DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Handprint Mardi Gras Masks

The thing I like most about this mask is that the hands are the perfect size for the face not matter who makes them!
 

Materials:

• construction paper (we prefer yellow).
• glue,
• scissors,
• tape
• something to color/decorate with (green and purple markers would be nice as would sparkle glue).
• Piece of thin cardboard (we like to use cereal boxes).
• 2 drinking straws OR a Paint Stir Stick OR an unsharpened pencil
• Optional:  
  • sequins
  • lace scraps
  • feathers

Instructions:

• Trace handprint onto construction paper or coloured cardstock.  We prefer yellow -- it's a mardi gras color and is light enough to decorate.
• Trace a second handprint.  Try to keep your fingers spread about the same as you did the first time.
• Cut out both handprints.
• Overlap the palms of the handprints with the fingers facing up the same way and glue.
• Glue the whole thing onto a sheet of thin cardboard (cereal box).
• Make sure you glue the edges firmly so they don't peel up during play.
• After the glue is dry, cut out your mask -- this may require adult assistance.
• Cut a circle for eyes in the palm area of each hand.
• Decorate your mask however you like -- I actually prefer it with just the handprints and maybe a green or purple line of marker or glitter glue around the eyes.  I find if you decorate too much, you lose the fact that it's hands.
• If you'd like to practice fine motor skills, encourage the children to draw a border with purple marker all the way around the mask.
• If you're using straws, slide one straw into the other one
  • I crimped the end of one straw.
  • Kaitlyn struggled for 5 minutes to slide the one straw into the other and finally managed it -- she was very determined to do it herself.
     
    Heaven help the mommy who tried to assist!
• tape the joint of the two straws.
• not all straws are created equally.
   
  • Our straws were sturdy enough to hold the mask without bending (after about 4 hours of heavy duty play, we had to reinforce ours too).
  • If yours aren't sturdy, wrap them once all the way up in scotch tape or masking tape before attaching them to the mask.  This will reinforce them.
• Optional:  Tape some feathers to the end of the straw.  We'd used a bendy straw for the top, so could tilt the feather end a bit.