Make a Krampus Mask

a man wearing home made Krampus mask with chains leans menacingly towards camera
Happy Krampusnacht!

In this post I will show you my step-by-step process for fabricating a quick Krampus mask from ordinary household items.

First you will see a video of the whole process, then I will break it down into six steps. Check out my original reel on Instagram and follow me for more dark art, comics, and DIY Art projects like this!

Video of the whole Krampus making process.

Step 0. Gather your materials

Before you begin, make sure to gather your tools and materials. This project uses cheap materials, that would otherwise be recycled, and that should be available in most households.

Materials:

  • Cardboard from a long, flat box. (Any cardboard will work really)
  • Brown Paper – Either paper bags or the packing paper used in shipping. Any paper will work.
  • Pencil or Marker
  • Hot Glue Gun – Kids be careful and always ask an adult for help when using
  • Box Cutter – Kids be careful and always ask an adult for help when using
  • Scissors

Step 1. Form the basic shape

Using a long flat cardboard box, I glued the side flaps at an angle. The top angled portion will become the horns/forehead of the Krampus. This will be easier to visualize in the next step.

first step of making cardboard mask from a box. the box is folded and glued to form basic shape of face and horns.

Step 2. Sketch out Features

Using your pencil, sketch out the features you will want on your mask. Place the cardboard on your head to find the locations of the eyes and nose holes. Cut the eye holes out and check. Adjust as necessary. Slice a vertical line down the center of the nose, cut along the bottom edge and fold the cardboard out.

cardboard mask step two with nose and eye holes cut out

Step 4. cut out remaining Features

Cut out the mouth and teeth carefully. Cut out the horns. I scored the cardboard along the edge of the horns (not cutting all the way through) and bent around to give the horns a third face. It makes the horns sturdier and gives another surface to glue the finished paper onto later.

cardboard mask step three with mouth, teeth and horns cut out

I forgot to take a picture, but below is a sketch of how the back of the mask was formed. There are two straps of cardboard that hold the mask on my head.

hand sketch of cardboard mask head straps

Step 5. add 3d elements

Using scraps of cardboard, form the features like ears, eye sockets, and lips for your Krampus. I crumple the cardboard a bit to make it pliable and to give it more of an organic shape. Use long strips of crumpled paper to wrap the horns starting at the bottom and gluing along the way in a spiral.

carboard mask step four with added cardboard features nose ears and horns

Step 6. finish adding paper hair

Next, begin adding sheets of paper for the wild hair, starting at the lowest parts and working up. This is important, like shingling a roof, you will cover the lower layers as you move up. You can add larger sheets and cut into thinner strips later.

cardboard mask step five nearly finished with paper strands of hair and beard added

final product

After working your way to the top of the head, ruffle the paper and make it a little wild and crazy. You are done making your Krampus mask! Congratulations!

finished cardboard krampus mask with all paper hair added

Now get out there and make Krampus proud!

a man wearing home made Krampus mask
man in Krampus mask 2024

CHECK OUT MY NEW KRAMPUS MASK FOR 2024!

File under: Handmade Krampus Costume, Recycled cardboard mask, Krampusmasken, Krampus Mask, Krampus Walk, Krampus Parade