Dragon Mask Pattern
For Paper Mache
$12
This dragon mask is easy to make, with just a few pieces of cereal box cardboard, a layer of paper mache, and some paint.
No sculpting experience is needed – the pattern creates all the shapes for you. You decide what your dragon’s horns will look like, and paint him with your favorite dragon colors.
Your mask will catch the attention of everyone who sees it — and you can proudly say “I made it myself!”
How to Make Your Dragon Mask:
Print the pattern pieces, attach them to cardboard, and cut them out.
Tape the pieces together.
Add spikes and horns, and one layer of paper strips and paste.
Paint your dragon with your favorite dragon colors.
Finished size:
About 10 inches (25.4 cm) high, 9 inches (22.86 cm) wide and 18 inches (45.72 cm) deep – but the finished size depends on how long you make the horns.
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.
Note: If you’ll be saving your pattern to and iPhone or iPad, those devices like to hide your downloaded 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. 🙂
$12
Watch the Dragon Mask Videos Below:
To Make Your Dragon Mask You Will Need:
- The Pattern
- Access to a Printer
- Copy paper or full-sheet labels
- Glue stick if using copy paper for pattern
- Cardboard from 4 standard-sized cereal boxes.
- Sharp scissors for cutting cereal box cardboard
- Clear plastic tape and masking tape Note: Don’t use disappearing gift wrap tape – it isn’t strong enough.
- Aluminum foil
- Glue gun
- Paper strips and paste (find recipes here) I used lightweight brown paper with Titebond III Wood Glue.
- Acrylic gesso or latex primer
- Acrylic paint and varnish, any colors you choose
* If purchasing cardboard in place of the cereal boxes, it will be sold as “light chipboard.” The thickness will be about 24pt or 1/41 of an inch. Medium or heavy chipboard is too stiff to bend well.
$12
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. 🙂
Some dragon masks made with this pattern:
When you finish your dragon mask…
We would really love to see how it comes out. Please visit the Daily Sculptors page and upload some photos – and tell us about your dragon, too. 🙂
Hello! I have made this mask scaled down for my four year old! It fits, but it keeps sliding down in the front as its heavier in the front for him. (I adjusted the cap for it to fit his head and had scaled down to 94 percent when printing). Do you have any suggestions for how to have it not slide down on him? I want to make sure it is comfortable for him for trick or treating 🙂
Thank you!
Rebecca
Hi Rebecca. You can add some straps to go under his chin to keep the mask from sliding down. Cut or drill holes in the mask behind where your son’s ear will go, and the tie on some straps. I like using shoelaces, because they come in a lot of different colors, but a ribbon would work, too. You could also try the baseball cap idea, if the mask is big enough – I haven’t tried it with the dragon, so the bill might get in the way. With some oversized masks the bill helps to hold up the mask.
This photo shows how I use a small metal washer to keep the shoelace from tearing a hole in the paper mache mask:
Argh the pieces are asymmetrical…better luck next time..?
If you’re having trouble with any of the pieces, let me know which ones and I’m happy to help.
Hello Hello amazing person! We just found your YouTube video of your beautiful dragon mask. My 7 year old daughter wants to make a dragon mask so before I buy your awesome pattern I have a few questions.
1. Do you think this could be made to fit a child?
2. Do you think there is scope for me to alter it a little so that the bottom jaw opens and closes via an elastic band under my daughter’s own jaw?
We would love to hear from you!
Many thanks,
Jacqui (and Harriet)
Hi Jacqui. You can make the dragon any size you want, just by printing it smaller. I don’t know exactly what percentage you’d need to print it at, but you could try 90% or 95%. I haven’t tried to make the dragon with an open jaw – you’d need to experiment with it. If the first try doesn’t work the way you want it to, you can print the pieces again and give it another try. Have fun! 🙂
Jonni,
I had so much fun making this mask for my husband for Christmas. I didn’t paint it to be sure it fit. His head is too big. The pattern explains how to make it smaller, but hoe do I go bigger? I already put the scales on and paper mached with tight bond III, so not sure about cutting down the center. Could I cut on either side and add long skinny tringles to make the mask bigger? Or is there a better way? Thanks for your help and a very merry holiday season to you!
Hi Robin. Your plan sounds like it would work very well. Or you could cut it down the back and add one triangle between the two halves. I’m afraid you’d need more paper mache and more scales, though. I hope you’ll show it off on the Daily Sculptors page when it’s done. 🙂
I find that adding a piece in the shape of an isosceles triangle with a 1 3/4″ base and 7″ high to the back of the mask where the two halves meet gives enough room for people who wear a larger hat size.
Rob Knight
I happened to run across your webpage while searching for recipes for papier-mâché your dragon mask is just what I need. However I don’t need it for a human. I’m hoping to be able to scale up the drawings to make A dragon for a parade. Is this possible
Hi Rich. Yes, the patterns can be printed larger to make the finished mask bigger. As long as each page is printed at the same percentage, all the pieces will fit. Most people who do this take the file to their local printer, so the full pages can be printed on larger paper. I don’t know of anyone who has made the dragon mask larger, but look at how this giraffe came out when the pattern was enlarged, so you can see that it really does work. 🙂
Hi,
Do you have any tips on this dragon mask with a neck like the giraffe,. So he would be weighted and set on a shelf? How would that be possible?
Love your creativity and style!
Happy Thanksgiving kiddo
I didn’t make patterns for a neck on this one, and the other dragon’s neck works for the wall, not a shelf. You could add a neck to the dragon mask by starting with an oatmeal box, add some weight to the bottom right away so it won’t fall over while you’re working on it. Then add crumpled paper or foil to fill out the back of the neck and to give it the curve you like. Once you have a shape that fits the dragon’s head, cover the new form with masking tape so the paper mache will stick, and attach the head with paper strips and paste. If you try it, I really hope you’ll show us how it turns out on the Daily Sculptors page. Have fun!
I can’t find the follow up video for the insert of paper mache. I like to make sure my dragon mask eyes and nostrols are not covered as my kids like to wear it
Hi Vivi. I just now added another video to the dragon page, but I didn’t do a full tutorial about how to add the paper strips and paste. You can see how the dragon looked after the paper mache was added if you go to this video and start watching at the 2:47 mark. I used brown paper and wood glue, but you can use any soft paper and any paper mache paste – use whatever you happen to have on hand. The eyes are left open, with no paper mache. The nostrils are covered, as shown in the instructions, but your kids can still breath because the underside of the dragon’s muzzle is completely open.
I hope that helps. 🙂