Making a Spider-Man mask is a simple project that you can finish in a few hours. No sewing is required, just a hot glue gun. Start with a red mask and large frame sunglasses, then assemble the mask and accentuate the details to make it look authentic.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Get the Materials
Step 1. Get a red spandex mask
Many online vendors offer spandex masks called "Morph" masks. If you are planning to make a matching Spider-Man costume, you can also purchase a full-length "Morph" costume. Look for the red mask at a costume store or order it online. It should cost about $ 15.
Step 2. Buy large frame sunglasses
There are several different versions of Spider-Man between the comics and the movies. Some Spider-Man costumes have dark lenses as eyes, while others show a Spider-Man with bright, reflective eyes. Buy sunglasses in the shade you prefer for your costume, dark or bright.
Make sure the lenses have fairly large windows. Each moon will be an eye in the mask, so look for reference images of Spider-Man when you go shopping. Look in the women's eyewear section, as there are many feminine styles with large lenses
Step 3. Use tinted window paper to make the eyes
As an alternative look, consider using a sheet of tinted window paper to make the eyes for the mask. It will have a similar effect to glasses, but the material is flexible rather than rigid. You can ask an auto supply store if they have scraps, and then cut them out into the shape of eyes. You won't need too much, so they will surely help you.
Step 4. Purchase a black indelible marker, black fabric paint, or inflatable paint
To create the spider web pattern on the Spider-Man mask, you have to choose between marker or black fabric paint. This will depend on your aesthetic tastes. The marker will create flat, dull lines, while the inflatable paint or fabric paint will create textured, raised lines. Keep in mind that you will have to wash the mask by hand no matter which one you choose. Both ways can be damaged if you machine wash.
Step 5. Get a hot glue gun
Many craft stores carry cheap hot glue guns. Pick one or use the one you already have. Make sure you have several glue sticks so you don't run out in the middle of the project.
Part 2 of 3: Assembling the mask
Step 1. Support your mask on something flat
Put the spandex mask on a flat surface such as a table or desk. Make sure to support it with the front facing up, because you are obviously going to draw the eyes there. If you have a styrofoam or mannequin head, feel free to use it. You will have a better point of view to design the mask and visualize it in your own head.
Step 2. Sketch the eyes
Using a pencil or pen, sketch the size and shape of the eyes as you like. Use a reference photo to get an idea of how you want your eyes to look in relation to the size of the mask. Remember to compare the sunglasses with the size of the eyes: what you want is for the moons to be larger than the size of the eyes.
Step 3. Cut the eyes out of the mask
Put one hand inside the mask, then take a scissors with the other hand. Carefully poke a hole directly into one eye line and then cut along it. Once you've cut the first eye, do the same for the other. Make sure the scissors are sharp and your hands are steady; otherwise, the cut may be uneven or uneven.
Check out photos of Spider-Man for reference to get an idea of the shape of the eyes. In most incarnations of Spider-Man, his eyes are almost triangular, with a straight line at the top and a U-shaped line that forms the lower eyelid
Step 4. Remove the lenses from the sunglasses
The moons of most sunglasses pop out easily when pressed. Hold the frame with both hands, then push the windows slowly with your thumbs. Make sure not to push too hard or the windows could break.
Step 5. Glue the moons inside the mask with the hot glue
Let the glue gun heat up, then apply a thin line to the outside of a moon. While holding the neck of the mask open with one hand, use the other to poke the moon with the glue into the mask. Place the moon directly under one of the eye holes and then attach the glue to the fabric inside the mask. Make sure the eye hole is completely covered by the moon and that there are no holes.
- Place the second moon. Using the same method, put a line of glue on the other moon and then affix it to the inside of the mask to create the second eye.
- If you make a mistake when placing the moon on the first try, you will have a few seconds to move it before the glue dries. Apply a little pressure to the sides of the moon to cover the eye hole while the glue is still hot.
- The glue will take about 15 seconds to set, so keep in mind how long you have left to make changes.
Part 3 of 3: Accentuate the Details
Step 1. Draw the edge of the eyes
Spider-Man has thick black borders around his eyes, so you will have to draw them. With your marker or fabric paint, draw a 1-centimeter (1-centimeter) border around each eye, then fill it in completely. If you're feeling a bit more ambitious, cut a piece of black fabric from an old t-shirt in the correct shape and glue it on top.
Step 2. Draw the cobwebs
Find a reference photo in a comic book or online and copy Spider-Man's web pattern onto the mask. If you feel uncomfortable doing it freehand, try drawing it first with a pencil, then erase and adjust until it looks good. Then use the marker or fabric paint to trace the pencil lines.
Step 3. Let it dry
Now that you have glued on the mask and accentuated the details, you need to let it dry. Read the instructions on the paint bottle and glue gun for specific times. The glue should dry within a minute or so, but the paint can take up to 72 hours depending on the brand.
Step 4. Try it on
Once your mask has dried, go ahead and try it on. Pair it with a handmade Spider-Man costume or wear it on its own. It will be perfect for Halloween, superhero events or costume parties.
Advice
- Create other variations of Spider-Man using different mask colors. Check out the comics to learn more about the different incarnations of Spider-Man.
- Work with an adult if you are not old enough to use scissors and a hot glue gun.
Warnings
- Be careful when using the hot glue gun. The metal tip may be too hot and you will burn yourself if you touch it.
- Always be careful when using scissors. Since you won't be able to see where your hands are inside the mask, you need to be especially careful when cutting.