Directions for Making a Duct Tape Purse
Duct tape isn't just for furnace air duct installations anymore. Today duct tape has gone mainstream in the world of arts and crafts. People are using it to create all kinds of of things, from flip flops to roses to purses. Made from a cloth coated with polyethylene, it's backed with an adhesive with exceptional holding power. For years duct tape only came in that all too familiar gray color. Today it comes in over 30 different colors plus fluorescents and some patterns which can be mixed and matched. Duct tape is a cheap, eye-popping material perfect for creating pop art.
Instructions
-
-
1
Cut out tag board for the purse's two side walls, side panels and bottom panel. Any size purse can be made but for this example cut two 5- by 7-inch pieces of tag board, two 3- by 6-inch pieces and one 3- by 7-inch piece.
-
2
Lay each piece of tag board out on a work table one at a time and cover them on both sides with duct tape. Cut the strips of tape a little longer than the width of the tag board (excess will be trimmed off) and overlap the parallel strips of tape by 1/2 inch. Cover both sides of the tag board pieces.
-
-
3
Trim off excess tape overhanging the edges of the tag board. Cut strips of tape to cover the edges of the taped tag board. The tape can be cut in one long strip that will cover the entire perimeter of each section of tag board or cut smaller lengths for ease of working.
-
4
Lay the first strip of tape adhesive-side up. Set the edge of the first section of taped tag board in the middle of the tape. Start folding the tape against the front and back face of the tag board. Make sure there is no break in the tape where it wraps around each corner. Crease the tape at the corners and make a triangle fold like when gift wrapping a box. Make sure the tape sticks to itself. Add an extra tab of tape for reinforcement if it needs it. Repeat for all sections of tag board.
-
5
Start taping the side and bottom panels to the two matching 5- by 7-inch side panels to create an open top rectangular box. Make the width of the purse the 7-inch measurement.
-
6
Make a strap to attach to the top of the purse. Cut two strips of duct tape any length desired. Lay one strip adhesive-side up. Take the second strip and place it sticky-side facing down to the bottom strip with a 1/4-inch offset. Rub the two strips of tape together to seal them. Fold over the 1/4-inch offset on to the top strip of tape. This will create a smooth finished edge. Flip the tape over and fold the other 1/4-inch offset over to finish the remaining edge of the strap.
-
7
Tape the ends of the purse strap to the inside face of the side panels.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Make the purse all one color of duct tape or mix some colors of tape to create a pattern.
Decorate the front of the purse with beads, paint, markers or artificial flowers.
Use the handle of your scissors to burnish the tape so it seals tight to the surface it's placed on.
Plain cardboard can be used instead of tag board.
Reinforce the purse handles by punching a hole through the side panels and the purse strap ends and inserting a brass prong paper fastener.
