Carnival is fast approaching and if you've been too busy planning the perfect Valentine's date and sharing all the love you feel for your better half and your kids, you've winded up forgetting about Carnival altogether. These five mirthful and festive days are most probably some of the most anticipated days in the year and not dressing up would break your kids' hearts. Don't be distressed! We've compiled a couple of easy and fun-to-do Carnival masks which you can do with your kids in just a couple of hours, just in time for them to flaunt them at the upcoming festivities.

1. Fairy mask

Supplies:

• Different-coloured fresh or silk flowers, leaves and petals
• White cardstock
• Craft glue
• Elastic band
• Scissors
• Hole punch

Instructions:

• Print a standard mask template on white cardstock
• Cut out the mask based on the shape of your kid's face and cut the eyes
• Glue the leaves and flowers all around the mask
• Punch holes on each side of the mask to insert the elastic band

2. Dog Mask

Supplies:

• Square cardboard box 
• 2 plastic caps of spice jars
• Blue paper
• Paper cup
• Black duct tape
• Pink sponge
• 2 mop heads
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors
• Marker

Instructions:

• Make the face:

- For the eyes: Cut the flaps from the two jar caps. Trace a circle on blue paper using the caps, cut the circle in half and glue each half on each lid.

- For the snout: Cover the paper cup with duct tape. Cut the cup's length in half and cut two semi-circles at the bottom of the cup for the nostrils.

- For the tongue: Cut away the corners from the pink sponge to create the tongue.

• Glue these pieces on one side of the cardboard box. Don't forget to cut the eyes
• Use the mop heads for the dog's fur. Glue 1 mop head on the top of the box using a hot glue gun, leaving the threads hanging in front of the face 
• Trim the strings which are hiding the facial features
• Tape the trimmings together and glue a batch under the snout and another under the tongue
• Glue the second mop next to the first one and let the threads hang at the back of the box   
• Grab a handful of string from each side of the head and tie together on top of the box to create the ears

3. Superhero mask

Supplies:

• Black/red craft foam (black for a Batman mask or red for a Superman mask)
• Elastic band
• Scissors
• Cardstock
• Hole punch
• Craft glue
• Marker

Instructions:

• Print a standard mask template on white cardstock
• Cut out the mask based on the shape of your kid's face and cut the eyes
• Trace the template pattern on the foam 
• Cut and glue the foam on the cardstock
• Punch holes on each side of the mask to insert the elastic band

4. Bird mask

Supplies:

• Different-coloured feathers
• White cardstock
• Craft glue
• Scissors 
• Elastic band
• Ribbon
• Hole punch

Instructions:

• Print a standard mask template on white cardstock
• Cut out the mask based on the shape of your kid's face and cut the eyes
• Glue the feathers on the mask
• Glue the piece of ribbon around the eyes
• Punch holes on each side of the mask to insert the elastic band

5. Emoji masks

Supplies:

• Yellow cardboard
• Coloured paper (depends on the colours of the emojis you want to create)
• Scissors
• Craft glue
• Large popsicle sticks
• Pencil

Instructions:

• Cut large circles on the yellow cardboard using a bowl to help you 
• Cut the necessary designs from the coloured paper. The more you create, the more your kid will have fun switching masks while with his friends
• Glue the designs on the cardboard 
• Glue the popsicle sticks on the back of the cardboard

6. Lion mask

Supplies:

• Paper plate
• Yellow and brown paint
• 6 yellow straws
• Sticky tape
• Craft glue
• Elastic band
• White cardstock 
• Hole punch
• Paintbrush  
• Scissors

Instructions:

• Cut a curved u-shape design on the paper plate (the nose will be the central part of the plate) 
• Use the cutting to create lion ears
• Paint both pieces with yellow paint
• Paint small brown details on the nose and ears 
• Dip hand in yellow paint and create lots of handprints on the white cardstock- this will be used for the lion's mane
• Tape 3 yellow straws on each side of the plate and glue at the back of the nose
• Glue the ears at the top of the plate
• Cut the handprints and glue them all around the paper plate 
• Punch holes on each side of the mask to insert the elastic band

7. Unicorn Mask

Supplies:

• White cardstock
• Coloured cardstock
• Scissors
• Craft glue
• Yellow glitter foam sheet
• Rainbow-coloured streamers
• Elastic band
• Shiny embellishments of your choice (such as rhinestones and beads)
• Hole punch

Instructions:

• Print a unicorn mask template on white cardstock
• Cut out the mask based on the shape of your kid's face and cut the eyes
• Cut out ears/eyelashes on coloured cardstock
• Cut the unicorn's horn from the glitter foam sheet 
• Glue all the pieces on the mask
• Add some shiny embellishments on the mask to create a super sparkly unicorn
• Attach the streamers to the mask to create a colourful mane
• Punch holes on each side of the mask to insert the elastic band

8. Mouse mask

Supplies:

• White cardstock
• Scissors
• Craft glue
• 6 black pipe cleaners
• Grey crayons or paint
• Paintbrush
• Elastic band
• Hole punch

Instructions:

• Print a standard mask template on white cardstock
• Cut out the mask based on the shape of your kid's face and cut the eyes
• Paint or draw the cardstock in grey
• Cut a pair of ears and a nose using another piece of cardstock
• Paint or draw the ears and nose using a lighter grey colour
• Glue them on the mask
• Glue 3 pipe cleaners on each side for the whiskers
• Punch holes on each side of the mask to insert the elastic band

We can guarantee your kids will love creating their own unique masks and get their little fingers busy. So head down to one of the local craft shops immediately and experiment with these DIY crafts this Carnival.

If your kids are not into arts and crafts, you'll be able to find ready-made Carnival masks in costume shops around Malta and Gozo.

Also explore these 5 costume ideas for Carnival!

Keep on discovering local with Yellow.