Are you ready to bring a touch of mystery and magic to your next craft day? Whether you are celebrating the vibrant streets of Venice, the jazzy energy of Mardi Gras, or just a rainy afternoon at home, this Carnival mask craft is the perfect way for kids to step into a brand-new character!
Designed for preschool and elementary students, this activity turns a simple paper plate into a colorful piece of wearable art.
Using a free template to get the perfect shape, children can let their imaginations run wild as they layer bright tissue paper, sparkling craft gems, and fluffy feathers to create a look that is truly extraordinary.
It’s a wonderful opportunity for kids to explore color, symmetry, and texture while building the confidence to express their own unique style.
Carnival Mask Craft
Materials
- Carnival mask craft template (available for download below)
- Paper plate
- Craft sticks
- Tissue paper
- Craft gems (optional)
- Craft feathers
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions
First, download and print out the free carnival mask craft template, which you can find at the bottom of this page.
Cut out the masks from the template.
Trace the mask that you want to use onto a paper plate (alternatively, you can print the template on cardstock paper instead of tracing it on a plate, but the mask will be slightly less sturdy) and cut it out.
Now it’s time to get creative and decorate your mask! The sky is the limit here really, you can color them, paint them, or use tissue paper to decorate them like we did!
We chose to glue crinkled tissue paper to the front of the mask to give a vibrant, colorful effect. If you go this route, be sure to trim the edges when you’re done adding your tissue paper. We found it easiest to tuck the inside tissue paper into the eye hole and glue it in the back instead of trimming it.
You can also add other fun decorations, like craft gems and feathers to give your mask even more flare!
When your mask is decorated to your satisfaction, attach a craft stick to the back on one side using tape or glue.
Now your festive mask is ready to enjoy!
My five year old and I had the best time making these mask together. He loved the way his mask turned out and was so proud to wear it around the house!
This festive mask is the perfect way for young artists to explore their personal style while creating a beautiful piece of wearable art.
Whether used for a school parade or at-home dress-up, it provides a wonderful opportunity for kids to show off their creativity and celebrate the magic of imagination.
Carnival Mask Craft
Get creative with this fun and festive mask craft!
Materials
- Carnival mask craft template
- Paper plate
- Craft sticks
- Tissue paper
- Craft gems (optional)
- Craft feathers (optional)
- Markers/colored pencils (optional)
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions
- Download and print out the Carnival mask craft template.
- Cut out the masks in the templates.
- Trace your mask of choice onto the paper plate and cut out.
- Decorate your mask using tissue paper, craft gems, feathers, and/or colored pencil or markers.
- Attach a craft glue to the back of the mask on one side using tape or glue.
Fun Facts About Carnival
What is Carnival? Carnival (or Carnevale in Italian) is a giant festival that happens right before the season of Lent begins. It is a time for people to “say goodbye” to winter and celebrate with big parades, colorful costumes, music, and lots of yummy food!
The City of Masks: While many places celebrate Carnival, Venice, Italy is world-famous for it. People travel from all over the globe to see the incredible, handcrafted masks and fancy dresses that fill the city’s narrow streets and boat-filled canals.
A Secret Identity: Long ago, wearing a mask during Carnival was a way to keep your identity a secret. This meant that for a few days, it didn’t matter if you were a king or a baker—everyone could celebrate together as equals!
Masterpiece Masks: Traditional Venetian masks aren’t just toys; they are often made of papier-mâché and decorated with real gold leaf, expensive lace, and even tiny hand-painted gems.
Battle of the Oranges: In the Italian city of Ivrea, they celebrate Carnival with a giant food fight! Thousands of people divide into teams and throw fresh oranges at each other to celebrate an ancient story of bravery.
The World’s Biggest Party: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is home to the largest Carnival celebration on Earth! Millions of people fill the streets to watch the “Samba School” parades, where dancers wear towering, glittering costumes and perform to high-energy drum music on massive, colorful floats.
Mardi Gras Magic: In the United States, the most famous Carnival celebration is called Mardi Gras (which is French for “Fat Tuesday”), held in New Orleans. During the parades, “krewes” on floats toss colorful plastic beads, toy coins called doubloons, and even hand-decorated coconuts to the crowds!
