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How to Make a Man's Mask Out of Leather

You can push and shape wet leather with your fingers to make a man's mask. A white glue and hot water solution impregnates the leather pores to harden it. Paint helps define the details and pronounce the image you have in mind. Many leather-working tools and found objects can be used in mask-making, but your fingers are all that is really necessary to get started forming softened leather into a dry, firm mask for any ocassion.

Things You'll Need

Measuring tape
Thick leather
Razor blade knife
Hot water
3 ounces white glue
Large container
Plastic face form
Staple gun and staples
Electric hair dryer
Straight-edge razor blade
Air brush
Acrylic paints
Ice pick
Elastic

Instructions

- 1
  Design a paper pattern that is the same length as the measurement across your face. Indicate the position of the eyes. Remember, the edges do not need to lie flat. They can have feathery parts that curl out.
- 2
  Lay this pattern across a thick piece of leather and trace around the edges with a pencil.
- 3
  Cut the outside leather contour with a razor blade knife. Slant the knife blade in to form a clean edge.
- 4
  Pare down the leather with a skiver. This is a sharp-edged tool that thins leather to make it pliable.
- 5
  Mix a half gallon of hot water with 3 ounces of white glue and stir until it is well combined and turns a diluted white color. Choose a large enough container to hold this mix so your mask will be completely submerged.
- 6
  Soak the leather mask material in this warm water solution for one minute. Watch for the leather to change color as it gets totally saturated.
- 7
  Place the paper pattern back on the wet leather and trace the eye sockets. Cut these holes out of the leather with the razor blade knife.
- 8
  Drape the wet leather shape over a plastic face form. Staple it to the form at the temple areas with a staple gun.
- 9
  Push and press the wet leather to shape it over the form. Watch the moisture come out of the leather as you push it.
- 10
  Curl or shape the edges to make them ripple and bend gracefully around the face form. The leather will begin to dry and get lighter. Prop up any areas that sag until they are dry. You can speed up the drying process by using an electric hair dryer.
- 11
  Trim any rough edges with a straight edge razor. Check the eye edges to be certain they are smooth and will be comfortable.
- 12
  Watch for the leather to get stiff. This indicates that it is dry.
- 13
  Air brush a base coat of color over the entire leather surface or leave some raw leather exposed. The finishing details are all personal choices. Anything goes when creating a fantasy mask. Use diluted acrylic paints in your air brush canister.
- 14
  Punch holes in the two temple sides of the mask with an ice pick. Thread with elastic to form a strap.

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