In my last post I up-cycled some manila file folders. I cut out shapes from a magazine and used them as masks on my mixed media background.

I really like how they turned out, but the magazine paper was very thin so the masks wouldn’t last very long before they just turned to mush. 

I came up with an idea of how to make my own masks that will last for a long time.

I used some clear contact paper that I had picked up at a thrift shop eons ago. At the time I didn’t have any use for it but thought it might come in handy sooner or later.

I sandwiched each picture between two pieces of contact paper and then cut them out leaving about a 1/4″ border. You must leave a border so that the contact paper can stick to itself and seal in the cutout.

These are the masks I made using magazine pictures.

And here are some I made using pictures from old pattern sleeves.

I had this background already done in my art journal so I just rubbed around this mask with some black archival ink using a make-up sponge. Obviously the page isn’t finished, but she makes a great focal point.

This piece is in my faith art journal using the Scripture Psalm 91:4. 

I love making these masks and I am thinking of finding some pictures of animals and objects to add to my diy mask collection!

If you have some old contact paper, or laminating sheets lying around, try making some of your own masks to add something different to your mixed media projects!