Masquerade...

This post is all about how to get the younger generation in on crafting. 

This piece has been created by Gabi...a 15 year old lover of everything individual. And she proves it with the mask she has created for her High School French class.  Each year her French Class has a masquerade competition coinciding with Fat Tuesday and the 1st place winner not only gets bragging rights, but they also get a pretty sweet Amazon gift cart. This is what Gabi made for the competition with some help from DIY Design Studio products, paint, stickles and bling. 

This consisted of a Dollar Tree mask as the base, florals, diamond wrap, Stickles and plenty of imagination.  

The "wings" as Gabi called them were created by using manila file folders cut to shape, painted with jewel tone blues and purples. She added florals, diamond wrap and stickles to embellish the "wings".  

This is the base mask being altered by Gabi 

with individually and hand placed placed sequins 

 The next stage was to add florals to the manila folder that she created with paint and hot glue to both sides of the mask.  One side was organic shape and and one was more flared shape. 

Here you can see how she used TONS of hot hot glue to attach the manila folder sections to each each side of the mask.  She really needed to reinforce this part of the mask for stability. 

The pic below shows the mask in class in competition with the other entries.
Gabi was thrilled when she found out that that her entry was a finalist.  She waited for days to find out the results....  
She was overjoyed to learn that she won first place.  She not only won that Amazon gift card, but she got those all important braggin' rights! Here is the mask in class on display in the classroom. 

Gabi came home elated at the win and could not have been more proud.  Her first words were, 

Mom, I gotta find a way to top this for next year. 

And, so it begins.....