Oh we have a fun Where the Wild Things Are Mask craft for you today! If you and the kids adore this classic book my Maurice Sendak, you HAVE To have a go at this Easy Paper Bag Mask Craft!
Perfect activity to while away an afternoon.. or if you are getting Halloween Dress Up ready and need something easy and fun.. do have a go!
Lucy from Flisat Fun kindly shared some of their photo makes with us! I love seeing reader photos. Thank you for letting us share them!
This post was first published in February 2012
You may have seen the magazine craft challenge a couple of month’s ago, now there is a fabulous Paperbag Craft challenge by Tinkerlab. I always get into a creative tizz when it comes to Tinkerlab’s challenges, as all the blogs taking part have such wonderfully creative ideas. This makes a great addition to our Crafts for Boys as well as World Book Day Costume ideas too!
After much pondering, we finally came up with our paperbag craft. I knew we wanted to make a paper bag mask of some sort, just not which.
Then one day… Red Ted, Pip Squeak and I were sitting on the sofa and reading one our much loved books and the idea came to me – A Paper Bag Wild Things Mask. This also doubles up nicely as a No Sew Halloween Costumes for those that are reluctant to dress up! We also have some fabulous Paper Halloween Craft for kids that you may wish to explore!
The Book

Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak. I am a HUGE Maurice Sendak fan – ever since I had his nutshell library as a little girl.
Needless to say I am chuffed that the children adore Where the Wild Things Are. We do like a good rumpus. And as luck will have it Pip Squeak is currently “reading” this book at nursery too.
If you don’t know the book, then you really must get hold of a copy – a real childhood classic. Max is a little boy who has been sent to his room for being naughty and rude to his mother (without any supper). Once up there he begins to day dream and goes off into the land of Wild Things, where he is the wildest of all and becomes king. Eventually, he misses home and his family so he returns, to find that his mother has brought up some lovely supper for him.
Fabulous Sendak illustration and quirky drawings. Highly recommended.
Photo by Flisat Fun
The Craft
I decided that paper bags are perfect for masks. They fit so neatly over one’s head. We had snaffled 3 paper bags from my mother in law, as they are not that common here in the UK. And two were perfect for the craft.
Materials: One paper bag per mask, acrylic paint (it won’t crumble), scissors and glue. For Max’s crown, we also used a bit of very thick felt that came from somewhere random.
If acrylics are not your thing, why not use coloured card or felt?
The Wild Thing:
1) We first made our wild thing. I shaped some horns out of the top of the bag and secured it with tape. This serves two purposes – 1) we have some horns and 2) the bag fits Red Ted a little better. Of course you can just glue some horns on and cut the paper bag down a little!
2) Then we “located Red Ted’s eyes and cut some holes.
3) Now the painting and decorating started. Some big yellow eyes, a big brown nose. Triangles for teeth…. We painted some extra paper dark brown for the shaggy hair and beard. Then cut strips and stuck them on.
Done!

Photo by Flisat Fun
For Max
1) I trimmed the bottom part of the paper bag off – this is to create a better fit for Pip Squeak. I kept this paper and we painted it gold, to be used as a crown later.
2) Using Red Ted as a guide, I cute a “face shape”.
3) Then we painted it all white. I pinched and glued down the sides down a little to make the “Max shape” (rather than have a square face).
4) Cut the crown and cello tape it to the top and add your piece of white felt (or use paper or use cotton wool)!
Done!
Photo by Flisat Fun!
This is what Pip Squeak thought of it all (she was napping whilst we were crafting)

