DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Make an African Mask/Shield

(Our finished mask was about 2 1/2 feet tall).  There are eye holes so the kids can see (they can only see through one hole at a time) and it's a perfect size for protecting your body from the razor sharp claws of Sera our housecat.  You can also Make a Spear (the tip is styrofoam!) for your mighty hunters.

This was a very exciting project for both of the girls.  Since my children are young (ages 3 and 7), I allowed them to freely create their own design for the mask (I don't think most African masks have big smiley mouths, but my 3 yr old insisted we make it look less scary).

If you are crafting with older children, have them examine some African masks on-line before they create their design.  One resource I found to do this was at http://cti.itc.virginia.edu/~bcr/African_Mask_Portraits.html.

Materials:

• corrugated cardboard (old cardboard box)
• scissors (good strong ones!), case cutter or exacto knife
• brown paint (poster/tempra paint)
• decorator color of paint (we used white, but any color would work)
• raffia, string or wool
• Optional:  Paper Mache -- visit "How to Paper Mache" for the recipe

Tasha's original design

Instructions:

• decide on the design for your project.
• Visit http://cti.itc.virginia.edu/~bcr/African_Mask_Portraits.html for some ideas.
• Keep in mind that you'll have to cut out the pieces, so you'll want to make them fairly basic shapes.
• Draw the design on a piece of paper (or on computer software that allows drawing)

• Freehand draw the facial pieces onto corrugated cardboard (old boxes).
• Cut them out
• If you want some facial pieces to stick out more:
   
  • trace the first piece
  • Cut the shape out again
  • Glue the shapes together
  • We did 2 layers for the mouth and 3 layers for the nose.
• freehand draw the shield/mask shape on a large piece of cardboard.
• Cut it out.
• Cut out eye holes.
• At this point you can just glue all of your pieces together.
• OR, you can paper mache the project.  The Paper Mache will make the craft MUCH sturdier.  It is the method we chose.
  • paper mache (2 layers) the shield and all of the face pieces.
  • while the mache is still wet, assemble the face.  The wet mache will stick together and hold the pieces in place
  • let dry
  • cover with a final layer of scrap white paper mache
• visit "How to Paper Mache" for tips on paper macheing.
• Once everything's dry, paint the entire project brown -- young siblings can help with this step!

 

• 
  
  
  holes
  Decorate with stripes and pokadots in a different color.
• Poke two holes on one side of the mask (about the center), one on top of the other about 4 inches apart.  Do the same on the other side.  A drill or nail/hammer works well for this.
• Thread raffia, string or wool through the holes, tying in front of the mask.  Don't tie it tight -- leave a loop in the back as handles.