How to Make a Halloween Pumpkin Mask

Kids are just crazy about Halloween crafts. My youngest is no exception. Recently he insisted on making a Halloween pumpkin mask. My husband helped him out, and the result was quite striking even though it cost almost nothing, and the project took only an hour or so to complete.

It's easy to make a Halloween pumpkin mask for just a few pennies. You'll need the following materials:

A cardboard box
A pencil
Scissors
A hole punch
Orange and green non-toxic craft paint
A Sharpie marker
A rubber band

Use the pencil to draw a simple pumpkin shape on the inside of a cardboard box. Make sure it's the gift-box type which is made from chipboard, and not corrugated cardboard. You can also use a cereal box for this project, or any other chipboard which isn't dented, folded or waterstained. If you do use this type of cardboard, be sure to paint the reverse side with non-toxic craft paint (hunter green is a good color). It's entirely up to you and your child whether you would like to add a stem.

Paint the body of the pumpkin orange, and the stem green. Your child can cut out the pumpkin if he's good at cutting. Our son mistakenly cut the stem off of the pumpkin, then decided he didn't want it after all. Draw the eyes, nose and mouth of the pumpkin on top of the craft paint, being sure that they perfectly match the location of your child's eyes, nose and mouth. Use a ruler if necessary to measure.

Then use some sharp scissors to cut out the eyes, nose and mouth of the pumpkin. Then use the hole punch to punch out two holes on the sides of the mask, then tie the rubber band on to the mask. Be sure the rubber band is the long type, such as is used to bind two newspapers together.

Then use the pencil to mark out the lines of the pumpkin. In this case, the fewer, the better. I usually draw only five lines on each pumpkin, which is easier to do and less distracting to the eye. When you're satisfied with your pencil lines, trace over them with the black Sharpie marker.

Do a fitting with your child to make sure that everything is in the right place. Make any adjustments that are necessary.

In the end you will have a mask which will transform even the cutest child into something really scary. You'll have a lot of fun, and the whole craft project will only cost a few cents.