Well I would pretty much do the same thing your doing. Make something from a game she likes/loves.
This is the helmet your talking about right?
http://runescape.wikia.com/wiki/Torva_full_helm
It kinda looks like Magneto's helmet (From X-Men)
I would just make Magneto's helmet and just modify it by adding horns, making different flaps , and adding paper to cover the middle and make some new edges. Atleast that's what I would do.
Hope this info helps!
If you need the Magneto Helmet pep file, Just PM me.