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It seems quite a few of us have started up Tumblrs from the looks of things!  Now here's your chance to share with the Group.

If you don't have a Tumblr yet, I highly recommend it!  It's a fun way to share your image posts, in particular, and to quickly build up viral views of your work.  People can easily Follow you there and re-blog your entries onto their own blogs for their Followers to see.  You can manage multiple blogs from one username, which makes it SO handy for those of us who have multiple disciplines.

Here's my artisan crafts blog to get you started -  AngelicArtisan!  (My personal username/blog on there is 'theprojectfairy' with 'artbyangelasasser' for my paintings)

Those of you who are just getting used to Tumblr, how do you like it?  I didn't use mine for a year before I figured out that it's mainly about spreading images and less about text, which makes it the ultimate visual crack!

This journal topic also makes me think I should start up a literature file with all of our networking info (name, website, tumblr, facebook, etc.)  I know we have the visual profiles for that, but doesn't hurt to have a quick to read list, am I right?  What do you guys think?

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So I've noticed in Tandy's website that there are SO many new dyes now. There are wax-based dyes, water-based dyes, antiquing dyes, etc.  I've even noticed that my latest bottles of Eco-flo water-based dye now come in this thin liquid rather than the thicker gel-like stuff that I used to get.  (At least I hope that's not because I had been buying old bottles all this time. XD)  

QUESTION:  Have you guys ever used any of the wax-based or antiquing dyes?  How do they differ from the water based dyes and are they better for masks?

So what do you guys use?  After much trial and error, I've come down to using the following process on my masks:

1.  Get all my carving done, then lay down a layer of black or brown Eco-Flo water-based dye, whichever complements the mask.  This helps to have an undercoat that isn't flesh toned and with creating an antiquing effect with later layers of acrylics.

2.  Paint the colorful details and such in acrylics, either Folkart craft grade or Liquitex heavy body acrylics.  I've used soft body as well, which are less creamy and dense than heavy body. It takes more layers to cover with the soft body and definitely more layers with the craft grade too.  But I try to keep my acrylic layers thin and consistent when adding more layers by using glazing techniques so that they do not get too thick and encourage cracking.

3.  Seal with Liquitex Satin varnish, which I've found to be more flexible and less prone to cracking than less expensive varnishes.  I also like to use Satin because it still coats everything but allows the difference between matte and metallic paints to shine through more, which is an important effect when rendering things like butterfly wings in leather, which are more realistic looking if you can tell the difference between those textures.  Using Matte varnish will suck the shine right out of your metal effects, so beware!

QUESTION:  I've noticed with some of my keychains that I've painted with craft quality acrylics (ie. Folkart paints) that the paint cracks if the item is one that bends a lot.  Have you guys ever had any problems with cracking? How did you solve it?  I haven't had this problem on masks, but I also haven't seen how my masks have withstood regular use down the road.  I suspect masks don't bend or suffer wear as much as keychains, and therefore might be safe from cracking?

PROTIP:  I've had some success doing purposeful crackle effects with Folkart's crackle medium, which you can see on a mask here.

QUESTION:  I've always admired the 3D swirls on Venetian masks.  They are created with a paper based paste that is added to the mask with a tube that looks kind of like what cake decorator's use to put icing on cakes.  Has anyone figured out a good method of doing this on leather who wants to share?  I suspect flexible silicon caulking might be a solution or that '3D Texture Paste' I've seen at the hobby stores.

QUESTION:  Do any of you use an airbrush to apply paint?  I do it all by hand, which gives some interesting texture to my masks, but makes it incredibly hard to create a solid finish on my masks that doesn't look weathered.  If so, what airbrush to you use (or can recommend) to a mask maker?

So just dropping this discussion here so that we can share and learn!  Please further discuss in comments.

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!EmbodimentOfSin20 passed this link along to me and I'm passing it along to the group.  She has a dress all picked out for Jareth's ball, but she needs a mask!  Go read her journal for more details.

The journal - [link]

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I thought you guys might like to read about how I got into mask-making and learn a little bit about the face behind the curtain at this Group.

Eirewolf on Twitter asks: How did you get into leather maskmaking, and what advice would you have for someone who is learning the craft?

First thing's first, I always harbored an obsession with masks. Something about them was intriguing, mysterious, both revealing and concealing of our true personalities all at once!  If I created a character for my stories, to be sure I would find an excuse to put them in a mask! All philosophy aside, they just look cool.

I had made masks out of clay before (you don't want to see those. They're lumpy hot messes), but lightening struck when...

(Read on at the full post)

So how did you guys get into leather mask-making?  Share your stories in comments!

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Over the holidays I have been ruminating on how to inspire more participation here at the group.  I think the reason our monthly Challenges are so quiet is due to the fact most of us are busy folks who generally have other jobs and masks to be making at the same time as the challenges.  

Quarterly Challenges

The solution I think would work the best for us would be to have quarterly challenges instead.  That way folks will have more time to generate ideas and produce a mask.  I've hardly been able to participate in the Challenges, myself, for that reason. By the time I have the time and a good idea to make the mask for the Challenge, the month is over!  The recurring challenges will be whittled down to Mask of Thyself, The Elements, The Tarot, The Zodiac, and The Storyteller, all topics which will cycle down their respective 'series' until we run out of inspiration fodder from them.  Once I figure out the new schedule of things, I'll post again about which Challenges are coming up in 2013.

Yearly Challenge

Now, alongside the Challenges, I'd really like to start a yearly contest that will really spur our imaginations and more participation here!  

My idea was to have prizes like Tandy Gift Cards, tools and scraps donated from members, donated journal features, DeviantART subscriptions, or whatever our Members here would like to add to the prize pot.  I'd love to know your ideas about prizes AND also when we should have this contest?  I'm not sure what topics to have for this BIG contest yet, unless we use one of the Challenge topics listed above?  Need suggestions there, too!

I know springtime is festival time for a lot of us.  Winter and autumn seem out as well, due to the Halloween/holiday rush.  Would summer be the best time to hold a contest?  I want to hear from you guys!

Discuss in comments!