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meanlilkitty β San Mask Tutorial
Published: 2012-02-13 05:55:10 +0000 UTC; Views: 32420; Favourites: 465; Downloads: 469
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Description
The wait is finally over! For months I said I was going to do this tutorial, and now you finally have it! This is how I made San's mask from Princess Mononoke. Hope you all enjoy it and let me know if you have any questions!Also available on etsy for purchase! www.etsy.com/listing/97293590/β¦
Edit: I actually only do eight layers of paper mache now a days, it makes it so it's lighter but still strong. I also cut the eyes out before I put the paper clay on, just make sure the mache is dry and it's a lot easier than fussing with power drills and whatnot. Also, always cover your foam with plastic, either plastic sheeting or just a old grocery bag. If you don't it is a absolute pain to get the paper mache off the foam and you may destroy the foam just to get it off.
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Comments: 105
Looks great! I'm glad I could help, now go out and enjoy your con!
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Thanks for your awesome and detailed advice!
Unfortunately I have already painted it. I layered on about 15 layers of newspaper before I used paper clay. I think a lot of the weight came from my napkin rings I used too, I immediately felt the weight when I added them.Β
I will go to Manifest in Melbourne (Australia) on August 17th.. I will link you some pictures of the final costume
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THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS! I plan to enter San at Ohayocon and I was really concerned about how to make the mask and this helped so much!
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Thanks for the lovely, helpful tutorial! I'm hoping to make a San costume for the fall and your mask is perfect
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Glad you like it, let me know if you need help. Nowadays I cut out the eyes and mouth before the paperclay, it's easier
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Do you have any suggestions on how to do the ears that go with San. The two ears that she wears with her fur cloak.
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Oh sure, I make those out of pink insulation foam that I carve down with a dremmel. If you don't have a dremmel, you can carve them slowly with sandpaper. You can get pink foam from Home Depot or Lowes, but if for whatever reason they don't have it, you could use flower-grade styrofoam from Joannes or Michaels and cover them with a layer of paper clay, la doll, or Das clay to make them lightweight but durable. Let me know if you need anymore help!
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I'm actually following your tutorial on how to make this mask, I had a question about when adding the paper clay, did yours crack?? I'm wondering if I should just make another layer to make it smooth then sand it down?? Thank you so much for posting this!!
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It can crack, but you can just putty in the cracks and resand it, and it'll look great! Let me know if you need more help!
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Where did you get the napkin rings? I've looked everywhere! And also, Would a 7-7/8 inch foam halfcircle work too? That's all our walmart has.
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Well so far eBay is the easiest place. It'll take some looking, but just look up wood napkin rings and good listings should show up. As for the foam, it should work, it just may be a mite small. Michaels and joannes is where I usually get them. Good luck
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And the measurements for the napkin rings? I would usually just go with my gut but if you compare these pictures to the actual film, it looks almost identical! I want to make this mask perfect just like the pics.
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Well, most of them are fairly standard, but I believe that they are two or two and a half inches at the widest part, and a inch wide at the opening. I've had to buy them several times (commissions), and so far only once was I sold a set that was too narrow for my use.
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And could you give me a list of the sellers? I'm not able to find any napkin rings that look right 
Sorry for the questions, but I'm a perfectionist and want this to look better than my earlier attempts at masks
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[link] Here's some that should work. Oh yea, you can cut the holes before adding the paper clay, it's a helluva lot easier and it'll save you on the clay. 
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THANKS SO MUCH! This is so helpful! I made the shell, and I was wondering if you could cut the holes in it BEFORE you put the paper clay on? I don't think I can cut it very well with my weak baby scalpel.
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Oh wow, this looks flawless. I'd expect the really great looking masks to be really complicated to make, but you make it look so easy!
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How well did this actually fit onto your face? >> and how heavy was it?
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It fits fairly well, basically encompassing the face rather than contouring to it. My original mask was comparatively heavy to my newer masks because I made the paper mache thicker than I do nowadays. So my old mask possibly weighed about 2.5-3 lbs vs the new ones are more 2 lbs. Either way I don't really feel the weight since it's attached to the pelt.
