I made these Masquerade ball, Mardi Gras style masks a few years ago for a Gala event.  They were very easy to make and had a huge effect on keeping my decorating budget low.

Materials needed:

• Large pieces of cardboard
• roll of brown paper wrap
• Flour, water, and glue for a paper mache mix
• Acrylic paint in purple, white, black, and green
• Glitter in gold, black, white, purple and green
• White glue (dries clear)
• picture hanging wire
• hot glue gun and glue sticks
• paint brushes
• paper plates for glitter and paint
• bag of colored feathers
• metal coat hangers
• Can of spray glitter or spray glue

I made these well before I started blogging but I do have enough pictures to give you an idea of how to make these.

1. Cut the shapes of various masks.  I made two styles, cat eye masks and regular half face bean-shaped.
2. Make a paper mache of your choice.  I mix together a cup of flour, 1/4 cup white glue and 3/4 cup water.  Stir until combined
3. Cut small strips of brown paper and paper mache the cut edges of the mask.  Add thin layer, then place in a warm spot to dry completely before adding the next coat of paper mache.  Two coats should be plenty as long as the edges are smooth.  That is the point of paper macheing the edges.
4. Once dry draw a pattern of choosing on the mask.  Paint the design in varying colors.  Let Dry
5. One color at a time brush glue over a color ex: black, brush with glue over the black paint and then sprinkle with black glitter, tap to remove excess glitter.  Repeat until you have all the black paint covered in black glitter.  Let dry for one hour or more.
6. Repeat for each color
7. Once completely dry flip over and add hanging wire on back securely with hot glue.

1. To make the feather accent I shaped two coat hangers together to make a long skinny swag.
2. Wrap with paper mache and let dry.
3. Hot glue feathers starting at the end farthest from the mask.
4. Using either the spray glue spray lightly and sprinkle with gold glitter or spray with spray glitter.