[Childcare] Handmade Oni Masks: Craft Ideas by Material
We’ve put together ideas for DIY oni (ogre) masks you can make for Setsubun.
We’re sharing a variety of articles so you can choose from different materials for the base.
If kids stick on the oni’s facial features and hair, they’ll create one-of-a-kind masks full of originality! Oni masks aren’t just for kids—teachers can join in making them too, of course.
On Setsubun, let’s all wear our masks and enjoy lively bean-throwing together.
After Setsubun, the masks can also be used as props for pretend play.
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Childcare: Handmade Oni (demon) mask crafts. Ideas by material (1–10)
tissue box
This is a large ogre (oni) mask made by opening up an empty tissue box.
Cut off the sides while leaving the broad front panel, but be sure to keep the ear sections.
The tissue slot already has a big opening, which is a key feature you can use as the ogre’s mouth.
After applying glue over the entire opened box, decorate it with torn pieces of origami paper or similar.
If you prepare origami in matching color tones, the decoration will look cohesive and neat.
Finally, attach the eyes, horns, and hair pieces, then punch holes in the ear sections you left, thread elastic through them, and the mask is complete.
You can enjoy various customizations, such as choosing which parts to make from which materials or making use of the box’s original patterns.
milk carton
Why not try making a mask using a milk carton? In this method, we cut the carton into a band and create a mask that sits on top of the head.
If that feels too small, you can increase the coverage and make a version that hides the entire face.
Use the leftover milk carton pieces to make horns for an ogre (oni) mask you’ve already made, or layer them to add strength.
When you want to attach milk carton pieces together, using a stapler makes the process smooth.
Construction paper folding
While oni masks are a staple for Setsubun, some kids don’t like wearing something that covers their whole face.
As a cute alternative that lets their faces be clearly seen, how about making a hat instead of a mask? Fold construction paper into a triangle with staggered layers on the inside to create the base, then shape it like a samurai helmet.
Once you have the helmet shape, add hair parts so that the oni’s expression and the pointed, sturdier sections look like horns—your oni is complete.
Punch holes and thread elastic through to finish it as a hat.
You can customize the construction paper color, the oni’s expression, and more, so try incorporating lots of different ideas.
Painting on paper plates
Masks made by painting paper plates are an activity even younger children, who aren’t ready for fine motor tasks, can enjoy.
First, the teacher punches two holes in a paper plate to make the base of the mask.
Next, let the children color it with crayons.
Finally, the teacher decorates it with horns and fangs, and it’s done.
It’s a simple design, and since you don’t use scissors, there’s no worry about injuries.
Of course, you can also let them enjoy adding color in other ways besides coloring, depending on their age.
Let’s make masks in lots of colors and have fun!
Paper plate + origami
This is an ogre mask you make by sticking a single sheet of origami paper onto a paper plate.
Choose origami in a color that matches the ogre’s face, round off the four corners, and glue it onto the plate.
Make sure to glue all the way to the edges so it doesn’t peel off.
Then finish by drawing directly or cutting and gluing origami pieces for the eyes, nose, mouth, fangs, hair, horns, and eyebrows.
Just changing the size of the pupils, the thickness of the eyebrows, or the number of horns creates a completely different look! Celebrate children’s individuality and have fun making original masks!
