Hi there! I’m Jeremy, and every year my family takes a special photo together. Usually, we all wear the same sweater, but this year, I had a fun idea to surprise my mom. Instead of sweaters, we’re going to wear cool masks!
The best part about making masks is deciding what kind of mask you want to create. For our family photo, I thought it would be fun to make water-breathing alien masks. Sounds cool, right?
To make my alien mask, I used a balloon and taped it to a basket to keep it steady. Then, I covered half of the balloon with papier-mâché. Papier-mâché is just strips of newspaper dipped in a mixture of glue and water. You can also use paper towels if you like.
I dipped the newspaper strips into the glue mixture and pasted them onto the balloon. It’s important to use your hands to make sure the strips are covered well. I used at least two layers to make the mask strong. You only need to cover the front of the balloon. Once you’re done, let it dry.
After the papier-mâché is dry, you can pop the balloon and pull it out. Now you have a mask shape! I trimmed the edges to make them smooth. Since a water-breathing alien needs to see and breathe, I added some features.
First, I marked where I wanted the eyes and mouth. I drew circles and carefully cut them out. I used a recycled bottle cap for the mouth and taped it securely. I also made gills from cardboard so the alien can breathe.
To make my alien mask even cooler, I added an antenna using a golf tee and a craft foam ball. I taped them together and attached them to the mask.
Then, I painted the mask in a bright alien green and added cardboard teeth. For my dad’s mask, I added a mustache using cut elastics. My mom’s mask got big eyelashes, and my sister Natasha’s mask had messy hair made from elastics.
Making masks is a fun way to add some excitement to your family photo or just for fun! Here’s how you can make your own:
For more creative ideas, you can visit artzooka.com. Have fun making your masks!
Alien Mask Parade: After making your alien mask, organize a mini parade at home or in your classroom. Each child can wear their mask and walk around, showing off their creation. As you parade, think about what kind of planet your alien might come from. What would it be like to live there? Share your ideas with your friends or family.
Mask Storytime: Use your mask to create a story about your alien. What is your alien’s name? What adventures do they go on? Draw a picture of your alien in their home or on an adventure. Share your story and drawing with your class or family. This will help you think creatively and use your imagination!
Observation and Inspiration: Go on a nature walk and look for interesting shapes and textures that you could use to decorate your mask. Maybe a leaf could be an alien ear, or a rock could inspire a new texture for your mask. Collect a few small items (with permission) and use them to add unique details to your mask. This will help you see how everyday things can inspire art!
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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Hey, I’m Jeremy! Every year, my family takes a family photo, and my mom likes us all to wear the same sweater. This year, I asked Mom if I could surprise her with our family picture, and she said yes! So, we’re all going to be wearing masks.
The best part about making masks is thinking about what you want to create. For our family photo, I thought, how about water-breathing alien masks? To make my water-breathing alien mask, I have a balloon that I tape to a basket so it doesn’t wobble, and I’m going to cover half of it with papier-mâché.
I have some torn-up strips of newspaper and a papier-mâché mixture, which is just glue and water. I dip the newspaper strips into the mixture and paste them onto the balloon. You can use paper towels as well as newspaper. I want to make sure that I’m using my hands and getting in there, covering the strips with glue. I’ll use at least two layers so my mask will be really strong. You don’t have to cover the entire balloon, just the front. When I’m finished, I’ll need to set it off to dry.
Here’s one I made earlier. I just popped the balloon and pulled it out. This is about the right size for a face, and I’ve trimmed the edges so it’s nice and smooth. A water-breathing alien needs to breathe and see, so let’s give him some features!
First, the eyes. I measure and mark where I want to place them, then draw circles around those dots. Now I have the placement for my eyes and mouth. I carefully poke holes for the eyes and mouth, then use scissors to cut around the circles.
I found a recycled bottle cap that makes a great mouth! It fits just right, but it’s a good idea to measure yours before you cut. Now that it’s in place, I just have to tape it onto the back. To make sure it’s super secure, I’ll use two strips.
My alien has a mouth, but I also made gills out of cardboard so that the alien can breathe. I thought it would be fun to add an antenna, so I used a golf tee and a craft foam ball. I’ll tape those together and attach them to the head.
Once everything is added to the mask, I get to paint it! I painted one earlier in a universal alien green and added teeth made from cardboard. For my dad’s mask, I added a mustache using cut elastics.
I made masks for everyone in my family! Here’s my dad with the mustache, my mom with big eyelashes, and my sister Natasha, who already looks a bit like an alien, so I gave her some messy hair made of elastics.
Water-breathing alien masks are a fun way to spice up your family photo or just make one for fun!
To make a mask, start by making a shape out of papier-mâché using ripped newspaper or paper towel dipped in a mixture of white glue and water. Paste it onto a balloon to create the mask shape. Once it’s dry, pop the balloon and trim the edges. Then you can decorate! Cut out holes for eyes and a mouth, and use a bottle cap for the mouth. Add gills from scrap cardboard, and paint your mask. Elastics work great for mustaches and hair too!
For more ideas, check out artzooka.com!
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