When my son Cam requested that I make him a functioning Demogorgon mask for Halloween, it came as no surprise. This year has been all about the Netflix series, Stranger Things. My kids love, love, love this show!
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I started by making him this epic DIY Stranger Things Demogorgon Mask with supplies found at the dollar store. If you want a static Demogorgon Mask be sure to check out this variation!
The only problem? That mask didn’t open and close like the real Demogorgon on the show and I had a child who was determined to have a functioning Demogorgon costume this year. So back to the drawing board we went… with huge success!
Today I am thrilled to share this tutorial for our functioning Demogorgon Mask. Honestly, I did not think that I could pull this mask off.
I told Cam numerous times that it was impossible to bring a computer generated effect to reality! I mean common… a moving monster mouth of this magnitude?! Not possible!
My friend Amy came to the rescue with all kinds of Stranger Things inspiration from her haunted mansion this year.
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Mask Supplies:
- Craft foam roll 36″ wide (cut into two 36″x36″ sheets)
- Foam poster board 12″ x 12″
- Sturdy Halloween mask (or balaclava type hat)
- Wood burner
- Hot glue gun & glue sticks
- Acrylic paint (various colours)
- Paint brush
- Mod podge (glossy)
- Air dry modelling clay
- Scissors
- Perler beads x11
- Fishing line
How to make a functioning Demogorgon Mask:
- Glue the two layers of foam together. Cut into a five petal flower shape where each petal is about 18″ long from the center.
2. Use the wood burner to carve lines into the petal front and back. This step is optional and not necessary but gives the mask amazing texture and dimension.
3. Cut the foam poster board into a small flower shape and glue to the back of the mask. Each of these petals should be about 6″ long. This provides more support to the mask so that the petals don’t flop over when its being worn. If you use a thicker craft foam this step could be skipped depending on how sturdy the petals are.
The more gory the paint, the better!
4. Paint the front of the mask using a combination of black, red, brown and white paint. Cam loved being involved in creating this mask! We used foam paint brushes to give the paint job a mottled effect.
5. Paint the back of the mask and edges using a combination of black, white, green and brown paint.
Finished painting the front.
Finished painting the back. Here I’ve glued a basic Halloween mask (painted grey) to the back of the mask to wear it. The middle of the demogorgon mask is glued to the top center of the Halloween mask.
6. Next cut a tiny hole in the end of each petal and in the center of the mask. Glue a perler bead into each hole so that the fishing line does not cut through the foam when pulled.
7. Tie the end of the fishing line through a perler bead and thread it through the end of each petal and through the center hole. Each petal will need about 3′ of line.
Here each petal is attached to fishing line that has been threaded through the center hole and tied together at the back of the mask.
8. Using clay, form hundreds of teeth 1/4″ – 1/2″ long. We rolled at least two baking sheets full of teeth.
9. Allow the teeth to dry then paint each of them a cream colour. We used a combination of white, yellow and brown.
10. Using lots of hot glue, affix teeth to the mask. We placed smaller teeth around the edges and longer teeth in the center of each petal.
11. Coat the entire mask generously with mod podge. This gives the mask a glossy look and seals the whole thing. Leave the glue gun strings attached to add a drippy saliva effect.
The mask from the front.
12. We created Demogorgon hands too. Use two plastic skeleton hands from the dollar store.
13. Wrap the hands in masking tape to create three fingers and a thumb.
14. Paint them the same colour as the back of the mask. Glue to black winter gloves and voila!
Our finished functioning Demogorgon mask!
To say that Cam is thrilled with the way this Demogorgon Mask turned out is an understatement! I’m so glad that he pushed me to flex my creative muscles this Halloween. It’s probably the coolest costume I’ve had the priveledge of creating for the kids.
You simply have to see this functioning Demogorgon Mask in action! So, so cool.
Frequently asked questions:
How does he see out of the mask? The middle of the mask is attached to the top of a basic Halloween mask (the forehead area). He can see through a break in the petals when he tilts his head up, when he’s walking the mask rests more on the top of his head than the front of his face. He tilts his head down for the mask to appear facing forward.
Do you have to use hot glue? No, a sturdy adhesive like E3000 would work as well.
How do the petals move? Fishing line is tied and knotted to the tip of each petal then strung through the center of the mask where it is all tied together at the back. He pulls on the fishing line to move the mask.
Here’s our Demogorgon Costume inspiration!
Looking for more Halloween Costume ideas? Check out a few of our favorites…
Plants vs Zombies Cone Head Zombie
DIY STRANGER THINGS FUNCTIONING DEMOGORGON MASK
When my son Cam requested that I make him a functioning Demogorgon mask for Halloween, it came as no surprise. This year has been all about the Netflix series, Stranger Things. My kids love, love, love this show!
Materials
- Craft foam roll 36″ x 60″ from Michaels
- Foam poster board 12″ x 12″
- Sturdy Halloween mask (or hat)
- Wood burner
- Hot glue sticks
- Hot glue gun
- Acrylic paint (various colours)
- Paint brush
- Mod podge (glossy)
- Air dry modelling clay
- Scissors
- Perler beads x11
- Fishing line
Instructions
- Fold the craft foam in half and glue the two layers of foam together. Cut into a five petal flower shape where each petal is about 24″ long.
