The Mask Challenge

Keeping busy over summer break is pretty easy. There are SO may things I put off during the school year in anticipation of having time over the summer. Don't laugh-stuff IS getting DONE!

It is also fun to be challenged once in a while. And I gotta say I was feeling challenged when I received a message from one of my theater buddies. Myndee asked me to create masks, to match her costumes, for the 3 Cheshire Cats in the production of Dorothy in Wonderland. The world of The  Wizard of Oz collides with that of Alice in Wonderland.

 My inspiration-

Now it is quite obvious that Myndee reads my blog and saw my post on my 5th graders making masks. However, we lean more towards the decorative side with those. I stress with my students that the masks will be going up on a wall.  Sooooooo the challenge was how are these masks gonna stay on and be safe for the children to see out of them?

I noticed in the inspiration photo how the mask covers the top and sides of the head. Okay, so I covered the top and sides of the children's heads with Plast'rcraft, leaving the eye spaces open and covering only the top part of their faces. (Before starting I covered their heads and the top portion of their faces with plastic shopping bags.)

After they dried, I made the eye holes bigger using a small utility knife and scissors. I didn't like how rough it made the edges so I cut up tiny pieces of the Plast'rcraft and covered over those spots.
Cats have ears, I cut them out of poster board after making a pattern on paper.

Can you see the slits on the ears? I bent the edges to attach them to the mask with hot glue.

Then I covered the back of the ears first, let them dry and then did the front of the ears. I actually decided to use the ear pattern to cut out the Plast'rcraft so the ears would look neater.

 

Then I went back to the theater to make sure the masks fit and the eye holes were big enough. Oh AND to figure out whether or not the masks would stay on the their heads or if we needed a Plan B. 

 

Looking good! One girl was out, but I figured 2 out of 3 worked, so I could continue with them.

Let the painting begin!

 

Next the fur! Made with feather boas.

 

 

Masks are finished and totally lives up to the awesomeness of the costume!

Here is the cast photo showcasing all of Myndee's costumes. I know they had tons of help from parents doing the flats (the big background paintings) and other scenery. And of cause the director Miranda, who got all those children up there performing!

I am looking forward to the show this afternoon!

Have you had any artistic challenges this summer? Tell me about it, leave a comment!

Thanks for reading!!

5th Grade Tradition: Masks!

My first day at Shady Hills Elementary School was in March 2006. Shortly thereafter, one of the 5th grade teachers called and asked me if I had ever done masks. The teacher, before the one I just replaced, started this tradition of having the students make Plast'rcraft masks. Well, I had never done them before........ and I was able to find full directions on the internet....... and did the first one on my daughter's face......and then I had my husband do one on my face.......... yeah, this will work!

 

Here are a few from that first year.  The 2 examples below are what I call masks that go "beyond the face."

 

 Below are masks that have been painted and/or embellished with feathers and glitter, etc.

 

 Here are some of the more unusual or unique ones that students have made.

 

 

 

Well....... it's that time of year again AND my 5th graders are getting REALLY excited and I'm trying hard to get all the necessary info to them to be successful. I have an iMovie that was made a while back, but I feel the process has been streamlined since then and I want to present it as a power point. There is more control over showing slides then a video. More of an opportunity to ask questions.

I actually figured out how to stop the iMovie and take screen shots! So here goes!
Get everything ready.

Strips of Plast'rcraft, oil (vegetable or baby oil), cotton pad, plastic strips (cut from garbage bags), foam tray, nylon loop. Not pictured-large garbage bags used as smocks.

 

Tie back hair and oil face.

 

Wet and apply Plast'rcraft around and then across the face. Do 3 layers, do not cover the nostrils!  Place a nylon loop, after the first layer, at the top for hanging. (I use fishing line.)

   

Let the stuff harden, this will depend on the person's core temperature as to how long until you can pop it off. Figure between 10-20 minutes. Then cover up the nostril holes.

It needs to dry and then it's ready for whatever the artist decides to do to finish it.

 

If they choose to make a mask that goes "beyond the face," they will need to make a pattern, cut it out of poster board and attach to their mask. It needs to have tabs to attach to the mask. Staple and/or tape poster board to the mask.

 

Then cut small pieces of Plast'rcraft and attach one half of the piece to the poster board and the other half to the mask. Cover all of the poster board, it's not necessary to do 3 layers. If it starts to sag, place something under it so that it will dry in the position you want it to.

To go faster and look nicer the eyes- are covered. These masks are intended to be decorative. Students are paired off to work. And as they finish, they are paired off again until everyone is done. Parent volunteers come in to help. Admin gets a sub for my other classes. One hour per class of 20-24. I get a 20 lb. box of Plast'rcraft which should be enough for 80 students.

I would be happy to answer any questions you have!

   

My first blog post was 6 months ago today! And I have almost 7000 page views!

So, really, truly THANKS for READING!!
Now, I need to figure out how to set up the thingy for followers......  'Til next time!!