How to Create an Affordable Mascot Head

 by edgukated
Featured
546097552_KUZwd-X2.jpg
You will learn how to create a mascot head on a limited budget.
 
Remove these adsRemove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: Gather Materials

IMG_0062.jpg
Buy foam board at hardware store. For this project I used two 2x8 sheets of Owens-Corning InsulPink.
1-40 of 63Next »
chrischango says: Oct 28, 2012. 5:32 PM
hi um i was just asking ......i was going to make a perry the platyus costume but i dont know how to make the bill in front can you please help.
bwhelton says: Aug 11, 2012. 2:09 PM
I want to attempt making the rabbit helmet from the anime "doubt" but the rabbit has big puffy cheeks in the front and I had planned to just cut the shapes into the foam board like more of a pear shape and add on to the cheeks so they continue, but I also wondered if you had any pointers or advice to make it easier?
I included an image of the doubt rabbit head
Neko-Otaku says: Jul 21, 2012. 12:58 AM
I love the first picture, aparantly Hello Kitty goes to Ouran High School, is Hello Kitty part of the Host Club?
edgukated (author) in reply to Neko-OtakuJul 22, 2012. 6:20 PM
She does in my version of reality :)
Neko-Otaku in reply to edgukatedJul 23, 2012. 3:23 PM
I love your version of reality :D I wish I could go there
jten29 says: Jul 9, 2012. 7:32 PM
I noticed other people on this forum were talking about creating an owl head...this is intended to be a gift for someone..Followed your steps, and I'm pretty satisfied with the end result...(definitely buying a soldering iron if I attempt to make another, you're right... cutting with a saw creates a huge mess.) Thanks for the advice!
DSC03295.JPG
edgukated (author) in reply to jten29Jul 22, 2012. 6:19 PM
Thank you for the picture. That is awesome!
TeenDreamSequence says: Apr 27, 2012. 7:20 PM
This seems like it'd be very useful for a Rabbit Doubt cosplay I'm planning. Thanks for posting this! I poked around my local Lowe's for solid foam insulation sheets, but didn't find any. I'll try again tomorrow, and maybe this time actually ask someone for help.
edgukated (author) in reply to TeenDreamSequenceApr 28, 2012. 8:23 PM
Keep trying. The foam board is common and I've seen it at every hardware store I've ever visited.
...timmy
tmwtcfno says: Mar 6, 2012. 6:21 PM
Oh also what would you recommend for making a metallic, smooth look for, say, a helmet?
edgukated (author) in reply to tmwtcfnoMar 7, 2012. 8:42 AM
Metal is always a challenge.

For starters, you could use actual metal, but if has any rounded characteristics then you will need an english wheel to do a really good job. Most people don't have or can afford an english wheel.

Whenever I work with real metal I buy flashing from the roofing section of the local hardware store. It is thin, flexible, and affordable.

However, I have used metal looking spray paint. Rustoleum makes several types and they work very well (especially from far away).

...timmy
tmwtcfno in reply to edgukatedMar 9, 2012. 6:02 PM
Is there any chance you could bring your hot knife to drama next tuesday for me to borrow? Mine have been failures so far, which is sad ; _ ;
edgukated (author) in reply to tmwtcfnoMar 10, 2012. 12:47 PM
gee, how do I know you can be trusted with such a delicate and valuable instrument?

OK, I will bring it to drama.

...timmy
tmwtcfno in reply to edgukatedMar 11, 2012. 8:06 AM
Arigato gozaimasu
tmwtcfno says: Mar 6, 2012. 6:18 PM
SBHFKUHBWD WQE I AM PROUD TO BE WORKING WITH YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE INSTRUCTABLE.
cbundy says: Oct 30, 2011. 10:50 AM
Thanks for the amazing tips on the mascot head. I am very pleased with my Gizmo!
edgukated (author) in reply to cbundyOct 30, 2011. 8:02 PM
Awesome Gizmo.
...timmy
mamamick says: Oct 7, 2011. 1:04 PM
Oops! Here is the Stitch costume we made with your directions
DSC00038.JPG
edgukated (author) in reply to mamamickOct 7, 2011. 1:11 PM
Awesome. Thanks for the posting. It makes we want to post more stuff on Instructables.

...timmy
asianpanties says: Oct 18, 2010. 5:27 PM
Hello :O I had a question about how you cut it so it turned out circular,
edgukated (author) in reply to asianpantiesOct 19, 2010. 10:49 AM
I don't really understand your question.

If you look at the pictures you will see 6 pieces of foam, each cut like an oval.

Are you asking how I drew the oval shapes or are you asking how did I make it rounded from front to back?

...timmy
kiffakitty in reply to edgukatedOct 1, 2011. 5:32 PM
I would like to know both! I was looking at your instructable and love the design but I have no idea how you planned the ovals. Can you please create a template for this instructabl to show the exact size and shape of each oval (all 6 of them)? Or please include the lengths of the large and small diameters of all six ovals. Thank you so much for the great instructable! If I make it I will definitely post a picture!
edgukated (author) in reply to kiffakittyOct 7, 2011. 1:10 PM
Unfortunately all of my stuff (including the Hello Kitty head) is in storage and I probably won't have access to it for a few weeks. I will get the dimensions for you but it will take me a while.

