. Use an old one from the closet or |
| several of them here. So, let's jump right in but don't be | | | | purchase a new one (old is preferable). If you have an |
| scared. | | | | orange shirt, use black fabric paint to put the image |
| OK! So there aren't too many stencils out there that | | | | from a pumpkin carving stencil across the front of the |
| are specifically designed as Halloween masks. So, you'll | | | | shirt. If you have a black shirt handy then use orange |
| have to think outside the pumpkin a little and get those | | | | or white fabric paint. |
| creative juices flowing. After all, that's why making | | | | OK. So we covered all the common stencils for |
| your own craft masks is so much fun. | | | | pumpkin carving that are designed as the normal |
| When we were kids we loved making our own | | | | faces we're all used to. But now with the internet we |
| costumes except we didn't have all the fancy stuff like | | | | have so many others to choose from. Some very |
| felt and craft foam or patterns from the internet (I'm | | | | talented artists have taken the whole pumpkin carving |
| dating myself aren't I?). It didn't matter because we had | | | | stencil art to a whole new level. You can find designs |
| a ball coming up with ideas using the things we could | | | | of cats, pirates, wolves, witches, demons, cartoon |
| easily find around the house. | | | | characters, vampires, ghouls, mummies ... Well, the list is |
| First, there are many stencils available for carving | | | | too long to keep going. My point is that the above |
| pumpkins. Right? Well, these are great for creating | | | | options for creating a mask can be used for most of |
| masks. How, you say? Well, let us count the ways. | | | | these. Remember that these were designed for a |
| Cut out a round or pumpkin shape from orange felt | | | | round pumpkin so that to resize them for face shapes |
| (stiff felt is great), orange craft foam or even paper | | | | and sizes is not a far stretch and can usually be |
| you painted orange. If you can, don't forget to cut a | | | | achieved. |
| little stem on top and dab some green paint on that. If | | | | Now let's come up with a few ideas to complete the |
| you really want to be creative, paint some vertical | | | | costume for some of the masks mentioned above. |
| curve lines in a darker orange to really give it the | | | | Feel like howling at the moon? A wolf mask is easy to |
| pumpkin look. Then take your stencil designed for | | | | create with gray felt, craft foam or paint. Complete the |
| pumpkin carving and use it to cut openings into the felt. | | | | costume with a gray t-shirt and gray sweat pants. |
| You may need to make some adjustments to the size | | | | Feel like a feline? Black cats are always popular at |
| of your stencil to make sure that eye, nose and mouth | | | | Halloween. Complete a cat mask with a black turtle |
| holes are in the appropriate places for you to see, | | | | neck shirt, black leggings and a black feather boa for a |
| breath and talk. Just take the stencil to a copy | | | | tail. |
| machine and reduce or enlarge it until you have the | | | | Want to be Frankie Baby? That's an easy one! Get |
| right size. Use a hole punch tool to make nice round | | | | some lime green felt, craft foam or paint. Dress up the |
| holes on each side and attach orange or black ribbons | | | | mask with an old plaid flannel shirt, a ragged pair of |
| so that you can tie it around your head. | | | | jeans and a pair of work boots. |
| Here is one of our tried and true methods of mask | | | | Are you a Witch? I mean for Halloween! Use black felt |
| making. It's a little like the tip above. Take large paper | | | | for the mask. You need to have an old loose fitting |
| bags (big enough so that you can slide it over the | | | | black dress (try a thrift store if you don't have one that |
| head). Paint the bag orange and then use a stencil for | | | | you can use) and a broom. |
| pumpkin carving to cut out the face on the front of the | | | | And speaking of the many possibilities that stencils |
| bag. You can find plenty of printable Halloween stencils | | | | give us to decorate, here are some more creative and |
| on the internet. You may need to trim out some | | | | easy ideas. Just because Halloween stencils and |
| curves for the shoulders so that the bag can come | | | | patterns were designed for pumpkin carving doesn't |
| down low in the front and back. Don't forget to cut out | | | | mean that they can't be used for a large variety of |
| holes around the ears for good hearing. It's quick, easy | | | | other Halloween crafts such as: paint them on a bag |
| and best of all free! | | | | for collecting your treats; paint them on the corner of a |
| To complete a pumpkin mask costume, cut leg and | | | | napkin to decorate your festive table; or paint them on |
| arm holes in one of those jack-o-lantern leaf bags. Fill it | | | | colored paper for decorating the windows or doors. |
| with plastic shopping bags to fill it out and tape it | | | | There are many other ways to use these wonderful |
| around your shoulders once it's full. | | | | designs to embellish your holiday decorations. |
| Let me just mention another creative way to use | | | | I know how creative you can be when you get |
| these stencils designed for carving pumpkins. Try using | | | | started so don't be frightened to try something new. |
| the old stand-by sheet for a ghost costume and cut | | | | Create a costume using a stencil or mask pattern and |
| out the stencils in the face area. Use a little creativity | | | | finish up with some other fun ideas. I hope your |
| and decorate the rest of the sheet too. Or maybe | | | | Halloween is a real Scream! |