Welcome back to this weeks Kids Crafts – things for kids to make. Today, we are sharing our DIY Superhero Masks!

Some of you may know that Red Ted recently turned 5 (Happy Birthday dear Boy!) and that he had a SUPERHERO birthday party! I really wanted to do a birthday party craft activity of sorts with the kids. (In my view) the key to any party activity is simplicity and preparation.
So I thought about our Superhero Stick Puppets – they really are nice and simple, but then decided against them, as already printed out lots of bits and pieces for bunting and cake toppers and I (!) was getting a little bored. I also thought about the Superhero Stress balls, but decided it would be helpful to have more adults “help” for this, and we decided to run the party show with two adults (my husband and I) and ten kids! (in retro spect these would have made great part favours!). These Superhero masks are also great as a No Sew Halloween Costume! It is also the perfect addition to our Crafts for Boys series.
And then I thought about masks! Well, actually Red Ted asked if we could make masks. I know many of his friends do NOT like colouring or drawing, so it had to be an “assembling and sticking craft” of sorts. Enough rambling. The craft:
Materials needed to make your masks:
- sheets of light card in assorted colours,
- scissors,
- glue,
- elastic +
- a bit of tap
How to make your Superherp Masks
You could buy a set of stars and circles pre cut – either from craft foam or card. You could make the hole mask as a foam superhero mask or even a felt superhero mask – your call!
If making the masks for a small group (e.g. 2-3 kids), cutting these by hand is tolerable.
I used my brand new Cricut Mini to cut stars and circles. It was the first time I had use it and it was pretty self explanatory (though there are a number of online tutorials that help. I just downloaded the “Cricut Craft Room” and went from there. I selected the free stars and circle images and arranged them on my page. They did have some “bolts” in their image stock, but they were part of a package and I didn’t need the whole package, so left it for now and cut the bolts by hand. The Cricut Mini was SUPER easy to use (I was rather impressed). My favourite part of it, is the “sticky feed map”. As you don’t have to use a WHOLE A4 sheet of card, but by placing smaller parts on the gridded feed map, you can easily use up odds and ends of card. Just be sure to match your grids on screen with the those on the feed map. Very clever and very thrifty indeed. I look forward to using my Cricut more!
1) Use these free printables for basic mask templates (print to fit A4). I managed to cut 5 masks at a time using the template – we cut the eye holes in at the very end, to make sure it fit each child.
2) Cut your embellishments and masks. As this is for a party, I decided that I needed to precut everything. I wanted to give the kids lots of colour and shape choices – so needed to cut extra – sod’s law one child would want 5 stars or something. That is where the cricut came in handy. If I had only been crafting with my two, I would have asked them what colours and shapes they wanted and cut it all as we went along. So I cut lots of circles in blue, white and orange. Lots of stars in yellow, blue and white and some yellow bolts. I also cut the “eye wings” ahead of time. We had 10 kids coming and I cut out 12 masks. Giving us two as back up.
3) Add the elastic first. Knot and tape in place – the tape will help prevent the card from tearing.
4) I prepped the table ahead of time. Again, if I was making this with just my kids, I would be doing a lot more “as we go along”. But with 10 kids, it is good to have everything ready. Arm the children with glue and let them get on with it.
5) Once they are done double check placement of eyes. Use the template as a guide, but place over child’s face and check. We used point nail scissors (that I have for crafting) to cut the eyes out.
6) Wear proudly and let mum take lots of photos! Done.
Pip Squeak did the one on the top left – the ones with the stars for eyes. It blew me away. I love how young children just have their own ideas and imagination and she wanted “star eyes”, so “star eyes” she got. Lovely.
Refuel with some Superhero Cupcakes:
(And whilst you are here, check out our super simple Superhero Party Invites).
What are your favourite Superhero Craft Ideas? And what are your top birthday party ideas and tips?
Need some more No Sew Halloween Costumes? Check out the full set:
Happy Trick or Treating!
domestic goddesque says
Did you use the Cricut?
Red Ted Art says
I used the Cricut for the stars and circles as they are “standard shapes”. I cut the rest by hand (yawn).
