What is the best way to make a tough, durable Halloween mask?

I want to build my own Halloween mask this year. I've made masks in art classes before by dipping newspaper clppings in some kind of goo and rubbing them onto a mold, but I don't remember what exactly it was, and the mask tends to flake.





What should I use build a mask that won't shatter if dropped or bent, and what is the best technique?What is the best way to make a tough, durable Halloween mask?
I've done this several times. The best way I think is to find and fit a solid mask (plain or not!) that is the right size, eye holes, ribbons, whatever basic SHELL you need. And then you build YOUR mask on top of it. You can get the blank kind at the costume store or dig out buy an old sports one. It's kind of a cheaters way but believe it works. Then you can tie, glue, melt, do anything on top of it. I've even used old Hockey masks!





Examples:





http://www.cryptoys.com/pics.movie/jason鈥?/a>





http://keymancollectibles.com/equipment/鈥?/a>





http://www.costumekingdom.com/storefront鈥?/a>