ahhh...the mask...
Hannah, Chloe and Grace are in a production of the Nutcracker Ballet next week. Their company needed a nutcracker mask, and I volunteered (I'm still wondering what on earth compelled me to sign up for that part!). Let me tell you -- making a mask of this size is no easy task. I had three trial run masks before this one and ended up wanting to make one more after this one. My family emphatically told me no. I listened. :)
Chloe outside before modeling the mask
(photo courtesy of my Hannah)
(photo courtesy of my Hannah)
Here are the details -- read with caution. :) Paper Mache mask - three layers. Base is made from molded plastic (from a cut up milk carton). Nose is plastic. Face is built up with foam and covered in plastic before the paper mache was applied. I painted it with acrylic paints. Beard and hair is faux fur from Joann's. That part is very messy -- I vacuumed numerous times and in fact, vacuumed the head to pick up the free hair. (It still looks like we have a dog with black hair here.) Crown is layers of gold poster board painted with acrylics. And the red part was a hat that was existing that I attached. That part still needs a teeny bit of work.... The mask attaches via an elastic band and then the crown/hair attaches over latching with screws and then being tied under the chin. Ignore the imperfections in the mask -- you need to remember that this will be on stage and no one will see it up close.
Chloe modeling the mask.
She is the Nutcracker next week. :)
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Have you discovered that I might be a wee bit of a perfectionist? And now you know why I write on not being too much that way....Want to know how many hours this took?
12 hours.
Want to know how much it cost?
$32
Want to know the song I belted out when I was finished?
That would be the Hallelujah Chorus. :)
Now I need to start making cookies....without nuts...
(feel free to leave any "way to go" and "you did great" or "you're nuts" comments....hee hee hee...sometimes I crack myself up...)
