Costume party masks have been around for centuries. They used to be worn more by the elite of society, but now days anyone can wear an elegant mask that adds a bit of mystery and drama to a well thought out costume. Of course, there are those people who wish to wear the mask only without the elaborate costume. Whatever the preference, Halloween is the time of year when most people look for that perfect black mask that makes an impact.

To make things clear, these are not the rubber masks that often have monster faces, or blood gushing from fake wounds. These are not the masks that resemble real life people. Those are fun, but we're talking about a more sophisticated adult Halloween mask. Many people are happy to plop a simple, cheap, plastic black mask on their face and call it a night. Others, however, wish to add a bit of creative flair to their party mask. This is the kind of mask I'm talking about. Ones that are unique, playful, and most of all, fun.

At most costume stores, you'll find a nice selection of black costume masks in all shapes and sizes. Some masks only cover the eye area, while others cover the forehead and the eye area. Try several on to see which ones fit comfortably. Now you've got to decide whether you want a big mask or smaller size. The bigger the mask, the more drama you'll create. The style and size of your mask will depend on whether you are male or female, and what type of costume you'll be wearing.

Okay, so now you've selected your mask. Now you've got to figure out how you're going to make your custom Halloween mask. There are lots of possibilities, depending on the mood you want to create. First, ask the store clerk if you'll be able to draw and/or glue items onto the type of mask you've selected. This is very important, since not all masks are easy to draw on, or they might not take well to glue. It helps if you already have some idea about what types of craft items you'll be using to create your unique mask.

Here are some add-on items you might consider:

Beads
Ribbon
Buttons
Feathers
Plastic eyes
Metallic paper
Mini pompoms
Fake gemstones
Chains - silver or gold
Glitter (sprinkles or glue)
Lace or other colorful fabric
Stick on stars, circles and other shapes

Remember, you have a dramatic black canvas to work on, so shapes made from glitter will especially stand out. On a smaller mask, you might try lining the eyes of the mask with glitter, then sticking on a few baubles at the ends for a playful effect.

A few things to keep in mind while decorating:

If you are new to mask decorating, keep in mind that when you try to draw a pattern, it probably won't come out perfect. It takes lots of experience to draw perfectly symmetrical patterns. If your design comes out a little skewed, so what? It'll still look great anyway.

If you are painting your mask, use darker colors for shading and lighter colors for eye-popping impact.

Too much of a good thing is not gonna win you many compliments. Avoid applying too many decorations. Remember, this type of mask is supposed to be elegant, not clownish.

Make sure you reinforce the rubber band that holds up the mask (with tape, glue or other method) so that it doesn't break during the evening. If you're afraid it might break anyway, you can carry extra rubber bands with you in case of an emergency. It would be a shame to have to discard your mask because your band breaks and you forgot to bring a replacement. Attaching a ribbon to the back of your mask is an excellent way to add extra reinforcement.

Creating a unique Halloween costume party mask isn't difficult, just use your imagination and you'll soon see that your mask will take on a life of its own. Maybe you'll create several masks that you can wear again and again. The important thing is to have fun making your custom party mask and enjoy wearing it.