{"id":537,"date":"2006-02-05T22:53:23","date_gmt":"2006-02-05T22:53:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.docbug.com\/blog\/archives\/537"},"modified":"2006-02-05T22:53:23","modified_gmt":"2006-02-05T22:53:23","slug":"diy-mardi-gras-masks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.docbug.com\/blog\/archives\/537","title":{"rendered":"DIY Mardi Gras masks"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Lately I&#8217;ve been experimenting with making hardened-leather face-masks. I&#8217;m making a bunch of butterfly-looking ones to adorn my wall, but with Mardi Gras just around the corner I figure people might enjoy a quick DIY guide:<\/p>\n<table cellpadding=\"5\">\n<tr>\n<td>    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/saddle-skirt-leather.jpg\"><\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Start with <a    href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Leather#Forms_of_leather\">vegetable-tanned<\/a>    (also known as saddle-skirt) leather. I picked mine up at a local <a    href=\"http:\/\/www.tandyleather.com\/\">Tandy Leather<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"update\"><b>Update 2\/25\/06:<\/b> Get 5\/7-weight leather (that is, between 5\/64&#8243; and 7\/64&#8243; thick). Thicker is OK, though you&#8217;ll get more shrinkage (less soak-time may help that). Thinner won&#8217;t harden as quickly, will be brittle and won&#8217;t hold a shape very well.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/cut.jpg\"><\/td>\n<td>Cut a mask pattern, allowing for about 30% shrinkage.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/soak.jpg\"><\/td>\n<td>Soak leather in cool water for 10 minutes.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/heat-to-180f.jpg\"><\/td>\n<td>Heat water to 180\u00b0F.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<table cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" border=\"0\">\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/5-seconds.jpg\"><\/td>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/30-seconds.jpg\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/60-seconds.jpg\"><\/td>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/90-seconds.jpg\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td>Soak in hot water for around 90 seconds. The leather will shrink, curl     and thicken, and then start to uncurl. The longer you soak it the     stretchier it will be at the start and the smaller, harder, thicker and     more brittle the end result will be.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/shape-to-fit.jpg\"><\/td>\n<td>Once the leather comes out,     you have about 5 minutes to stretch and shape it before it becomes     stiff. For a good face-shape be sure to add bumps for the bridge of the     nose, eyebrows and cheekbones. If you have any dangly bits they can be     twisted or braided, and they will harden into whatever shape you set     them. Over the next 10 minutes, give it a pinch every now and then to     make sure it stays in the shape you want, then let it dry     overnight. By morning, it should be hard as wood.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/paint.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/half-mask.jpg\"><\/td>\n<td>If you     decide now that you need to expand the eyeholes or change the outline     you can use a drill or saw. Otherwise, you&#8217;re ready to paint it, using     a paint suitable for leather. I used several coats of &#8220;3D&#8221; fabric     paint. Mardi Gras colors are green, purple and gold. Add ribbon-ties if     you like. <em>Have fun!<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p class=\"update\"><b>Update 2\/25\/06:<\/b> More masks I&#8217;ve been making:<br \/> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/mime-butterfly-tie.jpg\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/hawk-and-daemon.jpg\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/urukai-coyote-falcon.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"update\">This guide can also be found on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.instructables.com\/ex\/i\/C8C13482E87B1028A7A1001143E7E506\/\">instructables.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lately I&#8217;ve been experimenting with making hardened-leather face-masks. I&#8217;m making a bunch of butterfly-looking ones to adorn my wall, but with Mardi Gras just around the corner I figure people might enjoy a quick DIY guide:<\/p>\n<table cellpadding=\"5\">\n<tr>\n<td>    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/saddle-skirt-leather.jpg\"><\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Start with <a    href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Leather#Forms_of_leather\">vegetable-tanned<\/a>    (also known as saddle-skirt) leather. I picked mine up at a local <a    href=\"http:\/\/www.tandyleather.com\/\">Tandy Leather<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"update\"><b>Update 2\/25\/06:<\/b> Get 5\/7-weight leather (that is, between 5\/64&#8243; and 7\/64&#8243; thick). Thicker is OK, though you&#8217;ll get more shrinkage (less soak-time may help that). Thinner won&#8217;t harden as quickly, will be brittle and won&#8217;t hold a shape very well.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/cut.jpg\"><\/td>\n<td>Cut a mask pattern, allowing for about 30% shrinkage.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/soak.jpg\"><\/td>\n<td>Soak leather in cool water for 10 minutes.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/heat-to-180f.jpg\"><\/td>\n<td>Heat water to 180\u00b0F.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<table cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" border=\"0\">\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/5-seconds.jpg\"><\/td>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/30-seconds.jpg\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/60-seconds.jpg\"><\/td>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/90-seconds.jpg\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td>Soak in hot water for around 90 seconds. The leather will shrink, curl     and thicken, and then start to uncurl. The longer you soak it the     stretchier it will be at the start and the smaller, harder, thicker and     more brittle the end result will be.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/shape-to-fit.jpg\"><\/td>\n<td>Once the leather comes out,     you have about 5 minutes to stretch and shape it before it becomes     stiff. For a good face-shape be sure to add bumps for the bridge of the     nose, eyebrows and cheekbones. If you have any dangly bits they can be     twisted or braided, and they will harden into whatever shape you set     them. Over the next 10 minutes, give it a pinch every now and then to     make sure it stays in the shape you want, then let it dry     overnight. By morning, it should be hard as wood.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/paint.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/half-mask.jpg\"><\/td>\n<td>If you     decide now that you need to expand the eyeholes or change the outline     you can use a drill or saw. Otherwise, you&#8217;re ready to paint it, using     a paint suitable for leather. I used several coats of &#8220;3D&#8221; fabric     paint. Mardi Gras colors are green, purple and gold. Add ribbon-ties if     you like. <em>Have fun!<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p class=\"update\"><b>Update 2\/25\/06:<\/b> More masks I&#8217;ve been making:<br \/> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/mime-butterfly-tie.jpg\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/hawk-and-daemon.jpg\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/docbug.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/legacy\/diy-mask\/urukai-coyote-falcon.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"update\">This guide can also be found on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.instructables.com\/ex\/i\/C8C13482E87B1028A7A1001143E7E506\/\">instructables.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-537","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hacks"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.docbug.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/537","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.docbug.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.docbug.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.docbug.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.docbug.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=537"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.docbug.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/537\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.docbug.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=537"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.docbug.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=537"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.docbug.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}