Of all the things I collect – my vintage Halloween masks might be my favorite. I love the neon colors, the goofy monsters and sometimes I am even lucky enough to find them still in the box. The thing is the masks are very fragile so not very many survived from the 60’s and 70’s. This ‘rare’ aspect makes me love them even more. It also makes me want to supplement my collection by making my own DIY vintage Halloween masks.
Over the years I have amassed quite the collection of vintage Halloween masks. In my collection I have brands like Ben Cooper and Collegeville – who were the largest manufacturer of these types of vacuum formed plastic masks. I have clowns, monsters and even a few super heroes. My favorites are the ones that come in the box.
Why are vintage Halloween masks hard to find and often expensive when you do? I have theories. Since children wore these masks A) the boxes probably got ripped open with glee and thrown out and B) kids break things – including plastic Halloween masks. They were probably ripping open larger mouth holes so they could actually breathe bless their hearts.
Enter my idea to try my hand at making my own…
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DIY Style Vintage Halloween Masks
Supplies for Making a DIY Retro Inspired Halloween Mask
Plastic craft mask
Sandpaper
Wooden shadowbox
Craft paint
Scissors
Yarn
Hot glue
Plaster wrap
Air dry clay
Step 1 – Cover a ready made mask with plaster wrap
Plastic mask forms are easy to find during Halloween. In the off season they can be located at most large craft chains. Cover your mask with plaster wrap. The masks are plastic and slick so this gives the clay something to stick to.
Step 2 – Sculpt the Halloween Mask With Clay
After the plaster wrap dries apply air dry clay. You could also use paper mache. Use the clay to augment features and make your DIY mask more spooky. I was making a werewolf mask so I needed bigger cheek bones and eyebrows.
Step 3 – Sand the Halloween mask
Allow the clay to dry overnight in order to completely harden. Use sand paper to smooth over rough edges. Remember, this is a DIY vintage inspired Halloween mask so it does not have to be perfect. You’re not trying out for the next season of a reality show about making monster costumes.
Step 4 – Paint the Mask
Using craft paint make your monster mask spooky. Most of my vintage Halloween masks are bright neon colors so I went with a day-glow green paint for the mask.
Step 5 – Paint Features Onto the DIY Mask
Using craft paint or paint markers give the mask features. My werewolf has fun upturned teeth and long eyelashes. To each his own right?
Step 6 – Make a Halloween Costume Box
Remember how I said the boxes were rare and elusive when it comes to vintage Halloween mask collecting? I needed to make that part too. Use a raw wood craft store shadow box. Paint the shadowbox black and allow to dry. Any box large enough to fit your mask would work for this, but a craft store shadow box seemed easiest.
Step 7 – Pompoms Make Everything Better – Even Vintage Inspired Halloween Mask Crafts
While your paint is drying make yarn pompoms galore. This step is not necessary, but I wanted my monster to be ‘hairy’. Glue your pompoms around your mask and into the box.
Tip: Not sure how to make pompoms? Check out 8 ways to Make a Pompom
I think my new ‘hairy and scary’ creature fits right in with the rest of my vintage Halloween monster costume collection.
Do you remember wearing these plastic 60’s Halloween masks as a kid? Which one was your favorite and more importantly do you still have it (or the box). If you answered yes, email me if you want to sell it 😉
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The Queen of Halloween Decorating – Country Living Magazine once said it, not me. Who am I to argue with them? Love the time I covered my purple Christmas (Halloween) tree vintage my plastic Halloween mask collection.
DIY Fireplace Screen – The tutorial is more about how to trim tablecloths into this amazing screen, but there are also some sweet shots of my Halloween mask boxes over the mantle.
Halloween Home Tour – For the last several years Apartment Therapy has profiled my house dressed up for Halloween. Check out the 2017 spread, complete with hot pink Halloween tree covered in kitschy plastic masks.
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