How to Sculpt a Leather Mask
Whether you're off to a high-end Halloween party or the Renaissance Faire, a leather mask enhances your costume. Masks make sweet Renaissance maidens into fey creatures and turn witches into imps. They make pirates into sea spirits and turn journeymen into forest tricksters. The simple addition of a mask can take your costume from typical to original. Plus, you don't have to shell out the cash for a premade mask. You can make them at home, allowing you to use your creativity and tailor the mask to your needs.
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Things You'll Need
- Cardstock
- Utility knife
- Scissors
- 1/8-inch thick leather
- Warm water
- Hair dryer
- Spray paint, any colors
- Leather hole punch
- Ribbon
Instructions
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1
Fold a piece of cardstock in half widthwise. Look in the mirror and hold the cardstock up to your face. Line the fold up with the center of your nose and forehead; the stock should bisect your face neatly.
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2
Press on the stock gently until you feel the outer edges of your eye. Take a pencil and outline your eye area on the cardstock. Also make marks near the fold for the top and bottom of your nose.
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3
Lay the cardstock on a flat surface, but don't unfold it. Sketch a design for your mask, making embellishments that go down over your cheeks, stick up over your forehead and cover your nose. You can create anything from a mask with leaves around the edge to a mask made of butterfly wings or owl feathers.
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4
Cut out the eyehole with a utility knife, pressing firmly so you cut through both sides of the cardstock. With the stock still folded, cut out the rest of your designs. When you unfold the mask, the design should be perfectly symmetrical.
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5
Lay the cardstock template on your leather. Trace the design onto the leather with a pencil. Cut along your lines with a utility knife. Work slowly to avoid mistakes.
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6
Slip the leather mask into warm water, soaking it thoroughly. It should be dark brown when soaked through. Squeeze just a little water out of the leather.
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7
Press the mask to your face, molding the leather to your face shape. Bring the mask away from your face and support it in one palm. Dry the mask for about 10 seconds with a hair dryer on low. Form the mask to your face once again. Continue this way until the mask holds your face shape.
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Pinch folds into the mask for details. Make ridges above the nose or pinch heavy brow folds into the leather above the eyes. Always pinch and curl the details on the edges of your mask, especially if they're pointy. You want the mask to curve inward toward your face. Twist and curl long skinny pieces into different shapes.
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9
Dry the mask gently on low with your hair dryer. When it returns to its original light beige color, it's dry. Do not heat the mask longer than necessary, or it will become brittle.
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10
Spray paint the mask your base color. You may layer spray paint colors for a mottled look or use spray paint as a base and paint in details with acrylic paint.
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Punch holes in the edges of the mask near your temples. Tie ribbon into the holes so you can secure the mask to your face.
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References
- Photo Credit texture of leather image by vnlit from Fotolia.com
