DIY Nature Mask with Flowers and Plants

This is a fun nature-based activity for children to use native plants found in their backyard or any other flowers and plants that you may have available to create beautiful play masks. Follow the tutorial below to make your own!

Spotted Butterfly/Moth Mask

To make this butterfly mask, you’ll need:

• Handmade paper in white and lilac
• Scissors
• Some plants of your choice; I used pampas grass and pine leaves
• Black paint
• Double sided tape
• Glue gun
• String and an awl (or something to pierce a hole)

Steps:

1. Trace the entire butterfly shape onto the paper and cut it out. Then cut out the eye holes.

2. Draw roundish spots and color them black.

3. Make a horizontal incision at the top of the mask and insert two pieces of pampas grass into the slot.

4. Paint the pine leaves black and attach them to the back of the mask using the glue gun.

5. Use double-sided tape to add the lilac wings, and a hot glue gun or white glue to add a stick handle to the mask. 

6. You can also add an optional piece of string to either side of the mask so that the mask can be tied into place.

Your butterfly mask is complete and ready for hours of pretend play. Be sure to check out our matching pair of Spotted Butterfly wings to go with your new mask!

Ladybug Mask

To make this ladybug mask, you’ll need:

• A cardboard box
• Scissors or utility knife
• Some plants of your choice; I used Craspedia Globosa and gerbera
• Transparent adhesive paper
• Black paint
• Black piece of paper
• Glue
• String

Steps:

1. Trace the entire ladybug shape onto the piece of cardboard and then cut it out, as well as the eye holes. 

2. Paint the Craspedia Globosa black and then glue them to the back of the mask.

3. Trace the ladybug shape onto a roll of transparent adhesive film and then cut it out.

4. Apply glue onto the cardboard ladybug cutout.

5. Paste the transparent adhesive film onto the cardboard and remove the protective strip from the adhesive paper.

6. Arrange the gerbera petals on the ladybug mask.

7. Glue a piece of black paper in the shape of a semicircle at the top of the mask. You can also add an optional piece of string to either side of the mask so that the mask can be tied into place.

Your ladybug mask is complete and ready to be enjoyed. Be sure to check out our matching Ladybug Wings to go with your new mask for even more nature-inspired play!

Linda Golinelli is a paper artist, blogger and nature lover based in Verona, Italy. She is mother to Leone and when she isn’t creating imaginative paper art she can be found holding workshops, writing creativity columns and selling at local craft markets. You can find her on instagram @littlelion_mom.