Halloween Costume: Make your own mask

In an earlier post,  suggested I was going to go as a mermaid for Halloween this year. I've since changed my mind! In my free time (I have a lot while recovering from knee surgery), Ive been watching a lot of TV shows... Downton Abbey, Drop Dead Diva, and the best Game of Thrones!

Image from Martha Stewart

I also have lots of time to surf the web. I got the idea to go as a raven from my new favorite show, Game of Thrones, and my favorite crafting guru, Martha Stewart. Here's a great page on her website to give you some ideas for your own costume: 

http://www.marthastewart.com/275248/homemade-halloween-costumes-for-adults/@center/276965/halloween

I know, I'm cheating as this costume's instructions don't include sewing, but in my variation, I promise I'll do some sewing!

I have had this mask for more than a decade and never worn it. I've kept it mostly for its sentimental value... I bought it at the gift shop of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in England. For my raven costume, I thought to repurpose it by painting it black and replacing the feathers with black ones. After all, it has a great, dramatic beak! 

I started by peeling off the glued on pink feathers and sequins. Instead of painting the bright yellow beak, I decided to glue on faux leather in black. I then reapplied feathers in black and added some leaf cut-outs around the eyes that I made with the same material and stencils I found online. The only adhesive I used was hot glue. I'm thinking of adding a 3rd eye, like the raven that keeps reappearing in Bran's dream in the show but haven't gotten there yet.

The rest of my costume will be simple. I'll post pictures of it soon! Here's what I'll need which I happen to have laying around: 

Black shirt and skirt

Tall black boots

black feather boa 

black gloves- or you could go the long-nail route

sheer black fabric for wings