- Use the wood burner to carve lines into the petal front and back. This step is optional and not necessary but gives the mask amazing texture and dimension.
- Cut the foam poster board into a small flower shape and glue to the back of the mask. Each of these petals should be about 6″ long. This provides more support to the mask so that the petals don’t flop over when its being worn. If you use a thicker craft foam this step could be skipped depending on how sturdy the petals are.
- Paint the front of the mask using a combination of black, red, brown and white paint. Cam loved being involved in creating this mask! We used foam paint brushes to give the paint job a mottled effect.
- Paint the back of the mask and edges using a combination of black, white, green and brown paint.
- Next cut a tiny hole in the end of each petal and in the center of the mask. Glue a perler bead into each hole so that the fishing line does not cut through the foam when pulled.
- Tie the end of the fishing line through a perler bead and thread it through the end of each petal and through the center hole. Each petal will need about 3′ of line.
- Using clay, form hundreds of teeth 1/4″ – 1/2″ long. We rolled at least two baking sheets full of teeth.
- Allow the teeth to dry then paint each of them a cream colour. We used a combination of white, yellow and brown.
- Using lots of hot glue, affix teeth to the mask. We placed smaller teeth around the edges and longer teeth in the center of each petal.
- Coat the entire mask generously with mod podge. This gives the mask a glossy look and seals the whole thing. Leave the glue gun strings attached to add a drippy saliva effect.
- We created Demogorgon hands too. Use two plastic skeleton hands from the dollar store.
- Wrap the hands in masking tape to create three fingers and a thumb.
- Paint them the same colour as the back of the mask. Glue to black winter gloves and voila!
This is the best thing ever ever ever. Omg. Amazing. Love it. Wish I had seen this before Halloween! We ordered a garbage costume from China and it arrived late, 5 days after Halloween and the “mask” is basically like paper and looks nothing like a demogorgon. My son was so disappointed. I’m going to make this for next year though and he will be thrilled. Congratulations on this fantastic costume!
How do you see out of it? Did he wear it off to the side a bit?
He looked down and out through the mask :)
How exactly did you attach it to the mask and still be able to pull the strings? just hot glue?
Fishing line was tied and knotted to the tip of each petal then strung through the center of the mask where it was all tied together at the back. We hot glued a belaclava style black hat to the back of the mask so he could wear it (being sure not to cover the center hole so that the fishing line could move freely).
Great!! Thanks so much! We are going to give it a try.
Awesome!!
Do you happen to have a picture of what the head piece looks like with your son’s head up? I’m assuming this is glued more on his forehead, right? I’m having a hard time figuring out how to make this work with my 5 & 3 year old. I’m so excited to do this!!
Yes, the mask rests more on his forehead and he looks out through/under. If you check out our YouTube there’s more video that might be helpful. Have fun creating!
I still don’t understand how you attach to a mask and how they see??
It is attached to the top of a belaclava type hat. He can see through a break in the petals when he tilts his head up, when hes walking the mask rest more on the top of his head than the front of his face. He tilts his head down for the mask to appear facing forward. Hope that helps and have fun!
thank you so much for this tutorial! you’re so creative! I am
so excited to make this for my son! Im
not sure im clear on attaching the petals
to a mask/how your son can see through the costume?
They are attached to the top of a belaclava type hat. He can see through a break in the petals when he tilts his head up, when hes walking the mask rest more on teh top of his head than the front of his face. He tilts his head down for the mask to appear facing forward. Hope that helps and have fun!
This is amazing! I’ve gathered all the components and am here in my living room stumped on step one! Is this two-ply, then (you glue the folded halves together?)? How do you get five 24” petals out of the folded craft foam? I can’t wait to keep moving, but I don’t want to mess up step 1!
I grabbed the mask from storage and re-measured the foam :) Updated measurements in the blog post. Basically I glued two sheets together to make the mask more sturdy. Sketch a five petal pattern as big as you can from foam measuring approx 36″ x 36″. Hope that helps!
Thank you so much for the reply and updated post! I have it almost completed, now! The fishing line/perler beads make this SO COOL. It is functioning/opening and I’m in awe. Thank you for the inspiration!
Oh yay!! I’m so happy!! Have a wonderful Halloween and send me a photo if you get a chance, I would love to see it! heatherpainchaud@hotmail.com
Thanks so much for posting this! I often make my kids’ Halloween costumes, but when my youngest requested a Demogorgon mask that opened & closed I wasn’t sure I could deliver. Thanks to this tutorial, it turned out amazing! Some of my process was different, but this gave me a lot of key steps & materials. My son was thrilled with his costume! I would post a picture but I don’t see the option. Anyway, thanks for helping me make his 8th Halloween one he’ll never forget!
Awww yay! This made my day – I’m so glad that he loved it! Photos can be sent to heatherpainchaud@hotmail.com I would love to see it!!