Cat Mask Pattern
For Paper Mache
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Make a cat mask with this pattern – No sculpting or paper mache experience is required
Yes, the pattern creates all the shapes for you – but you get to paint it to match your own favorite cat.
And since cats come in so many different colors, stripes and spots, why make just one? This is a great art project for a crafting party.
How to use the cat mask pattern:
Print the cat mask pattern, glue it to cereal box cardboard and cut out the pieces.
Tape the cat mask pattern pieces together.
Add one layer of paper strips and paste.
Paint your new cat mask to match your favorite kitty.
Finished size: About 9 inches (22.86 cm) high (including the ears), 9.75 inches (24.765 cm) wide and 10.5 inches (26.67 cm) deep. It will fit an adult head, but the size can be changed by following the instructions in the video on this post .
If you use the pattern to create a wall sculpture, it will be about 5 inches (12.7 cm) deep.
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.
Click here if you’d like to know more about how the patterns are delivered. (If you’ll be saving your pattern to and iPhone or iPad, they do tend to hide your 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.
Watch these videos to see how to use the cat mask pattern:
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To make the cat mask you will need:
- Access to a Printer
- Copy paper or full-sheet labels (I use the labels)
- Glue stick if using copy paper instead of labels
- Cardboard: To make a wearable mask, you’ll need the front and back from from 3 standard-sized cereal boxes, or 6 pieces of letter-sized “light chipboard*” that you can purchase online. To make a wall sculpture, you’ll need the front and back from 2 cereal boxes, or 4 pieces of light chipboard, and a scrap of corrugated cardboard for the back.
- Sharp scissors for cutting the cardboard, and a box cutter for the corrugated cardboard, if you’re
using it. - Clear plastic tape and masking tape. Note: Don’t use disappearing gift wrap tape – it isn’t strong enough.
- Paper strips and paste. You can also use paper mache clay for the front, but it will make the mask slightly heavier. Use paper strips and paste for the cap, because it’s more flexible.
- Acrylic paint. If you’re making a wall sculpture, you will also want to protect your paint with clear
spray or acrylic varnish. - Shoelaces or elastic straps to hold the mask in place.
* If purchasing cardboard in place of the cereal boxes, it will be sold as “light chipboard.” Medium or heavy chipboard is too stiff to bend well.
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. 🙂
Is there a fairly easy way to convert the masks that cover the face to a headdress mask (like Lion King) that sit on top of the head?
I have a cap-only pattern that I could send you. You’d need to fiddle around with the mask patterns by adding a flat back and maybe some more cardboard so you’d have enough edges to tape to the cap. In other words, I don’t know how easy they would be, but it should be possible. Let me know if you want me to send the cap pattern, and I’ll email it to you.
What is the benefit of using a flour and water paper mache vs the plaster of paris recipe you used in your Pantalone video? It seems like with the flour and water recipe you leave the armature in, but with the plaster of paris recipe you remove the armature? I want to add some more details to the mask, like wrinkles, and was thinking of using super sculpey like in the pantalone tutorial. Would the plaster of paris recipe work with this pattern or would it potentially be too heavy/wet on top of the cardboard?
Hi, we are doing the cat mask. The instructions refer to part #R-5 and L-5 but the patterns only have a piece R-5.
Where is the pattern for piece L-5?
Oh dear – I really thought I’d fixed that. The piece you need is on Page 3 – it is incorrectly labeled L-4, but it looks just like R-5, except that it’s reversed. Thank you so much for reminding me of this issue. I have now replaced the file with the correct number on that piece so I won’t confuse anyone else.
I hope you’re having fun making your cat, other than this little boo boo of mine. We’d love to see how it comes out. 🙂
Hi Joni, love the masks, they’re so realistic. By the way, what do you do for the eyes? Do you get real glass ones or do you paint them on? Here where I live in India there aren’t any craft shops… So getting supplies is difficult. Much love,
Lyn Waring
Hi Lyn. You could use glass eyes, although I haven’t ever done that. You would need to order them from a taxidermy supply house. Several people have used Styrofoam balls or ping-pong balls for the wolf and lion masks. They use hot glue to attach the balls behind the eye hole, cover the balls with paper mache, and paint them. The cat mask has a pattern piece for the eye with the pupil cut out so the wearer can see out. If you didn’t cut out that part of the piece you can paint the eye without adding any balls or glass eyes. I made a video several years ago about how to paint a dog’s eye on paper mache, and you might find it useful. Also, any YouTube video that shows how to paint an animal’s eye would work just as well on a sculpture.
If you try it, please post a photo so we can see how it comes out!
Gracias Jonni, confeccionaré la máscara de lobo y la compartiré con mis alumnos.
Un saludo muy cariñoso para tí
Ana
Hi Ana. After you make the wolf, I hope you’ll show us, too. We would love to see it.
Very nice masks Jonni. I know what you mean about using color. When I get a chance to use colors besides the neutral wildlife colors, I get so excited. I want to do something(can’t decide what) where I can pour paint on it and just leave it to do its thing. I did that for my granddaughters. I got them a bunch of art supplies, etc for a gift and I made them a “fancy ‘ box to keep it in. I bought a gift box and painted it white so I would have a blank canvas. Then I diluted some complementary colors and then just poured! It was fun to see how the colors intereracted with each other and learn which ones are more opaque, etc. I had to do it 6 times to cover each side but it was great fun. One could do this on a cat mask or any paper mache sculpture. Do you have any suggestions?
This mask will be very popular around Halloween, people just love doing up that holiday.
Hi Eileen – what an interesting idea! It reminds me of the abstract paintings my daughter has been playing with, but I think her colors are mixed with a resin of some kind. Some of them work, and some don’t, but that’s part of the excitement. I don’t know if I’ll ever be brave enough to do something like that, but if anyone makes a cat (or anything else) with Eileen’s idea, I sure hope you’ll show us how it turns out.
The beauty of acrylics is that you could paint over it if it did not turn out. You might lose a minute amount of detail but not much. I just need to think of something that would work well with that sort of finishing.
I did think of Jessie’s work when I commented above. One would certainly need a working knowledge of color theory to pull this off.
I work with alcohol inks and resin sealing. I wonder if you were to apply a very thin coat of resin on the mask, let it cure, then applied the alcohol inks to the resin. If you haven’t worked with the inks, they are fun to work with and spread out nicely on non porous items, such as the resin.
OMG…you are sooo inspiring! Thanks for sharing, hopefully someday I’ll get through with all my lined up projects that I can get back to Paper Mache!
Cheers
Thanks, Sandra. Good luck with your to-do list. I hope you have some very exciting projects on the list.
Those are great masks. I especially love the “tiger” cat. These remind me of when I gave origami a try. One of the many things I admire about you is the continual creativity and exploring new methods of art. Thanks. I can’t wait until I get the house back together to continue the creating adventures. There is much creativity on this blog, and I admire it very much.
(Stephen King wrote about a new creature called a “bumbler.” I would love to make one when I am able. The reason I say this here is that the tiger cat has such a great face.)
Very cute! Nice paper pattern.
Thanks!
Hi Jonni, I really appreciate your blog and have followed your tutorials in the past. My goal is to make a hissing cat mask. I am thinking of modifying the pattern by moving up the nose and mouth (like they were scrunched up), adding in a panel for the mouth, and changing the shape of the chin. Wish me luck!!
That sounds like fun! Good luck with it – and be sure to let us see it when it’s done!