Simple Air Dry Clay Mask

Hey, this is a simple at home way of making a clay mask with objects you would find easily at home.

2 lb. Air dry clay

Cornstarch Powder (Optional)

Acrylic paint

Flat surface

Cups of water

Foam head or curved object similar to head size

Tools:

Roller Pin (Optional)

Disposable butter knife

Paint brushes

Use a flat smooth surface to start flattening your air dry clay into 1/4 inch thick sheets you can apply to the foam head or curved surface. You can flatten it with your hands, or use an old roller pin to get a more even flat piece.

After getting your clay nice and flat, start applying it to your foam head or curved surface. You can add some non stick mold release if you have some, or just use cornstarch powder to help take off the mask later in the process (trust me I know). Start with large areas first, such as the mouth and forehead regions, then using smaller pieces to form around more tight spaces. Make sure to knead the gaps between the pieces to create a smooth texture all across the mask. You can use a basic plastic butter knife to cut up the pieces, and clean areas around the eyes and nose. Fore those without a foam head, you will have to make your nose and other features by hand, so get creative!

You can use a variety of things to add designs to your mask. I used the blunt end of the plastic butter knife to create the ridges and lines on the clay. One mistake you should watch out for is putting too much pressure, and ending up making your designs too deep, which will weaken the mask and make it harder to take off the foam head. You can also add holes to add a rope and hang on a wall or wear. The sky is the limit here!

After you are done with adding designs, let the mask dry overnight. It is going to crack to some degree based on a lot of factors, but do not worry, as these are easy to fix. Get some more fresh air dry clay, and a cup of water and dip your fingers in to moisten the clay, and make it easier to push into the cracks in the mask. With the clay on ur fingertips, push the clay in the cracks with a firm pressure, going down along the length of the crack. You will want to do this a couple times for each crack as some may be deep, and require more clay to fill in. You can also intentionally leave some cracks untouched if you want a more ancient and faded look. After filling in the cracks, let it dry again over night.

Now that your mask has gotten the chance to dry, you can start to paint on details onto your mask. Even if you may want to keep your mask white, you should still paint as it will add some rigidity to the mask, even if it is a small amount. For your designs, use a smaller, flat brush and dab in the paint instead of trying to move the brush around the design. I wanted to keep my mask minimalistic, but feel free to make it as colorful as you like.

This is going to be the hardest part. If you have a foam head, you can push in the edges to start to help it come off the mask. Get something flat and thin and work your way around the edges slowly to minimize damage. Be patient and take your time and in no time you will have a new mask to be able to wear, or show off in your home!