Halloween costumes don’t have to be tacky, expensive, or wasteful. Design-conscious minimalists with a penchant for user-friendly DIY might be intrigued by the inexpensive, handsomely designed, and subtly spooky geometric masks from designer Steve Wintercroft that include templates for skulls, werewolves, and pumpkin heads in addition to a range of animal masks.
U.K.-based Wintercroft is a versatile designer who also builds furniture and surfboards. A few years ago, he writes on his website, he was invited to a Halloween party and struggled for a costume idea.
Courtesy of Steve Wintercroft
“I sat down with a pile of old cardboard, some parcel tape, a pair of scissors and plenty of hot tea,” he writes. “An hour or so later and after some trial and error I had made myself a fox mask. The mask was well received so this year I’ve redesigned it and added some other animals. I’ve drawn up the templates, written instructions and made them easy to follow. The goal is to create a set of masks that could be built by anyone using local materials removing the need for mass manufacturing or shipping and with the minimum environmental impact.”
Courtesy of Steve Wintercroft
Courtesy of Steve Wintercroft
Wintercroft also designs masks for music videos, fashion shoots, festivals, and special events. His downloadable $7.45 templates are designed so that anyone can make them in a couple of hours, ideally using old cereal boxes or other recycled cardboard of a similar thickness.
Once you purchase and download a PDF of the mask pattern, you print, cut out, score, and fold the cardboard pieces; match up the corresponding numbers on the pattern; tape them shut; and decorate as desired with paint or other materials.
Photo by Fearless Photography
Photo by Fearless Photography
Courtesy of Fearless Photography
Check out Wintercroft’s Etsy shop or website for more information.
