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Masks
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Masks
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Over many millennia, masks have been used by numerous cultures around the world and are as old as mankind itself. Whether as a ritual tool by a shaman or for costuming at elaborate balls, masks have been used to not only conceal the user, but to entice, provoke and protect.
Actually, Old World Europeans weren't much for masks until the Italian
Renaissance. Prior to that time, masks were used by priests during the performance of
mystery plays wherein they would re-enact the sins of man while disguising themselves as
Satan and wild demons. Not particularly festive in the party sense, they were grotesquely
wonderful in design. In the 15th century, the Italians revived the use of masks in the
theatre and also created the Masquerade Ball where guests would arrive in costume. An idea
that caught on quick and spread through Europe. It is in that spirit that I thought masks
would be very appropriate for our wedding.
Click to enlarge all pictures.
 Diane shows her beautiful mask. |
 Billie and Cindy |
 Cindy in her finery. |
 Billie, Cindy, Paula, Steven, and Amanda take a stroll through the faire grounds. |
 Princess Paula looks exquisite. (Brother Steven and Dad Bob behind). |
 Pedro and Muriel proudly display their masks. |
You'll probably notice in the pictures above that Cindy's and my (Billie's) masks are different. A friend of mine gifted those to us. They were hand made, just not by our hands! The other "butterfly masks" and the men's masks (like the one Pedro has) we purchased at Oriental Trading Company (http://www.orientaltrading.com). They were $9.95 a dozen, very economical. Please see the detail below.
| Feather Masks
for Women and Girls. I couldn't locate the same butterfly feather masks that we bought
when I wrote this, but I found these similar ones (to the right). These are $9.95 a dozen.
They come with an elastic band. You could try your hand at making these, but for the price
(it's like $1.20 per mask), it's much easier to purchase. Purchase enough for each of your
female guests, attendants and flower girls. Search for "feather masks" at Oriental Trading. Price ranges from $10 to $30 a dozen and you can often find better sales. You can usually find a bargain to fit your budget.
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 http://www.orientaltrading.com Item no. IN-25/764 |
Half Masks for
Men and Boys. We bought these plain white half masks at a phenomenal price, 2 dozen
for $2.95. I felt the feather masks would be too feminine for the gentlemen. So I decided
to buy these plain ones and dress them up. Please note that
these masks are 6 3/4" and I found they did not fit well on an adult head. But
never fear. You can still resolve this issue in a couple ways seeing as the masks are so
cheap. First, you can replace the elastic band in the back with a longer one. I had a hard
time finding the elastic so I decided to add a stick instead. Honestly, I wasn't sure the
men would want to wear them at all, so the stick gives them the option of quick removal!
Here's what you'll need:
Remove the elastic band. Glue the sticks to the side of the mask. You may have to weight it down with a book or something similar. They tend to pop off before they dry. Leave them dry for 24 hours or overnight. When dry, take the gloves, sheet, paint and masks outside. Put on your gloves and hold the mask out in front of you by the end of the stick, like Pedro is doing here. Spray both the mask and the stick. Lay down the masks gingerly on the sheet for about 15-20 minutes to dry. Flip and let dry another 15 minutes. When the masks dried, I glued one rhinestone to the "third eye" and left it as is. You can kinda see the purple rhinestone on Pedro's mask. |
 http://www.orientaltrading.com Item no. IN-25/11840 Also, search for "half masks".
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Other ideas.
Punch holes in the sides with a paper hole puncher or along the bottom and tie contrasting ribbon.
Buy glitter and sprinkle on for a snazzier look. You can try making designs with the glue and adding the glitter. Or buy glitter half masks which are a bit more expensive.
Try experimenting with different color spray paint, spray a little black, a little gold, or maybe some red or purple tint, mix up the colors. Of course, this takes a bit more time and money.
Remove the elastic band. Punch holes in the sides of the mask with a paper hole puncher. Tie on ribbon to the sides to be used to tie to the back of your head.