What do you think? Do you like Where The Wild Things Are crafts? What have you made? I wonder what everyone else’s paper bag craft will be!!!
Need some more No Sew Halloween Costumes? Check out the full set:
Happy Trick or Treating!
Rachelle | TinkerLab says
Oh — my — goodnes!!! Maggy, these are adorable! I love Where the Wild Things Are, but my kids not so much. It\’s great that you were able to bring the characters to life for your kids, and have them play a part in the process.
Red Ted Art says
Oh thank you Rachelle! So lovely of you to say! Yes, can see why not all kids like the book (it is a bit like the Gruffalo – why would you like big ugly monsters??)… ๐ Can\’t wait to go off now and see what everyone else made. Such a fabulous challenge! Thank you for organising!
Vanessa says
Oh my golly. They are AMAZING. Hurrah!
*brain starts ticking, starts looking for paper bags!*
Liz Burton says
Goodness Maggy, your children are so obliging!!
LOVE the masks, they are fabulous.
I\’m a big Sendak fan too. x
Red Ted Art says
@Vanessa would love to see what you make
@ Liz – Aren\’t they just? I am very lucky that for now they like posing!!
Jude says
Fantastic masks – I had originally planned to do masks too – but nothing as good as these!
Red Ted Art says
Thank you Jude!! I love love love EVERYTHING you make, so that comment means A LOT to me!! *BEAM*
Rachel says
Pinning this because it is amazing ๐
Red Ted Art says
THANK YOU ๐
Bernadette - Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas says
OH my goodness! Brilliant, Brilliant, did I say BRILLIANT!? They look adorable Maggy!
That is one of our favorite books and your masks just brings the story to life – I am pinning this!
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
You know what I think about these already, but of course a comment is nice too…so they are GORGEOUS!! So impressive and I can\’t wait to do something similar when C is a bit older. Wonderful results and very happy adorable children ๐
Roopa says
These are amazingly wonderful Maggy!! love them!!! I need to go beg/borrow some big bags now to try something like these:))
Red Ted Art says
Oh my, dear lady friends, I pop out and I come back to all these lovely comments!! **THANK YOU** ๐
Melissa @ The Chocolate Muffin Tree says
These masks are great! Love the WIld Things and what a fab idea!
Brooke@let kids create says
Wonderful masks! Your kids look cute in them!
debbie clement says
I predict that 15 years from now, the picture of your two WonderPeeps together will be one that melts your heart. It\’s one of those classics that will make you sigh, as they\’re getting ready for graduation festivities and it catches your eye on the mantle place.
KUDOS. Such a treasure.
Debbie Clement
amber says
These turned out so good. Very Very cute!
Jill @ A Mom With A Lesson Plan says
I love those! They are perfect masks and i bet your kids loved making a RUMPUS in costume!
Red Ted Art says
@Debbie you say the nicest things!
@Jill oh yes indeed.. mine are very good at Rumpusing!!!
Thank you for all your very kind comments! I think we need to go off and play Wild Things again now.
se7en says
Man those are just totally superb!!! Stunning!!! We had a Wild Thing Party last year that I think you would enjoy: http://www.se7en.org.za/2009/09/03/where-the-wild-things-are-party-in-se7en-steps
Mummy..Mummy..MUM!! says
Maggy, they are gorgeous!
artsy_momma says
Those turned out soooooooo good! Coolest Paper bags ever ๐
Eva Scott says
These are seriously so adorable! I have a friend who loves this story. I\’m going to share with her!
maryanne @ mama smiles says
Your masks are fantastic!
Allie says
HI Maggy! I featured these cute masks on my blog today! Stop by and grab a button if you wish. I LOVE them. So creative. http://www.missloviecreations.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-favorite-things-thursday.html
Red Ted Art says
Oooh thank you for the feature!
Brittney says
These are absolutely wonderful! I wish I had half the talent to come up with something like this for my kids!
Trisha @ Clarion Wren says
Great masks for a great book!
Red Ted Art says
Thank you so much for your oh so lovely comments and yes, the book is BRILLIANT!
Marissa says
These are amazing! What child wouldn\’t have fun making these – not to mention playing with them!
creativejewishmom/sara says
Love your paper bag masks, love the book too! Thanks so much for sharing this and all your projects on Craft Schooling Sunday! Could you please send me a large version of the last photo of the post (with the 2 kids) so that I can feature this? Thanks so much!
Red Ted Art says
Oh yes, of course, thank you ๐
Eddie - The Usual Mayhem says
Those are brilliant!
Being not so brilliant myself, I just realized that I submitted two projects (St.George and Harry potter unit) on the wrong linky list. Sorry about that!
Red Ted Art says
Ah never mind! I am not in “control” of that linky, but I think they will be deleted. Hope that is ok.. but here is the one to link to if you still want to:
https://www.redtedart.com/2012/02/08/paper-bag-crafts/
The Monko says
your paper bag masks made me smile, they look fab.
toysinthedryer says
I love this! Found you on Skip To My Lou. Would you please share this with our readers for Fun Stuff Fridays? http://www.toysinthedryer.com/2012/02/fun-stuff-fridays-11.html
Red Ted Art says
I would love to!
Liz says
Thank you for sharing this great idea! One of the dress-up days for March is Reading MOnth at my kiddos\’ school is dress as your favorite book character. These masks will be perfect.
Red Ted Art says
Oooh I am so pleased!!! Would love to see a photo if you do end up making them!!
@ZingZingTree says
Oh this are so fab. I love them!
Annie says
These look so cool! Forget the kids – I want to make one for me !
Keitha says
Those are the cutest bags ever!
Robin @ Sweet Tea Classroom says
Wow! You are so talented.
Rachel says
You’ve saved my life, thanks. My child’s Grade 1 class are doing “Where the Wild things are” for the school concert, and I was stumped for costume ideas..these will be prefect, thanks.
Red Ted Art says
Oooh I am SO pleased! Hooray! Have a fabulous school play!
Bethany @ No Twiddle Twaddle says
Those are awesome. Thanks for sharing. I’m excited about adding these and your adorable witch costume to my list!
doro K. says
i like it, too. perfect for little boys.
I linked to your tutorial on my blog – thanks for sharing!
doro K.
Isabel Thomas says
Fantastic! I adore this idea. It gives the wild things exactly the right amount of ‘bigness’ and otherness! I wrote a piece for the Guardian about making Max’s wolf suit for World Book Day. Next time I use the costume I’m going to make a horde of paper bag wild things too!
Many thanks for sharing!
My Max: http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2013/mar/05/world-book-day-make-max-costume-where-wild-things-are
The Activity Mom says
Hi there,
I’d love to feature this craft on a Wild Things collection post. If you are ok with it can I show the picture on my site with a link to this post? If so, email me the pic at nduggan2@gmail.com
Thanks!
Red Ted Art says
Ooh yes please! Thank you!!
The Activity Mom says
Awesome! Thanks!
I actually got the image from a different site that linked up. Hope that is ok. I’ll send you the link to my post when it is up.
Thanks!
Mila says
It is really cool project and I added it to my Halloween Craft Collection! You can find it in my Sweet Garden
http://cltodo.blogspot.ca/2013/10/passion-of-halloween.html