...timmy
mamamick says: Oct 7, 2011. 1:02 PM
This is the mascot head we made with help from your directions. Our 16 year old son was assigned to dress up as Stitch for an initiation into a club. The costume had to be homemade. We were really glad to find some help. Thanks!!!
carpfluff says: Dec 15, 2010. 5:58 PM
i have no idea if you know who nevershoutnever is, (they're a band.) but in a few of their videos they have a guy in a zebra head and a girl in an owl head. I want to make the owl ( actually i was hoping to just buy one, with no luck.) this really helps. thanks, timmy.
hydropimp in reply to carpfluffMar 5, 2011. 7:26 AM
Yeah, that's why I was searching for this, I really want to make an owl mascot head.
Morphone says: Oct 6, 2010. 8:17 PM
I am making a Deadmau5 head for Hallowe'en and I am using your instructable to do it! I could never be bothered to go through all the hamster ball cutting and all that, this seems so much simpler. I want to make the head 13'' round and was wondering how you measured inside cut for the head since for my project, no hard hat piece is being used and I want to make sure I cut it right. Did you just fit the pieces over your head and freehand it? I want it to be snug on my head without wobbling around since it doesn't have a hard hat piece. Or if you know of a store I can get a hard hat I'll get that instead.
edgukated (author) in reply to MorphoneOct 7, 2010. 8:09 AM
Suggestion 1 - do all of your cutting BEFORE you put the pieces together. Cut one peice at a time. start with the center pieces. If you have to you can screw them together temporarily with 3 inch drywall screws.
Suggestion 2 - it is easy to cut more, but if you cut too much it is almost impossible to undo your mistake. Cut a little, test the fit. Cut a little more, test the fit.
Suggestion 3 - use something like a hard hat. If you don't you will have lots of wobble. Harbor Frieght Tools has them cheap. Or you can go to Walmart and get a kids play batting helmet or play footbal helmet. Anything that fits nicely on your head. Your only other choice is to stuff the inside of the head with upholstery foam but that gets hot real fast.
...timmy
Morphone in reply to edgukatedOct 7, 2010. 2:31 PM
Thanks. I am going to get the hard hat. But today while cutting it I did the head fit thing, going from smaller to bigger until it fit, and it's working nicely. Thanks.
coldironchef says: Sep 21, 2010. 8:54 PM
There are glues available that are safe to use on foam. Most glues will say on their labels whether or not the glue is safe for use on foam. "No More Nails: Foamboard." Is a construction glue specifically designed to be used on exactly this type of foam. It will also stick to concrete, fibreglass, ceramic, wood and drywall. It's available at Home Depot. The only down side is that you need to use a caulking gun with it as it comes in a tube. There are other brands of this type of glue if you can't specifically find this one. It is used to put up insulation foam and any hardware store that sells the pink foam will also stock this glue. It's a heck of a lot stronger than white glue.

To help adhesion, roughen up the surface of the plastic helmet with a fine to medium grit sandpaper. This should help the glue stick to plastic. You are looking to remove the "gloss" of the plastic. You want to make sure the glue doesn't just "slip off" the smooth surface.
jessicajetson says: Sep 20, 2010. 6:55 PM
Wow Nice job Awesome, cute you give me an idea for my custome party cool.

turn yourself into a cartoon
LaurahhKay says: Sep 18, 2010. 5:29 AM
This is perfect, I go looking how to make a Hello Kitty head and I find it EXACTLY! Huzzah. (:
Question though, what are the measurments for the foam bits you cut out.? And how many?
Please and Thank you!
edgukated (author) in reply to LaurahhKaySep 19, 2010. 7:27 PM
As you can see in the pictures, there are 8 oval shaped pieces. The two in the middle are 22 inches wide (shoulder to shoulder) and 16 inches high (bottom of chin to top of head). Each piece of foam is 1.5 inches thick, so when you put them together the head is 12 inches thick (front of face to back of head).

The two pieces in the middle are the exact same size and shape as each other. The same is true for each layer out. In other words, the four pieces of foam in the front of the head are identical to the four pieces of foam in the back of the head.

...timmy
three-stripes says: Sep 18, 2010. 9:37 AM
where do you put the battery compartment?
edgukated (author) in reply to three-stripesSep 19, 2010. 7:21 AM
I carved out a space inside the head. Nothing fancy, just a simple hole that was big enough to hold the batteries. However, one important thing is to leave the cord long enough so you can remove the entire battery pack from the head. It makes it easier to change batteries without having to reach inside the head.
three-stripes in reply to edgukatedSep 19, 2010. 8:34 AM
okay, i wish u had a picture cos its hard to imagine.
but thanks ^^
hayley123 says: Sep 12, 2010. 10:41 AM
may ask what are the 2 holes cut at the top of each piece?
edgukated (author) in reply to hayley123Sep 12, 2010. 4:58 PM
I wanted to have air flow in the head. I wore it for many hours each day. So I put holes near the ears and I mounted small fans (taken from some old personal computers) and mounted them inside near the holes. I then used some 9 voly batteries in a chain to power the fans. They really worked great.
...timmy
DJLittleMike says: Nov 8, 2009. 8:32 PM
How do you see out of this? It looks like Hello Kitty's eyes are too far apart for a person. Are there holes that you can't see in the picture?
edgukated (author) in reply to DJLittleMikeNov 9, 2009. 4:51 AM
Answer A - the way that it is designed here, you can only see out the eye holes.  Which means that you cannot see straight ahead of you. I wore this head for 8 hours a day, three days in a row, walking in and around thousands of people. It wasn’t easy, but it was fun. The hardest part is when people want to take a picture with you because you can’t see when the picture is done (unless they use a flash).
 
Answer B – you would have some limited visibility through the yellow nose if you use a sheer fabric. I have done this with other mascot heads. I did not do it with this head because the eye hole visibility was sufficient.
 
…timmy
1-40 of 63Next »
Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

PDF Downloads
As a Pro member, you will gain access to download any Instructable in the PDF format. You also have the ability to customize your PDF download.

Upgrade to Pro today!