Making Leather Masks With Alginate
Whether you are going to a costume party as Hannibal Lechter or need a mask for a play, make a leather mask with alginate. Alginate is the material used by dentists to make dental molds because it sets in less than five minutes. Make the inside of the mask with alginate and the outside of the mask with leather. The combination gives you a soft mask that is customized to your face shape with a mysterious leather exterior mask.
Things You'll Need
- Garbage bag
- Petroleum jelly
- 2 cups alginate
- 2 cups warm water
- Container
- Brush
- Plaster bandages
- Utility knife
- Leather
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun
- Thin elastic strap
Instructions
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1
Cut a hole in a plastic garbage bag and place the garbage bag over your clothes to protect them for spills. You can also wear old clothes.
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2
Spread a thin layer of petroleum jelly over your face, using your fingers. The petroleum jelly provides a protective layer over your face and provides easy removal of the alginate without pulling off hair and skin.
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3
Pour 2 cups of alginate with 2 cups of water into a container and mix well.
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4
Close your eyes and have another person brush the alginate mixture over your eyes, forehead and nose. Spread a 1/4-inch layer of alginate. Let the alginate dry for two to five minutes
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5
Wet plaster bandages and wring the water out of them. Place the plaster bandage strips over the alginate. Let the plastic strips dry for 10 to 15 minutes. The plaster bandages hold alginate in place and provide a hard, protective cover to the mask.
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6
Remove the plaster bandages and alginate mask from your face. Cut the plaster and alginate mask to the desired size. Cut through the mask to make holes for your eyes and nostrils, using a utility knife.
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7
Cut a mask to cover the areas around your eyes and face from a leather sheet, using scissors. Glue the wrong side of the leather mask to the plaster side of the mask, using a hot glue gun. Let the glue dry for 20 seconds.
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8
Poke holes in the left and right ends of the mask. Insert the ends of a thin elastic strap into the holes and tie knots to the ends of the elastic straps. Place the mask on your face and pull the elastic around the back of your head.
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Tips & Warnings
Warm the hot glue gun for at least three minutes.
The nozzle of the glue gun is extremely hot and burns skin on contact.
