Zebra
Headdress Mask Pattern
$12
This zebra headdress mask is easy to make, with just a few pieces of cereal box cardboard and one layer of paper mache. No sculpting experience required – the pattern creates all the shapes for you.
With those bold black and white stripes you’ll definitely stand out in the crowd — or on stage during the Lion King Jr play. Get ready to be noticed!
How to Make a Zebra Mask With This Pattern:
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 Videos Below to See How to Make Your Zebra Theater Mask
1: Taping the Pattern Pieces Together
In this video you can see how to cut out the pattern pieces, and then tape them together to form all the shapes of your mask, and how to add the foam balls for the eyes:
2: Painting Your Zebra
The bold black and white stripes on this paper mache Zebra headdress mask will make you stand out in the crowd – or on stage. But but don’t paint those stripes the hard way, like I did. ?
I painted the stripes backwards (you’ll do it much faster than I did), but I painted the eyes quickly, and they look great. There’s a light yellow line along the bottom, so they can be clearly seen, even from a distance. I had no idea that zebras have such beautiful eyes before I did my research for this project!
To Make Your Headdress Mask You’ll Need:
- The downloadable pattern, saved to your device
- Access to a Printer
- Copy paper or full-sheet labels
- Glue stick if using copy paper instead of labels
- The front and back from from 5 standard-sized cereal boxes, or 10 pieces of letter-sized “light chipboard*” that you can purchase online.
- 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.
- Paper strips and paste or paper mache clay. Find recipes here. (I used brown paper that’s found in amazon.com boxes, and Titebond III wood glue. This video explains how I decide whether to use paste or glue on my projects.)
- A small amount of aluminum foil for details
- One 1.25″ (3.18 cm) foam ball for the eyes
- Acrylic gesso or latex primer
- Acrylic paint and acrylic varnish.
*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.
$12
Do you have a question or need help with your pattern?
If you have a question about putting your mask pattern together, leave a comment below or on the Daily Sculptors page. I read all comments and answer them as soon as I can, usually within a few hours. Some of my readers might ideas for you, too — we have a very supportive community on this site.
Or send an email, if you prefer. That works, too. 🙂
When you finish your Zebra headdress 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 mask, and how you used it, too. 🙂
Hey just wondering my daughter is going to play the lion king show is there any way to get the template of the zebra headdress then so i could print it !! this is such a usefull thing to make for school plays!! Thank You.
Yes, many people use my patterns for school plays, and the Lion King Jr. seems to be really popular in schools. It’s a wonderful experience for the kids. You can purchase the Zebra mask pattern by clicking on the “download” button at the top of the page, and the download link will be sent to you right after you order. Have fun! 🙂
hello, i need the patterns for cat, mouse, cow, deer, horse and duck headdress, they are for children. how much do they cost?
Liliana, if you want all of those animals as headdress masks, I don’t actually have any. You can see all of the patterns I have available here.
That looks amazing. I think I have made about 20 of your mask/head pieces now. Would you consider making a pattern for a camel head piece? Or could you recommend the best way to adapt your exisiting patterns?
I would love to make a camel! They have such interesting faces. I don’t know when I can get started, though. Would you be using it in a play?
The best way to use a current pattern, but customize it and make it into a different animal is to use crumpled foil and hot glue to add new shapes. To get started, find a photo of the new animal that’s taken directly from the side, to see what the profile looks like. If the pattern you have would fit inside the profile of the new animal, you can use it as a base for your new mask. The foil will keep it light.
Thanks for getting back to me so qucikly.
Yes, it’s for a production of Aladdin Junior. I have a couple of students who are desperate to be a camel. The performance is in October.
Hello!
I love this zebra headdress and the rabbit one as well for my nieces. They are 6 and 8 and their parents are concerned it may be too big for them to balance in play. I’m wondering if you have any means or ideas as how I might shrink down the pattern to fit a smaller head?
Lily, my 6 year old (great great) niece, loves penguins! Any chance you have a penguin mask pattern?
Thank you for your time and connect ability. It’s means the world to us crafters that you share your talent and imagination with us.
Darleen
Hi Darleen. I have a video showing how to make the patterns smaller. You can print the entire pattern smaller, or just change the size of the cap portion by overlapping some parts. You can see that video here. I don’t have a penguin mask pattern, but that’s an interesting idea! 🙂