Black Cat Mask
Martha crafts a cute cat mask out of papier-mache and crepe paper.
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Martha Stewart Living, October 2009
The black cat is a symbol of superstition, but how could a creature as charming as this bring bad luck? Crepe-paper markings play up the feline features of the mask, and the eyes peering out are rimmed in black makeup for a shadowy effect.
Crepe-Paper Basics
Versatile and inexpensive, crepe paper is the secret to these projects. With finessing, it becomes a ruffled plume, stiff whiskers, or a toothy grin. We used two types of crepe paper: florist crepe paper for thick pop-out elements, and fine crepe paper for everything else.
Cutting Cleanly
When cutting crepe paper, use scissors instead of a craft knife. Pay attention to the grain of the paper; our templates indicate in which direction the grain should run. Stretch and shape the piece as needed by gently pulling against the grain.
Gluing Cutouts
In most cases, a glue stick works well for adhering crepe-paper embellishments. But when a firmer hold is needed -- say, when attaching whiskers to a mask -- use a hot-glue gun.
Adding Thickness
To give crepe paper a little extra heft, make a double layer, using a glue stick to join two pieces. For even more strength, glue crepe paper to card stock in the same color.
How-To
Cut off the existing elastic band from a papier-mache cat mask.
Paint front and back of mask with black acrylic paint. Let dry.
Cut out the whiskers and brows from gold florist crepe paper, using the templates.
Cut out the remaining features from fine crepe paper, matching the color to the templates.
Glue all features using a glue stick, except whiskers; use a hot-glue gun for those. When gluing the gold brows above the eyes, fold the edge of the paper inside eyeholes for a neat look.
Add two ribbon ties to replace elastic; we used twill tape, which comes in lots of colors and ties into good, tight bows.
Sources
Florist and fine crepe paper: castleintheair.biz
Fine crepe paper and acrylic paint: misterart.com
Masks: mardigrasoutlet.com
Boxes: marthastewartcrafts.com, blumchen.com, and germanplaza.com
I'm very partial to cat masks.
how old was that magazine and where is the sweater in the picture
to lacyKat-definitely is spelled with an "i" not an '"a". Words and their usage are important. It is not a matter of being hard to please.
Frenchie18, what is your problem? Many people alter things, I would definately say you are "making" something when you alter something. And so what? Boy, if something as little as that makes you sadly disappointed, you must be a hard person to please, and what a sad life that must be.
Dharma Trading Company sells the white paper mache cat mask. You can paint, add glitter, metallic paints, raised foil areas, crystals, feathers, whatever. Rather nice to leave options open for tabbies, calicos, black cat interpretations....whatever matches your outfit.
www.dharmatrading.com
I totally agree with 3. ideasbybecci "That's not 'making' something, it's 'decorating' something. I have come to expect better quality from Martha Stewart, and am sadly disappointed."
I agree with both the other comments about this being a totally misleading craft.
I believe that we could make our own cat mask from scratch: You would need plaster of paris strips, a kind of cat-face mannequin upon which you would mold the features. Depending on how artistic you are, you could try to mold a human-sized cat face out of either play-doh or plasticine and then use that to lay on the strips of plaster of Paris. Once dried, you'd end up with a cat mask waiting for paint and Martha
I agree! If I'm going to buy a mask, I may as well buy a ready to wear mask! Perhaps "decorate your own" should be used instead of "make.:
I'm extremely disappointed when I click on your "How To" crafts of late and find I'm not really learning how to actually make the item as you indicate, but instead I must go out and buy the item and change it somehow. It's misleading and greatly annoying. That's not 'making' something, it's 'decorating' something. I have come to expect better quality from Martha Stewart, and am sadly disappointed.