Feathered Bird Mask

Black & White Feather Mask

A mask is the perfect accessory to complement any Halloween costume. Feathers have gorgeous colors and patterns and are easy to work with, making them a great choice for mask making projects.

Humorous Bird Mask

Humorous Bird Mask

Masks not only coordinate with costumes, but can also express personality, subtle sophistication, and even humorous characteristics.

Unintentionally Humorous Bird

Oops Bird Mask

The colors and patterns in this mask are bold and confident, but there’s a problem…birds don’t have feathers on their beaks. To correct it, remove the beak feathers and simply paint it flat black, which will return the focus to the beautifully accented eyes.

How to Make a Feathered Bird Mask:

Assorted Supplies

Supplies

Crafts stores sell several mask styles, such as half masks, full face masks, and some with sculpted scroll or fleur-de-lis details. Decorations include feathers, rhinestones, sequins, faux diamonds, and fancy beaded or woven trims.

Paint Mask Black

Paint Mask Black

This half mask is made of plastic. Because spray paint can produce strong odors, I chose to hand paint it with acrylic paint to make this more comfortable to wear. Depending upon the mask material, it may require two coats of black paint.

Add Faux Faceted Diamonds

Faux Diamonds

Glue individual diamonds, flat side down, around the eye openings, ensuring the gems will not impede vision.

Begin Layering Black Feathers

Black Feathers

I started under the center point of the eye openings and worked my way around to the top, following the contours of the mask.

Create a Feathered Crown

Layer Black Feathers

Layer additional black feathers creating a beautiful crown, which extends above the top edge of the mask.

Layer Turquoise Feathers

Turquoise Feathers

Turquoise & brown tipped feathers are added, starting at the edge of the nose and continuing around the eye as shown. Repeat for the other side.

Completed Mask

Completed Mask Front

Add turquoise accent feathers on the top to contrast with the black. You may need to touch up the black paint due to scratches or nicks from handling. This completes the mask and it is ready to wear.

Completed Mask – Left Side View

Completed Mask Left Side

Because each feather is unique, there will be variations, but this will not detract from the design. I chose to create a balanced design, but masks can also be asymmetrical.

Completed Mask – Right Side View

Completed Mask Right Side

Completed Mask – Top View

Completed Mask Top

Raven/Parrot Costume

Raven Wings Costume

I made this mask for my mom to wear to a Halloween costume party. I had already purchased this cape, which resembles bird wings, from Grandinroad. She wanted an easy-to-wear costume. All she had to do was wear a black top and slacks, pull on the cape and complete the look with the feathered mask.

I hope you enjoyed this project. It’s easy and fun. Have you ever made a mask? Please let me know in the comments.

Thanks for Reading. Happy Halloween & Happy Crafting!

Halloween: Grins, Chills or Screams? Part 4

Witch Mixing Potions

When I was writing the first three posts in this series, I found myself constantly flipping back and forth between each of the Halloween themes within the Kid Friendly, Creepy and Nightmares levels. I thought you might like to see a side-by-side comparison. The results below are astonishing.

Halloween Themes:
Kid Friendly                                        Creepy                                     Nightmares

Jack-O-Lanterns

Pumpkins

Black Cats

Black Cats

Mummies

Mummies

Spiders

Spiders

Ghosts

Ghosts

Clowns

Clowns

Scarecrows

Scarecrows

Monsters

Monsters

Witches

Witches

Haunted House

Haunted Houses

Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkin Patches

Skeletons

Skeletons

Graveyards

Graveyards

Werewolves

Werewolves

Bats

Bats

Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead

Vampires

Vampires

As you can see, Kid Friendly characters are cute, almost cuddly. Creepy ones make you feel uneasy, wondering what it might do. However, if you encounter a Nightmare character along a lonely road at night, don’t waste time wondering… Run away!

This is the last post in the Halloween Grins, Chills & Screams series. In case you missed the first three parts, please be sure to read part 1 Kid Friendly, part 2 Creepy, and part 3 Nightmares for more inspiring ideas. I hope you enjoyed it. Please let me know your favorites in the comments.

Thanks for Reading. Happy Halloween & Happy Crafting!

Halloween: Grins, Chills or Screams? Part 3

Nightmares Midnight Rider

When decorating for Halloween, there are two decisions to be made:

1. Choose a Theme.  2. Choose a Fear Factor.

What is the fear factor? Think of it as how much you want to frighten people, based upon a 3-level scale. Level 3 is Nightmares. Halloween themes at this level provide good old-fashioned scares like when someone sneaks up behind you and yells Boo. You jump and maybe scream in shock…and then you tell them they’re grounded for life. (lol) Let’s see how the desired emotional reactions affect our choices in Halloween décor.

