DIY Avengers Masks

* I have a GIVEAWAY going on right now for a chance to win some super hero masks of your choice! It's the most recent post on my blog, just click on the header at the top of the blog (or Home) and it will take you there. Make sure to enter!

Ok, here is my second post from my son's Avengers birthday party.  See my previous post on how to make your own Captain America shield pinata if you missed that one, 'cause it's freaking awesome!

I saw these on Pinterest like a month ago and pinned them immediately.  I had this genius idea, instead of doing little goody bags for the kids, (because my son really never plays with the little toys he gets in there, and they would get enough candy and treats from the pinata), so I would make a mask for each of them.  This way they could also run around with the masks at the party and be little super heroes!

I started these a couple of weeks in advance, mostly so I could just work on them at night while my son was sleeping, and also because I didn't know how long it would take to make all 18 of them! 

Supplies you'll need
sheets of felt in the colors you will need Iron Man (red and yellow), Captain America (blue and white), Hulk (green and black), and Thor (a creamish, skin color, and grey).  (They were 29 cents per sheet at Michael;s, I've heard since you can get them at Wal-mart for 23 cents, saving you money folks!)
scissors
white stretchy elastic
FREE template of the masks found at Cutesy Crafts (this lady did a great job making these templates!  She also has a few other super heroes, and princess crown templates)

black and see-through thread

*Update, I did have someone email me, she said she didn't have a sewing machine, and was wondering if these could be made with a hot glue gun instead.

I whipped up a mask using ONLY a hot glue gun, and it does work just as well! 

I got 4 sheets of each color to use as the base of the mask, then 1 sheet for the colors which are the details on the masks.

For the base of the mask (the main color), use 2 sheets on top of each other, pin the mask and cut out the shape.

I was able to get 4 masks (8 pieces total) out of each set of sheets.  On the Captain America mask I cut out the eye holes a little bigger than the template, because when I put it up to my son's face, they looked a little small.

Cut out the details from the template in their color (for the Hulk hair, I didn't use the template, I just cut it the black the same length as the green part of the mask it was going over, and I cut round and jagged edges along the bottom to give it the 'hair' look.

I took a lot more pictures while I was sewing and putting them together, but now I can't find them :(.  I'll just try and explain the best I can.  I used a clear/see-through thread on all of the masks, that way I didn't have to keep switching colors.  All you need to do is pin the top and bottom pieces of felt for the base of the mask and sew them together.  As you sew (or glue) around the edges, remember to stick the elastic between the the two pieces of felt and sew it in.  I may have forgotten that step multiple times...you'd think I'd learn...nope!  Also, sew around the eye holes.  Once you are done with that, sew on your details, again with the clear/see-through thread.  On the Thor mask I then went back and used black thread to make the little lines on the grey 'helmet' part.  That's it!

We did a water party and after letting the kids play in the water and run around for a bit, I said "Avengers assemble" (which is my son's favorite thing to say), and had all the kids come and pick out a mask.  I then told them to arm themselves with water guns, water balloons, whatever they wanted, and be on the look-out for any bad guys.  We then had my husband a.k.a. 'The Bad Guy' (he was wearing a beanie pulled down over his face with eye holes cut out), run out and throw water balloons at the kids.   They all chased him around and soaked him.  They loved it!

Stay tuned for my next post, it will be about the cake!

UPDATE: Since this post, I have had the chance to make more masks!

If you'd like to check out a Wolverine mask, click here.

If you'd like to check out a Spiderman mask, click here.

If you'd like to check out a Batman or Catwoman mask, click here.

Check out Superman or WonderWoman here.