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For Paper Mache
$12
This elephant headdress mask is not a fast project, but it will look great when you finish it.
No sculpting experience is required – the pattern creates all of those dramatic elephant shapes, and the size of it will really draw attention from the audience. You’ll be very proud to tell folks that you made it yourself.
How to Make Your Elephant Headdress Mask:
Print the downloadable pattern, glue it to cereal box cardboard, and cut out the pieces.
Tape the pieces together – the instructions are included with the pattern.
Add a layer of paper mache. I used brown paper, but newspaper works just as well. Then add paper towel wrinkles, if want to. The videos below show you how.
Bring your elephant to life with acrylic paint and a fine-tip pen. (I used spray paint for all that grey).
One important note before you choose this pattern: The size and shape of the elephant’s head puts your eyes behind the trunk. You can see to the side, and you can see the floor – but you can’t see directly ahead of you without turning your head. Watch the end of the last video below to see what I mean.
Finished size –
About 20.5 inches (52.07 cm) high, and 16 inches (40.64 cm) deep, including the trunk, and 22.5 inches (57.15 cm) wide, including the ears. It will fit an adult head, but the size can be changed by printing the pattern larger or smaller, or by following the instructions on this page.
My downloadable PDF Patterns come with full instructions.
There’s no waiting for your pattern to arrive, and no shipping costs, so you can start on your project right away.
Note: If you’ll be saving your pattern to and iPhone or iPad, those devices like to hide your downloaded files. You can scroll down this page to see how to find them.
And remember – if you have any problems downloading your files or putting your pattern together, just let me know. I’m always happy to help. :)
$12
Watch These Videos to See How to Make Your Elephant Headdress Mask:
Taping the pattern pieces, part 1 –
This pattern has a lot of pieces, so it will take some time to cut them all out and put them together. Most of the pieces to together easily, but there are a few tricky ones where the tusks, trunk and mouth come together. Naturally, those are the ones I’ll have you do first. :)
Taping the pattern pieces, part 2 –
Adding paper mache, and optional paper towel wrinkles –
You’ll want to give yourself plenty of time for the paper mache, too. You really only need one layer. Then you can decide if you want to add more details, like the wrinkles I added with paper towels.
Painting the elephant headdress mask –
I was in a real hurry to get my elephant mask finished, so I used spray paint for that large expanse of grey. Acrylic craft paint would be a more ‘traditional’ choice. :)
To Make Your Elephant Headdress Mask You’ll Need:
- Access to a Printer
- Copy paper or full-sheet labels (I use the labels)
- Glue stick if using copy paper instead of labels
- The front and back from from 12 standard-sized cereal boxes, or 23 pieces of letter-sized “light
- chipboard*” that you can purchase online.
- Sharp scissors for cutting the cereal box cardboard
- Clear plastic tape and masking tape. Note: Don’t use disappearing gift wrap tape – it isn’t strong
- enough.
- One 1.25” foam ball
- Paper strips and paste. I used the cooked flour and water paste – you can find the recipe here. If you’re making the elephant mask for the theater, you may want to use TiteBond III wood glue, instead.
- Acrylic paint or spray paint, and clear spray or acrylic varnish.
- Shoelaces or elastic straps to hold the mask in place
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When you finish your elephant headdress mask…
We would really love to see how it comes out. Please visit the Daily Sculptors page and upload some photos. :)
Do you have a question or need help with your pattern?
There are two ways to contact me: The fastest way to get an answer is to leave a comment below. I read all comments and answer them as soon as I can, usually within a few hours. One of my readers might also chime in to help – we have a very supportive community here on this site.
If you prefer to reach me privately, you can send me an email.
I get a ton of spam and I don’t want your email to get lost, so please put “paper mache” in the subject line so your email won’t be accidentally deleted. If you don’t hear back from me within 24 hours, assume the cyberspace gremlins ate your email, and try again.
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