How to Make a Mask out of Tin Foil and Tape

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An excellent mask can be made using products found easily at home: tin foil and tape. This is a straightforward project that is ideal for last-minute mask-making before the masked ball or any fancy dress do. Just see Step 1 below to get started.

Steps

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  1. Overlap three sheets of aluminum foil in a stack.
  2. Push down as hard as you are comfortable pushing. Do it carefully, so the foil does not become punctured. (It might be useful to have a helper do this part.)
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  3. nose, lips, corners of your eyes and cheekbones. Use a marker and trace around your eyes (it might be good to follow the bones around your eye socket) for where you want to place the eye holes in your mask. Also, trace around anything else you want cut out. (Breathing holes are useful for breathing!)you might also want to cut a hole for talking too.
  4. Cut with sharp scissors around the edges of the mask. And note––once you cut it, you can't really go back easily, so leave extra.
  5. Do this either by puncturing the foil with a toothpick and tearing the foil out, or snipping in the center of the area with the tip of scissors and folding the foil back.
  6. These are for the ribbons/cord/shoelaces to attach the mask to your face.
  7. While pressing the mask to your face to keep the features strong, gently place the tape onto your mask. When you feel the mask's features are firm enough, place all the sections of tape, overlapping, across all visible places of foil, including the back (foil is itchy next to the skin).
  8. Leave enough length to both wrap around your head, and to tie in a nice knot or bow.
  9. Use plaster or papier mache to smooth the surface of the mask.
  10. Decorate using acrylic paints . Paint whatever you want, making sure to leave it to dry out of the way of children or pets. You can even sprinkle glitter on the paint while it's wet if you like. Adding sequins, feathers, beads, etc. can enhance the mask.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Can I use Elmer glue or scotch tape? This seems a little complicated.
    Community Answer
    Yes, any glue is fine, but scotch tape might not work. It will make it look too messy.
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    Not Helpful 22 Helpful 54
  • Question
    Could I put tape over the tin foil or could I paint it?
    Community Answer
    If you're going to paint the mask, it's a good idea to cover the foil with duct tape for a smooth surface to paint on.
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    Not Helpful 26 Helpful 32
  • Question
    What kind of tape is used here? Do I have to use that tape?
    Community Answer
    The tape in the picture is masking tape. The masking tape looks nice and clean when overlapped, and it gives the mask a nice white-ish color.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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      Things You'll Need

      • Really sticky, firm tape
      • Aluminum foil (aka kitchen foil)
      • Scissors sharp enough to cut foil and your tape
      • Ribbon or string
      • Paint (optional)
      • Glue (if you don't trust your tape)

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      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To make a mask out of tin foil and tape, start by stacking 3 sheets of foil on top of each other. Then, press the sheets of foil onto your face to create a mold of your face shape. Next, carefully remove the foil and cut around the edges of the mold with scissors so you're left with an oval-shaped mask. Once you've done that, puncture the eye holes with a toothpick or pencil and use the scissors to cut them out. Finally, cover the entire surface of your mask with tape so the foil stays in place. To learn how to decorate your mask with paint, keep reading!

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