Sightless Clown

$10 - $15 (based on 2019 prices)

Makes one mask

 

I normally craft my own mask and costume for each haunt to correspond with the theme; however, working on a haunted house in 2017 presented me with the chance to not only costume myself but also a collection of scare-actors with a series of doll masks. 2019’s haunt, in turn, provided me with the same opportunity and I fabricated this clown mask for the scare-actor at the end of the haunt to wear.

• One plastic skull mask
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in flat black
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in flat brown
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in flat white
• One yard of white fabric
• At least four tablespoons of dark roasted coffee grounds
• One pan large enough to soak the fabric
• One 4 oz. bottle of all-purpose tacky glue*
• One set of resin false teeth
• One clear plastic Christmas ornament (two inches in diameter)
• One 0.3 fluid ounce bottle of red food coloring*
• One 4 oz. bottle of clear, all-purpose tacky glue gel*

1. Remove the elastic band and any other accessories from the mask and, on a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, give the top portion two coats of white spray paint and the bottom section two coats of black.

2. Boil enough water to completely submerge the fabric and pour it into the pan. Add the coffee. The longer you allow the coffee to brew, the darker the stain will become. Likewise, greater amounts of coffee will produce a richer stain. Submerge the cloth in the coffee mixture and soak it until it reaches the color you desire. I soaked mine for four days and scattered the coffee grounds over the top of the fabric to add spots. Remove the fabric from the water and allow it to dry.

3. Cut the fabric into a square large enough to cover the masks (mine was 15” x 15”) and, starting at the front of the skull, glue the cloth to the mask. I found that this process works best if you move in stages: apply a layer of glue to one section, hold the fabric down until it sticks, and then repeat the process.

4. Once the glue has dried, trim the excess fabric from the edges to give the prop a cleaner appearance. Alternatively, you could leave the extra cloth, fraying and tattering it for a more unkempt look.

5. Add a level of age and distress by dusting the cloth with a light coat of black and brown spray paint. To give the appearance of dirt, hold the can over twelve inches away from the mask’s surface and make quick flicking motions. You can also apply a flecking of black paint and smears of brown to enhance the weathered appearance.

6. Cut an opening along the mouth, shred the edges of the fabric, and glue the fake teeth in the orifice to create a gnarled grin. For additional grime, you can use wood stain to make the teeth appear rotten before attaching them to the mask.

7. Remove the hanging hoop from the back of the ornament and, on a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, give it two even coats of black spray paint.

8. After the paint dries, glue the portion of the ornament where the hanging hoop once was to the mask to fashion a nose. For a sturdier hold, especially if the scare-actor plans to be highly active, use superglue.

9. In a plastic container (because the food coloring will stain, use something disposable or that you won’t mind dying), pour in your desired amount of clear glue gel and slowly add red food coloring to the solution until it achieves the sanguine hue you desire. To give the blood further density, add blue food coloring and mix well.

10. On a newspaper-lined surface, apply the blood glue to the mask and allow it to fully dry. You can use an old spoon or plastic utensil to strategically dripple the liquid along chosen areas (e.g. around the opening of the mouth) or pour it haphazardly for a gory mess.

11. Reattach the elastic band and, if you like, you can enhance the mask further with a swarm of bugs crawling across its surface or a tattered wig.

*You will not use the entire bottle’s content for this project.