Halloween gets even more exciting! A collection of DIY mask ideas using a variety of materials
Ghosts, skeletons, bats, and jack-o’-lanterns—when it comes to Halloween, all the creepy, slightly scary characters come together! Even if makeup seems tricky, you can easily enjoy dressing up with a handmade mask.
They’re simple to make with paper or fabric, and you can decorate them however you like! Here’s how to create whimsical masks that kids and adults alike can enjoy with excitement.
Add some clever touches around the eyes and mouth for a more authentic finish.
Become your favorite character and have fun this Halloween!
- Make it with everyday materials! Halloween mask ideas and DIY tips
- [Age 2] Have fun with Halloween crafts! A collection of ideas perfect for October
- [For 4-Year-Olds] Fun to Make! A Collection of Halloween Craft Ideas
- Irresistible for 5-year-olds! A collection of recommended craft ideas for Halloween
- Fun for 1-year-olds! A collection of Halloween craft ideas you can make while playing
- [Preschools & Daycare] Costume and Cosplay Ideas for Halloween
- [For Preschool Teachers] Recommended Costumes for Halloween
- Handmade Halloween costume ideas! A roundup of outfits you can make with everyday materials.
- Simple! Cute! Handmade Halloween accessories
- [Setsubun] Let’s make an oni mask! A collection of ideas using everyday materials
- [Childcare] Handmade Oni Masks: Craft Ideas by Material
- Enjoy Halloween by making these with your kids! A collection of cute bag-making ideas
- [For Kids] Let’s Make Ghosts! A Collection of Craft Ideas
Halloween gets exciting! A collection of DIY mask ideas with various materials (11–20)
Monster
Let’s try becoming all kinds of monsters from around the world by using masks! This is perfect for those who’ve got their costume ready from the neck down but find creating a monster face with makeup a hassle.
A simple method is to cut out a face shape from thick paper or cardstock and then add features afterward.
For the add-on parts, you can use not only paper but also fabric and string; and when drawing wounds or scars, using special-effects stage blood will boost realism and scariness.
For children, try making a mask inspired by monsters that appear in their favorite anime.
Monster mask
Recommended when you want an easy costume! Here’s an idea for a photo-prop-style monster mask.
You’ll need paper plates, a wooden skewer (or chopstick), and paint.
First, cut a paper plate at about one-third.
On the larger piece, cut out holes for the eyes and nose, then paint it.
Cut the smaller piece to make the monster’s horns.
Attach the horns, then fix the wooden skewer to the back—and you’re done.
Add eyes on the forehead, draw patterns on the horns—decorate it however you like to create the monster you imagine.
Dokin-chan
Despite being Anpanman’s foe, Dokin-chan is beloved by children and adults alike for her cute side.
With red, white, and orange construction paper, you can easily make an adorable Dokin-chan mask.
All you have to do is cut out each part from the corresponding paper and glue them together.
For the eyes, you can use black construction paper like the other parts, but drawing them afterward is simpler.
You can also draw the eye outlines first and then cut openings so you can see through.
Change the colors, and it becomes Kokin-chan, Dokin-chan’s younger sister!
werewolf
The werewolf, which originated in Europe, typically features a wolf’s face and a human body.
Wearing a common wolf mask is fine, but if you want an easy costume, making a wolf face with a simple mask is a good option.
Unlike humans, wolves have lots of fur on their faces, so if you want a more realistic look, try attaching yarn or similar materials to the mask to recreate the wolf’s fur.
You can go for a dark, monochrome vibe or change the yarn color for different areas to add depth.
Just by changing how you represent the fur, you can create all kinds of werewolves!
oni; demon; ogre; spirit (depending on context)
When Setsubun comes around, parents sometimes wear masks and play the role of the oni (ogre), right? Since Halloween features all kinds of costumes, transforming into an oni is of course OK too! If you make an oni mask for Halloween, you can conveniently use it again during the next Setsubun.
It’s simple: cut a face shape from red or blue construction paper, add horns, and use yarn to make the oni’s hair.
Using a paper plate for the face itself reduces the amount of cutting, so it’s recommended.
You can paint it your favorite colors, tear and paste origami paper, and create the oni in lots of different ways—perfect as a craft project for kids!
Akaza
Akaza, the Upper Rank demon who appeared in the blockbuster film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train.
Some of you might be planning to go all-in with a full-body costume for Halloween, but many probably feel the face markings are tough to pull off.
In that case, make a mask and become Akaza from head to toe in no time! You can draw Akaza’s face on paper and mount it on thick cardstock, or print a face illustration and glue it to cardstock—there are lots of ways to make it.
You could also add just the hair by attaching reddish yarn.
It’s recommended both as part of a full costume and as a simple mini disguise with just the mask.
Halloween gets exciting! A collection of handmade mask ideas in various materials (21–30)
Oni masks made with various materials and techniques
Many preschools and kindergartens probably make oni (ogre) masks for Setsubun, don’t they? If you use the same method every year, both the children and the teachers can get bored.
So here are some oni mask ideas that use a variety of materials and techniques.
First, a simple mask with the face made from red-painted construction paper and the hair represented with yarn.
Let the children cut and glue the yarn themselves.
Next, a mask that uses a kitchen-paper bleeding/blur painting technique to represent the hair; the vibrant colors really stand out.
You can also depict the face with torn-paper collage instead of paint.
Try combining different ideas!