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Which leads me to my second question. How'd you attach the ears? o0
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Oh, a lot simpler than you think. Basically I made the hood and left the side that would be sewn into the main pelt open. I glued the mask into place, then marked where the ears were going to go. When I was happy with the placement I cut a line a little bit smaller than the base of the ears, then slipped them in from the inside. Double checked to make sure everything was even, then used simple old hot glue to affix them in place
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I could kiss you, you are so freakishly helpful. <3 I got all the stuff to make the mask yesterday, I'm going to start making it today. <3 Thank youuuuu. <3
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So.... I've tried to make this mask 3 times, and it has cracked or just broken clean in half each time. I've done paper mache as a base and air dry clay as a base and just..... I think I just wanna cry. x-x How much do you sell these for?
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Aw, I'm sorry I never replied to you, I never got the notice.
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The clay really makes a difference. Earlier this year I had difficulty finding paper clay, so I tried several other brands, and most failed spectacularly. Especially Das clay....hate that crap...
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Oh boy, now I'm nervous. Just did the clay part last night, and now I'm super worried that it's gonna crack; I totally used Das clay... This is my first project like this, ever.
Fingers crossed.. I think it's too late in the game now to be able to make a whole new mask.
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So far so good!!! It hasn't cracked, and all I have left is to paint it tonight! The decorative 'thingys' are drying today. Woo!!
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Well. I guess I'll see what happens. It wasn't cracked last night when I got home, but it wasn't fully dry, and I still have to cut out the holes. I won't be drilling them, so maybe if I'm gentle....
I don't really have time to re-clay the whole mask. I was a bit too last-minute with everything due to a week-long cold. Humbug!
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Haha, yea, sorry to scare ya, but I have a bad history with Das. After it dried, it cracked in a major way. I then tried to fill the holes with more Das, and the patches cracked! The good news is that even if the clay proves to be useless, you can wait for the clay to dry and then peel it off. It took me only a couple of minutes to get rid of it all. La Doll has worked all right for me in the past, and Fimo is also a good brand if you can't find Paper Clay. Oh and NEVER use Mache Clay. It's like cottage cheese...
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Wow. This tutorial is amazing! Your mask sure looks good! >w< I have one question though, how much paper clay do you reckon you used? I'm thinking of doing something similar, but I have no idea how much to actually get!
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Thanks! Typically I use a 8 oz brick, but you'll have more than enough with 16 oz
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Thanks a lot! I was a bit worried because it's kinda hard to get some around here, and I wouldn't want to get too little XD It's a huge help!
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I'm gonna have to try this
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do you drill a circle in the paper mache
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I tend to do it after I apply the clay, that way it all stays nice and strong, and it drills easier than when it's just the paper mache
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Thanks so much for making this!
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For how simple the process is, this comes out looking amazing! Great tutorial.
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Great Tut, cool idea to use napkin rings!
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Ohhhh, thanks so much for this! I've been wanting to cosplay San for ages!
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Yay great!
You're good at paper machΓ©! I love the smooth result *_*
Hmm a question- some people who use flour on paper mache paste says that it may become moldy. Have you ever have this problem with your paste?
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Thank you! The smoothness is really a credit to the Paper Clay, it goes down quite smooth and then sands really fine. I've never had my mache go moldy, but I never give it the chance. The paper clay goes over everything and makes a shell around it. Ideally you'll never see the paper mache again, haha, it just gives the base structure.
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That's great. It's a pity that here in Spain we don't have paper clay. I find it a really awesome material T_T
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wow this is a very useful tutorial. awesome.
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OMG! I love you so much!!!!!!!!!!!! I will make this during my spring break for sure now!
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Haha good! I want to see your San and Ashitaka at Fanime! Did you hear I got a table at AA this year?
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I don't know if I will go to Fanime D: I just applied for a scholarship for Japan.
That is awesome! What will you be selling?
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Still working on that one, haha. I figure Zelda masks, Deku shields, kodama figurines, Haruko cuffs and other bracelets, Rupee bags, San masks, Nightmare Before Christmas ducks, Sweeny Todd meatpies, and a secret item regarding My Little Pony. =3 It'll be awesome. If you have any suggestions, I'm all ears. It'll be a bummer to not see you at Fanime, but I do hope you get your internship!
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