Nightmare Themes:

Jack-O-Lanterns

Nightmares Pumpkin

Black Cats

Nightmares Black Panther

Mummies

Nightmares Mummy

Spiders

Nightmares Spider

Ghosts

Nightmares Ghost

Clowns

Nightmares Clown

Scarecrows

Nightmares Scarecrow

Monsters

Nightmares Monster

Witches

Nightmares Witch

Haunted House

Nightmares Haunted House

Pumpkin Patch

Nightmares Pumpkin Patch

Skeletons

Nightmares Skeleton

Graveyard & Zombie

Nightmares Graveyard

Werewolves

Nightmares Werewolf

Bats

Nightmares Bat

Day of the Dead

Nightmares Day of Dead

Vampires

Nightmares Vampire

Haunted Corn Maze

Nightmares Haunted Maze

Haunted Village

Nightmares Haunted Village

Haunted Bog

Nightmares Haunted Bog

Onion Monster

Nightmares Onion Monster

Insects

Nightmares Insect

Headless Horseman

Nightmares Headless Horseman

Vampires & Werewolves (Extra Credit for Living Chess Pieces. lol)

Nightmares Vampire & Werewolves

Gremlins

Nightmares Gremlin

Nightmare Themed Foods:

Beverages

Nightmares Hot Beverage

Cakes

Nightmares Cake

Desserts

Nightmares Desserts

Pastries

Nightmares Breakfast Pastries

Let’s Toast to Halloween

Nightmares Skeleton at Bar

Halloween Nightmares themes explore the unknown and isn’t that mankind’s biggest fear? Being more complex, these characters appear out of the darkness via motion (costumed actors or animatronics), light, sound and fog, triggering screams or bad dreams for days to come.

Stay tuned for the fourth and final post in this series for a frightfully fun side-by-side comparison of Halloween themes. In case you missed the first two parts, please be sure to read part 1 Kid Friendly and part 2 Creepy for more inspiring ideas. Please let me know your favorites in the comments.

Thanks for Reading. Happy Halloween & Happy Crafting!

Halloween: Grins, Chills or Screams? Part 2

Black Cat & Haunted House

When decorating for Halloween, there are two decisions to be made:

1. Choose a Theme.  2. Choose a Fear Factor.

What is the fear factor? Think of it as how much you want to frighten people, based upon a 3-level scale. Level 2 is Creepy.  Halloween themes at this level are eerie and unsettling, resulting in spine-tingling chills & goosebumps. Let’s see how the desired emotional reactions affect our choices in Halloween décor.

Creepy Themes:

Jack-O-Lanterns

Creepy Pumpkins & Spiders

Black Cats

Creepy Black Cat

Mummies

Creepy Mummy

Spiders

Creepy Spider

Ghosts

Creepy Ghost

Clowns

Creepy Clown

Scarecrows

Creepy Scarecrow

Monsters

Creepy Pumpkin Monster

Witches

Creepy Witch

Haunted House

Creepy Haunted House

Pumpkin Patch

Creepy Pumpkin Patch

Skeletons

Creepy Skeleton

Graveyard

Creepy Graveyard

Werewolves

Creepy Werewolves

Bats

Creepy Bat

Day of the Dead (Extra credit for being fashionably frightening. lol)

Creepy Day of Dead

Vampires (Looks like Tom Cruise in Interview with a Vampire)

Creepy Vampire

Twisted Fairy Tales

Creepy Twisted Cinderella

Dolls (Reminds me of the little girls in Stephen King’s The Shining)

Creepy Doll Head Vase

Creepy Themed Foods:

Beverages

Creepy Coffee Art

Cakes

Creepy Wedding Cake

Candy

Creepy Candy

Serving Dishes

Creepy Food Display

Guests, craving the thrills of amusement parks, will appreciate the chilling surprises discovered around every corner with these Halloween Creepy themes. Please let me know your favorites in the comments.

Stay tuned for the third and fourth posts in this series for ideas on Halloween Nightmares themes and a comparison of all three. In case you missed it, please be sure to read part 1 for Kid Friendly inspiration.

Thanks for Reading. Happy Halloween & Happy Crafting!

Halloween: Grins, Chills or Screams? Part 1

Kid Friendly Witch & Full Moon

When decorating for Halloween, there are two decisions to be made:

1. Choose a Theme.  2. Choose a Fear Factor.

What is the fear factor? Think of it as how much you want to frighten people, based upon a 3-level scale. Level 1 is Kid Friendly. Halloween themes at this level are cute or funny, resulting in widespread grins. In this four-part series, let’s see how the desired emotional reactions affect our choices in Halloween décor.

Kid Friendly Themes:

Jack-O-Lanterns

Kid Friendly Pumpkin Witch

Black Cats

Kid Friendly Black Cat

Mummies

Kid Friendly Mummy

Spiders

Kid Friendly Spiders

Ghosts

Kid Friendly Ghost

Clowns

Kid Friendly Clown

Scarecrows

Kid Friendly Scarecrow

Monsters

Kid Friendly Monster Boo

Witches

Kid Friendly Witch

Haunted House

Kid Friendly Haunted House

Pumpkin Patch

Kid Friendly Pumpkin Patch

Skeletons

Kid Friendly Skeletons

Graveyard

Kid Friendly Graveyard

Werewolves

Kid Friendly Werewolf

Bats

Kid Friendly Bat

Day of the Dead

Kid Friendly Day of Dead

Vampires

Kid Friendly Vampire

Kid Friendly Themed Foods:

Candy/White Chocolate Marshmallows

Kid Friendly Dessert

Cupcakes

Kid Friendly Cupcakes

Cakes

Kid Friendly Cake

Cookies

Kid Friendly Cookies

Donuts

Kid Friendly Donuts

Guests of all ages will appreciate the playful, festive atmosphere created by these Kid Friendly decorations. Stay tuned for the next three posts in this series, exploring Creepy themes, Nightmare themes, and a comparison of all three. Please let me know your favorite Halloween themes and if you prefer amusing or frightening decor.

Thanks for Reading. Happy Halloween & Happy Crafting!