How to Make Duct Tape Products

Duct tape has long been popular with professional and amateur handymen for its durability and strength. Even with thousands of uses for duct tape, it may be surprising to find that duct tape can be utilized to make trick-or-treat bags, purses, and fabric that can be used to create your own place mats or coasters. With so many products created from duct tape one thing is for sure, duct tape is for the crafty as well as the handy.

Things You'll Need

• Brown paper grocery bag
• Scissors
• Orange, yellow and white duct tape
• Reflective duct tape
• Ruler
• Box cutter or craft knife
• Cardboard
• Pencil
• Desired colors of duct tape

Instructions

Duct Tape Trick-Or-Trick Bag

1. Open paper bag and use scissors to cut down one of the long vertical seams. Cut out bottom of bag. Lie paper bag out flat horizontally.

2. Place three strips of yellow duct tape across the bottom of the bag, making sure to slightly overlap each strip of tape. Repeat with three strips of orange duct tape and then with three strips of white duct tape at the top of the bag. Trim off any excess tape from around the edges of the bag and any part of the paper bag not covered by tape.

3. Roll the bag into a cone shape with the taped side facing out and the end with the orange tape forming the opening of the cone. Roll the bag tighter for a smaller bag, looser for a larger bag. Secure the cone shape by sticking duct tape along the inside seam.

4. Tape down the outer seam of your cone, varying the colors to match the pattern on the outside. Trim away any excess bag from the opening of your cone shape.

5. To close the end of your bag, cut small slits in the narrow end of the cone covered in white duct tape. Fold slits over each other and secure with white duct tape.

6. Cut two strips of duct tape to desired length for handles. Place one strip on a work surface, sticky side up and place the second strip on top of it, sticky side down. Repeat to create a second handle. Secure handles to the inside of the bag with duct tape. Place small strips of reflective duct tape on the handles and side panels of bag.

Duct Tape Purse

1. Using ruler and pencil, measure out five sides of purse. Draw two rectangles measuring 7-by-5 inches, two rectangles measuring 6-by-3 inches and a rectangle for the bottom measuring 7-by-3 inches. Use box cutter or craft knife to cut out all rectangles.

2. Cover each rectangle with duct tape, slightly overlapping each strip. Take care to lie each piece of tape as flat as possible to avoid creases and air bubbles. To cover edges, place edge of cardboard in the center of a strip of duct tape and fold tape up over each side. Repeat process until all your rectangles are completely covered.

3. Tape large rectangle to the bottom piece, lining the long sides up together. Match the tape to the seams of the tape already covering the rectangle. This will help blend in the attaching tape. Repeat with second larger rectangle on the opposite side and then attach the two smaller rectangles to each end. You should now have a rectangular box with an open top.

4. Cut two strips of duct tape to desired length for purse straps. Place one strip on work surface with the sticky side facing up. Place second strip on top of the first, sticky side facing down. Trim away excess tape from the ends of your strap and cut to desired width. Attach strap to inside of the purse with pieces of duct tape.

Duct Tape Fabric

1. Cut a strip of duct tape to desired length and place it, sticky side up, on work surface.

2. Cut another piece of duct tape to the same length as the first and place it, sticky side up, so that the edge slightly overlaps onto the first piece.

3. Continue to cut and place strips of tape until you reach the desired width and length of fabric. Turn fabric so strips are now vertical to you.

4. Cut a strip of tape the same length as your fabric and place it at the top of your fabric, sticky side down. Continue cutting and placing strips of tape, making sure to overlap the edges slightly, until you reach the bottom of your fabric.

5. Trim edges to remove any excess tape. You can now cut your fabric into any size or shape that you want. Use larger pieces for place mats, or cut your fabric into smaller squares or circles to use as coasters.

Tips & Warnings

• Customize the trick or treat bag to coordinate with your child's costume.

• Embellish your duct tape purse by adding silk flowers, bows or ribbons.

• Vary the colors of duct tape when creating fabric to coordinate with your homes decor.

References

• Duck Brand: How To Make a Trick Or Treat Bag
• HGTV: Duct Tape and Ingenuity Create a Unique Purse
• Duck Brand: Creative Fabric Ideas

Resources

• Thrifty Fun: Making a Duct Tape Purse