Paper Plate Halloween Masks Kids Can Make
Paper plate masks are a rainy-afternoon classic for a reason. Plates are cheap, sturdy and already the right size for a child's face, and kids get to make something they can actually wear. Five different masks are below, all using the same basic method, so once your child has made one they can invent their own.
These masks suit children from about three years old with help, and school-age children can make most of them on their own. Allow about 30 minutes per mask, plus drying time if you use paint.
What You Need
- Plain white paper plates (uncoated card plates take paint and glue best)
- Poster paint, crayons or markers
- Colored card or construction paper in black, orange, green and purple
- Child-safe scissors, plus sharper scissors for the grown-up
- A glue stick and PVA glue
- Thin elastic cord, or wooden craft sticks for handles
- A hole punch and sticky tape
- Optional: tissue paper, cotton wool, pipe cleaners, feathers, stickers and glitter glue
The Basic Method
- Mark the eyes. Hold the plate gently against your child's face and lightly mark where their eyes are with a pencil. Every face is different, so this step really matters.
- Cut the eye holes. An adult should cut the eye holes. Fold the plate in half gently to make the first snip easier, then cut out generous ovals. Bigger holes are safer, because children can see where they are going.
- Decorate. Paint or color the plate and add card shapes (see the designs below). Let paint dry completely.
- Add the elastic or handle. Punch a hole on each side at eye level, reinforce the holes with a small square of tape, then thread elastic through and knot it. For younger children, tape a craft stick to the bottom of the mask so they can hold it up instead.
Tip: Paper plates often have a slight dome. Use the back (the outer curve) as the front of the mask, so it curves around the face naturally.
Five Easy Paper Plate Halloween Masks
1. Jack-o'-lantern
Paint the plate orange and let it dry. Cut a stem and a leaf from green card and glue them to the top edge. Draw curved lines from top to bottom with a darker orange crayon for the pumpkin ridges, then cut a black card mouth with big square teeth and glue it below the eye holes. Triangle eyebrows above the eye holes complete the look.
2. Black cat
Paint the plate black, or cover it with torn pieces of black tissue paper glued on with watered-down PVA. Add two triangle ears cut from black card, with smaller pink triangles glued inside. Draw a little pink nose and use strips of white card or pipe cleaners for whiskers.
3. Bat
Paint the plate black or dark purple. Cut two large scalloped wings from black card and glue them to the sides of the plate so they stick out beyond the face. Add pointy ears at the top and two tiny white fangs at the bottom. Bats look fantastic with silver glitter glue dotted over the wings.
4. Friendly ghost
Leave the plate white, or glue on stretched-out cotton wool for a fluffy, cloudy ghost. Cut the eye holes in a tall oval shape and draw a round "Boo!" mouth with a black marker. This is a great mask for children who don't want anything too scary.
5. Silly monster
Paint the plate green, blue or purple, then let your child loose with the details: zigzag card teeth, pipe cleaner antennae, a third eye drawn on the forehead, yarn hair or a bandage made from a strip of white paper. There's no wrong way to make a monster.
Wearing the Masks Safely
- Check that your child can see clearly to the sides as well as straight ahead. If not, make the eye holes bigger.
- Never cover the nose and mouth on very young children. Trimming the bottom of the plate into a half-mask works well.
- Use soft, thin elastic and make sure it isn't tight around the head. A craft-stick handle is the safest option for toddlers.
- Take masks off before crossing roads while trick or treating.
- Keep paper masks away from candles and jack-o'-lanterns lit with real flames.
Fixing Common Problems
The mask keeps slipping down
The elastic is probably too loose or attached too low. Move the holes up so they sit level with the top of the ears, and shorten the elastic a little. A strip of double-sided tape inside the top edge can also help it stay put on a fringe.
The eye holes are in the wrong place
Cut them bigger in the direction they need to move, then glue a card "frame" around each eye to tidy the edge. Masks with oversized eyes often look even better.
The paint is cracking
Thick poster paint cracks when a plate bends. Use thinner coats, add a squeeze of PVA glue to the paint, or color with markers and crayons instead.
Turning Mask-Making into a Party Activity
Paper plate masks are perfect for a Halloween party because every child ends up with a costume accessory to take home. Prepare plates with the eye holes already cut, set out bowls of pre-cut card shapes (ears, teeth, wings, stems) and leave the rest to the children. Hang finished masks on a string with clothes pegs while the glue dries. Our guide to running a Halloween craft party for kids has more tips for planning the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of paper plates are best for masks?
Plain, uncoated card plates. Plastic-coated or shiny plates are hard to paint and glue doesn't stick well to them.
How do I stop the elastic tearing through the plate?
Put a small piece of sticky tape over each side of the plate where you'll punch the hole. The tape reinforces the card so the elastic doesn't rip through.
Can toddlers make paper plate masks?
Yes, with an adult doing the cutting. Toddlers can paint, stick and scribble, and a handle is easier for them than elastic.
For more dress-up ideas, see our DIY costume accessories, the mask craft kits for kids roundup or the full list of Halloween crafts for kids.
