How to Make a Duck Tape Flower

Make flowers from duct tape

Duck Tape is the brand name of a utility tape generically referred to as duct tape. It was first produced only in gray and was used to hold together just about anything. Now it is available in a variety of colors, and crafters use it to make a host of unique creations. A few strips of artfully arranged duct tape can produce a flower. Use red duct tape to make a rose. Use yellow duct tape to make a black-eyed Susan. Because duct tape is inexpensive, you can make multiple flowers or even several bouquets for only a few dollars.

Things You'll Need

• Red, yellow, green and black duct tape
• Ruler
• Scissors
• 22-gauge floral wire
• Wire cutters

Instructions

Rose

1. 

   Cut a 2-inch strip of duct tape. Fold over one short end 1 3/4 inches toward the other end, with the red sides out. Leave 1/4 inch of sticky tape visible. Round off the top corners of the tape. See Fig. 1. Roll the tape tightly, with the sticky part at the bottom, to create the rosebud.

2. Cut three 2 1/2-inch strips of red duct tape to make three petals. For each strip, fold over 2 1/4 inches, leaving 1/4 inch of sticky tape visible. Round off the top corners.

3. 

   Wrap one petal loosely around the bud. Wrap the second petal around the first petal, beginning about 1/2 inch from where you started the first petal. See Fig. 2. Wrap the third petal over the second petal in the same manner.

4. Cut four 4-inch strips of red duct tape. Make and wrap petals as in Steps 2 and 3. Gently bend and fold over the top edges of the outside petals.

5. Cut a 4-inch strip of green duct tape, then cut it in half lengthwise. Wrap it tightly around the bottom of the petals. Save the other half of the strip for Step 7.

6. 

   Cut a 6-inch strip of green duct tape and a 6-inch piece of floral wire. Lay the floral wire along the long edge of the duct tape on the sticky side. Fold one long end of the tape 1/8 inch over the wire. Roll the folded tape over, and roll it very tightly to make a stem. See Fig. 3.

7. Lay 1/2 inch of the stem on top of the base of the rose. Using the strip of tape saved from Step 5, wrap the tape around the stem and the base to attach the stem to the flower.

Black-Eyed Susan

1. Cut a 2-inch circle of green duct tape. Lay it sticky side up on your working surface.

2. 

   Cut seven 2-inch strips of yellow duct tape. Fold each strip in half lengthwise. Round off the top corners. Lay the petals in a starburst pattern on top of the circle. See Fig. 4.

3. Cut seven 1 1/2-inch strips of yellow duct tape. Fold and round the corners to make petals as in Step 2. Lay the petals on top of the first layer, placing the petals in the spaces between the petals of the first layer.

4. 

   Cut a 2-inch circle of black duct tape. Stick it on top of the second layer of petals, in the center of the flower. See Fig. 5.

5. 

   Pinch the bottom of the flower (green tape circle) into a cone shape, and complete the base of flower and stem as for the rose. See Fig. 6.