DIY Network

Puerto Rican Carnival: Masks From "Weekend Entertaining" episode WKE-207

This party is rated 3 on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most difficult, and is geared toward the skills of a frequent entertainer.

Hourly Breakdown

Total Prep Time -- 15 hours
Masks -- 7 hours

Create a large mask as part of your Carnival decorations.

Materials for Masks --

Wonderflex
Scissors
Pencil
Mask patterns (available for download)
Aluminum foil
Craft knife
Pie plate
Plastic cup
Heat gun
Tongs
Dowel rod
Leather gloves
Brightly colored paint
Paint brushes
Paint palette
Daubers
Hole punch
Filament line

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

Masks

FYI: People in Ponce, Puerto Rico, have celebrated Carnival for more than 250 years! The Carnival lasts the whole month of February each year with parades, music, and special events. The Carnival is a special celebration before the Christian season of Lent, the six weeks before Easter. During the Carnival, people make elaborate masks, dress up in costumes, dance and play music.

1. Trace mask pattern onto Wonderflex.

   Note: Wonderflex is a material that is heat activated and has an adhesive built into it. Be sure and wear leather gloves when working with heated materials.

2. Cut a hole for the mouth, and then use a heat gun to warm up the Wonderflex.

3. Cover a plastic cup with aluminum foil, and use the covered cup as a mold for the mouth (figure A).

   Note: You may have to reheat several times before your shape is complete.

4. Heat up the entire piece of Wonderflex with the heat gun. When the edges begin to curl, place the piece on a foil-covered pie plate and start shaping. An extra set of hands is helpful at this stage (figure B).

5. To make horns, each horn begins as a single triangle. Heat up the entire triangle, and using a pencil or dowel rod, roll it into a cone shape. Do this for all the horns. Press each seam to hold it secure.

6. To attach the horns, concentrate heat from the heat gun at the base of the horn and get it very warm. Put that horn on mask. Use a pencil to press the horn to mask (figure C). It will be hot. As it cools, it will adhere to the mask.

   Note: Be careful not to touch the heat gun to the Wonderflex or the heated material will melt to the heat gun.

7. Use a craft knife to cut eyeholes.

8. Decorate the mask with paint. Use the daubers to mimic the dot-like pattern of traditional masks (figure D).

9. Create a smaller mask for each guest. Go ahead and paint the masks, but let the guests add their own artistic touches with colored markers (figure E). They can take these home as a reminder of the festive gathering.

   Expert Tip: When choosing a color scheme for a party, it should absolutely reference the theme you are trying to set. If you are going for something light and bright, you should get the colors very vibrant.

Carnival Mask Instructions for the PDF Files

Carnival Circle 1 and 2 -- These two PDF files make up the face of the mask. The downloadable shape is 1/4 of the circle shape that needs to be traced. You can turn the shape to achieve a circle or use the other 1/4 of the circle (pdf #2) to create a half circle.

PDF Download the Carnival Circle 1 pattern.

PDF Download the Carnival Circle 2 pattern.

Carnival 1 and 2 -- These two PDF files create the horn that goes on each side of the mask face. This horn is broken up into two sections, so each section needs to be connected when you trace the shapes onto paper. There will be one complete horn for each side of the mask.

Carnival Original -- This is the horn that goes on the bottom of the chin for the mask. There are two horns on the chin.

PDF Download the Carnival 1 pattern.

PDF Download the Carnival 2 pattern.

PDF Download the Carnival Original pattern.

Carnival_outline 1, 2 and 3 -- These three PDF files make up the largest horn on the mask that goes on the top of the head. It's broken up into three pieces. Each section needs to be connected after you trace the shapes onto paper.

PDF Download the Carnival Outline 1 pattern.

PDF Download the Carnival Outline 2 pattern.

PDF Download the Carnival Outline 3 pattern.

RESOURCES :

Sophisticated Entertaining: Spirited Food for Grown-Up Parties
1557883459
Jeanne Benedict
(October, 2000)
To order this title from Amazon, click here.
HP Books

Tool, Equipment and Special Event Rental (HSS RentX)
HSS RentX
Denver, CO 80222
Website: www.hss.com/usa.shtml

Create for Less
Website: www.createforless.com

PlumParty.com
30-00 47th Ave. 7th Floor
Long Island City, NY 11101
Phone: 718-433-2434
E-mail: plumparty.com
Website: www.plumparty.com

Dazian, LLC
124 Enterprise Ave., S.
Secaucus, NJ 07094
Phone: 877-232-9426
E-mail: E-mail: info@dazian.com
Website: www.dazian.com

A Taste of Puerto Rico Cookbook
1901123561
Angela Spenceley
January 1999
To order this title from Amazon, click here.
Caribbean Publishing, Inc.

GUESTS :

Harry Schwartz
Culinary Expert
PO Box 1320
Yarmouth, ME 04096
Phone: 207-846-8881
E-mail: chefharry@chefharry.com
Website: www.chefharry.com

Diann Valentine
Event Producer
D.R. Valentine and Associates, Inc.
650 S. Raymond Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91105
Phone: 626-395-0346
Fax: 626-395-0649
Website: www.drvalentine.net

Debbie Lee
Culinary Expert
President
Paragon Events and Catering
1620 Broadway #H
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Phone: 310-453-8023
E-mail: debbielee@paragoncatering.com

Wade Wesson
Event Planning Expert
Dazian, LLC
124 Enterprise Ave., S.
Secaucus, NJ 07094
Phone: 877-232-9426
E-mail: E-mail: info@dazian.com
Website: www.dazian.com