DIY Leather Octopus Pirate Eye Patch Mask

It is a week until Halloween and my son still had not picked his costume.

I had to twist his arrrrrrrrrrm but I got him to agreed to be a pirate. My son is quite a character so not just any old eye patch would do.

So the octopus eye patch mask was born!

Step 1: Materials

All materials can be purchased at Tandy Leather!
1. Tooling Leather
2. Tracing paper
3. Razor knife
4. Leather sealer
5. Pen
6. Tub of water - hot
7. Paint brushes
8. foam head to shape leather
9. Swivel knife

Step 2: Create Your Pattern and Fit It to Face

I knew I wanted the pattern to cover one of my son's eyes. So it worked to have him hold up the tracing paper to check alignment.

Step 3: Trace Pattern Onto Leather

First you need to dampen the leather to prepare for tooling. once the surface of the leather has lightened back up and feels dry but cold you are ready.

Lady your pattern over the leather and press down tracing over the design with a pen or sharp object. Now you are ready to start cutting your design.

Step 4: Cut the Design

Use a swivel knife to cut your basic shape/design

Step 5: Add Tooling

Add dimension to your project with stamps. You can purchase then at Tandy Leather.

Step 6: Shape the Mask

Use a tub of hot water to dunk your project in. Then take it out and place over mannequin head and start shaping around the nose and eyes. Then I like to use a hair drier to make things faster and get the leather to stiffen up.

Step 7: Drill Holes

I used my Dremel to drill holes in each side for the string

Step 8: Time Paint

Paint the colors of your choice using Eco Flo leather paint.

Step 9: Antique & Seal Finish

I used a black antique gel from Tandy Leather rubbed over entire surface then wiped off extra with damp papertowel. Then use Super Sheen to seal it all in.