Origami Face Mask

​The CDC recommends wearing a face covering when going outside or in public for the foreseeable future. When looking to buy a face covering or supplies to make them, I found them very expensive and hard to find.
While searching the internet, I discovered a folded face mask by professor Anna Myczkowska-Szczerska of the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow. The smart face cover is made with a paper towel and secured with rubber bands and a staple. The design caught my eye because it was actually origami!
Her directions were straightforward, but the face mask was a bit too small for me. I found a rice paper sheet from my art stash, and the 12" x 18" size was perfect! Rice paper is fibrous, lightweight, and durable, ideal for a single-use face covering. To my surprise, it fit my face very well!

All you need to make this mask is one sheet of rice paper 12" x 18" or a white paper towel about the same size. You will need two rubber bands or pieces of elastic and some white glue or a stapler. I have folded several masks and keep them in my purse and car for emergencies or to give to someone who doesn't have a face cover. Just like you, I look forward to the day when everything returns to normal. In the meantime, stay healthy and safe and wear a mask in good health! 
​Click here for the face mask tutorial.