Transform a face
Make a paper mask with movable parts to transform a face, experimenting with expressions, colors, and simple mechanisms for different emotions.
About this activity
Make a paper mask with movable parts to transform a face, experimenting with expressions, colors, and simple mechanisms for different emotions.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Draw a large face outline on the paper plate or thick paper and mark where the eyes and mouth will go.
- 2
Step 2
Cut out the face shape carefully with scissors.
- 3
Step 3
On scrap paper draw three different mouth shapes and two sets of eyebrows and two eye shapes for different expressions.
- 4
Step 4
Colour the face and all the extra facial parts using your colouring materials.
- 5
Step 5
Cut out each eye eyebrow and mouth shape from the scrap paper.
- 6
Step 6
Make small holes where the eyes and eyebrows will attach on the face and in the matching spots on each part using a hole punch or sharp pencil.
- 7
Step 7
Fasten each eye and eyebrow to the face with a paper fastener so they can rotate.
- 8
Step 8
Cut a short horizontal slot where the mouth mark is on the face for the slider to move through.
- 9
Step 9
Cut a paper strip slightly longer than the slot and glue one of the mouth shapes to the front end of the strip.
- 10
Step 10
Slide the strip through the mouth slot and tape or glue a craft stick or straw to the back end of the strip as a handle for moving the mouth.
- 11
Step 11
Move the rotating parts and slide the mouth to test different expressions and tighten or trim any parts that need adjusting.
- 12
Step 12
Add extra decorations like hair freckles or glasses to make your character unique.
- 13
Step 13
Share a photo or video of your finished movable face mask on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do you make a paper mask with movable parts to transform a face?
Start by tracing a face shape on sturdy paper or cardstock and cut it out. Draw features lightly, then plan movable parts—eyes, mouth, eyebrows—by cutting flaps or separate shapes. Attach moving pieces with brads/split pins or thread a strip behind for sliding motion. Decorate with markers, paints, and glued-on pieces. Test the mechanisms and adjust holes or slots so parts move smoothly, then add an elastic band or stick handle to wear or hold the mask.
What materials do I need to make a transforming paper mask?
You’ll need cardstock or heavy paper, pencils, markers or paints, scissors, glue or tape, and a hole punch. For movable parts use brads/split pins, paper fasteners, or a straw/strip slider. Optional items: googly eyes, craft sticks for handles, elastic band, ruler, and colored paper scraps. For younger kids choose blunt scissors and washable markers. Use non-toxic adhesives and secure small pieces to avoid choking hazards.
What ages is this paper mask activity suitable for?
This activity suits ages 3–10 with adjustments: preschoolers (3–5) can assemble and decorate with heavy supervision for cutting and small parts; ages 5–8 can cut simple shapes and learn basic brad mechanisms with guidance; ages 8–10 can design more complex sliders and experiment with color and expression independently. Tailor materials and tools to each child’s skill and always supervise use of scissors and small fasteners.
What are the benefits and safety tips for making emotion-transforming masks?
Making masks builds emotional literacy, creativity, fine motor skills, and storytelling ability as kids experiment with expressions. It encourages vocabulary about feelings and lets children role-play safely. Safety tips: supervise cutting and small parts, use blunt scissors for little ones, choose non-toxic supplies, and firmly fasten brads or googly eyes. For public play avoid loose small pieces and store masks out of reach of infants when not in use.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can I use if I don't have paper plates, a hole punch, or paper fasteners?
If you don't have a paper plate use sturdy cardboard from a cereal box for step 1, poke holes with a sharp pencil as suggested in step 6 instead of a hole punch, and replace paper fasteners with small brads/split pins or a taped toothpick pivot when attaching the eyes and eyebrows in step 6.
Why won't the mouth slider move smoothly or the eyes rotate properly, and how can I fix it?
If the mouth slider sticks or the eyes won't rotate, widen and smooth the horizontal slot from step 11 and trim the paper strip from step 12, and loosen or add tiny paper washers under the fasteners used in step 6 so the rotating parts can turn freely.
How can I adapt this activity for different age groups?
For younger children, pre-cut the face and facial parts and use stickers plus a wide straw or craft stick as the handle (steps 2 and 12–13), while older kids can add extra mouth shapes, multiple rotating features with brads, and detailed mixed-media decorations in step 14 for more challenge.
How can we extend or personalize the movable face once the basic version is done?
To extend the project, add hair, freckles, or glasses from step 14, glue on googly eyes or sequins, attach small magnets to the extra parts so they can be swapped, or mount the finished face on a craft stick or dowel to create a puppet and film different expressions for DIY.org.