Claire says
My boy, now 11, would have LOVED these when he was younger! Great job!! (again!)
Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum says
These are fab Maggy – I love how they ended up and the cupcakes look delicious as well
Pinkoddy says
Happy Belated 5th Birthday RedTed. Looks like a great idea for a party. Our craft party went really well too.
Thanks for sharing.
I’m not sure I can do google hangouts ๐
Ali says
The masks are fabulous. Great set-up, I can see us doing this for one of my playgroups.
Red Ted Art says
Awe thanks everyone, I need to still add a photo of Pip Squeak’s. Her’s was totally adorable and so “original”. Love how different they all were and yet had the same basic materials!
PinkOddy – you don’t have to do a google Hangout – really – it isn’t for everyone!
Ness @ One Perfect Day says
They look fantastic and thanks for sharing the templates too! Will be doing this with the boy and his cousins for sure.
Emma @Mummymummymum says
Fantastic masks, and the cake toppers look great too ๐
jackie says
Great masks, Maggy! What a super activity for a super hero party! Those cupcakes look gorgeous!
Sarah @ Frugal Fun for Boys says
Great idea for a party activity! And happy birthday to Red Ted!
Red Ted Art says
Thank you everyone, I was surprised at how much the boys all seemed to enjoy the craft AND wearing the masks afterwards! Was lovely to see.
Leah says
I love these! I wonder if my little girls will be into the superhero thing. What a fun birthday party idea! Thanks for the link-up for all the great ideas!
Red Ted Art says
My little girl enjoyed making her mask (the one with the stars), but yes, not all little girls as into superheros!!!
Ann @ My Nearest and Dearest says
what fun! Great pics of the boys!!
Trisha @ Inspiration Laboratories says
Wonderful party, Maggy! These masks are great!
PragmaticMom says
Adorable masks! Any little boy would love this craft!!!
Vicky @ Mess For Less says
Thanks for this wonderful linky! Can’t wait to explore!
Katie says
My little boy loves everything super hero related, so will really love this.
Angela@mamarosemary.com says
Total awesome fun!
amber whitehead says
very cute thanks for including the template so we can make them too!
Red Ted Art says
My pleasure! I do hope you make some and that they templates print out ok!!
Mum of One says
I love these! I am having a bit of a superhero phase myself!
Red Ted Art says
Ooh yes, you can have one top!
Rebecca says
I love the star eyes! Very cute!
Thanks for linking to the Sunday showcase. I’ve pinned this to our board.
terrie says
hi, i love these and am trying to print them. but the link is gone? help…..
Red Ted Art says
I just checked an the links are working for me? Under the photo of the “individual boy” with the red jumper round his shoulders..?
Sherry says
What a cute idea! I linked to it from my website http://CubScoutIdeas.com because it will be a great activity for the Cubs to do.
Thanks!
Beth says
I love these! Where did you find the elastic and how long of a piece did you cut for each mask?
Miranda says
Hi! I can’t get the templates to work? Help please!
Red Ted Art says
Hi, I just checked the links seem to work ok for me… they take you to a JPG that you then print off in A4 or similar on your computer? What problem are you having?
Nicole says
I can’t seem to get the links to work either! It takes me to a new page that says “page not found”. Thanks!
Red Ted Art says
Which link are you clicking on?
Nicole says
Basis mask templates as well as superhero embellishments.
Teresa says
I love this idea and want to use it for a library event I am hosting. When I click on the embellishments, I receive an error message that says the page does not exist. Is there a way to get an updated link to the document? Thanks so much!
Red Ted Art says
Sorry about that, I think there is a technical glitch.. have added the images to the post – you can “drag and drop” them to your desktop and print from there (hopefully)
Teresa says
Worked like a charm! Thanks so much!
Sammy says
i like this kind of idea. It is simple but you can make your child his/her happiest birthday that can’t never forget.
charlice says
These masks are adorable. They are also simple that even a boy can craft them.
Red Ted Art says
thank you!
JRD says
Oh no, template links are not working – any chance you can share again?
Red Ted Art says
It works for me.. click on these highlighted words?
(free templates: basic mask templates and superhero embellishments (print to fit A4))