If you cut out holes instead of using the template eyes, you can convert your football player craft to a mask.  Attach a paint stir stick or tongue depressor to allow your child to hold it up to their face.

Materials:

• flesh colored paint and paintbrush (or you can keep his face white if you don't feel like painting).
• paper plate,
• something to color with (or color printer),
• scissors,
• glue,
• paper,
• printer,
• Optional FOR MASK:  Paint Stir Stick , thin strip of wood or Tongue Depressor .

Instructions:

• Paint the bottom of the paper plate flesh colored (or you can leave it white if you prefer).
• Print out the craft template of choice.
• Color (if using the black and white version of the craft) and cut out the template pieces.  Most of the pieces are simple enough shapes for young children to cut out.
• Glue the pieces to the plate to make the football player face:
     
• Glue the mouth near the bottom of the paper plate.
• Glue the nose above the mouth.
• Glue the eyes above the nose.
• Glue the bandaid beside one of the eyes.
• Glue the large helmet piece onto the top of the plate.
• Glue the eyebrows above the eyes and just below the helmet.  It's ok if it overlaps the helmet a little bit.
• Make the Face Guard
   
  • Glue the long, straight-ish crosspiece just above the mouth, touching the oval "bolt" on the helmet on both sides.
  • Glue the U-shaped crosspiece just below the mouth, touching the oval "bolt" on the helmet on both sides.
  • Glue the short vertical bars onto either side of the mouth (one on each side) and connecting the crosspieces

• Optional:  If making a mask, use masking tape or duct tape to attach a thin strip of wood, a Tongue Depressor or a Paint Stir Stick (often free at paint supply and home repair stores -- no more than $1 -- we get dad to pick one up now and then when he's at home depot admiring the tools *grin*)

Template 1:    (color)   or   (B&W)

Template 2:    (color)   or   (B&W)