How to Make a Duct Tape Pocketbook

Duct tape can replace more traditional pocketbook materials like leather.

Far more often used in quick repairs and amusing craft projects than for its intended purpose, duct tape is a cultural icon. When used to create items like purses, wallets or other personal storage, it's not only a great joke, it's actually quite sturdy and useful. Create your own duct tape pocketbook style purse to make a fashion statement while providing rugged, sturdy protection to your personal belongings.

Things You'll Need

• Butcher paper
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Fabric zipper
• Duct tape
• Soft rope, about 1/2 inch diameter
• Needle
• Thread

Instructions

1. Cut a large, rectangular piece of butcher paper. Use the length of your zipper as the length for the width of the piece. Make the height twice the length that you want your finished pocketbook to be (since it will be folded in half to form it).

2. Coat one side of the butcher paper in duct tape strips. Lay the strips across the shorter side (width) of the paper rectangle for better control, placing them edge-to-edge. For best results, lay the strips so that they overlap the edges of the paper, then fold them over the edge or trim them; this will give you the most straight edge.

3. Fold the rectangular piece in half lengthwise to form a pocket. Place the tape-covered side on the inside. Crease the fold by running your finger down it.

4. Cover the outside of the pocketbook in tape, starting with the sides of the pocket shape. Lay strips of tape to cover these edges, folding them over the ends of the folded paper and laying them edge-to-edge as you did then covering the inside of the pocketbook. Fold short pieces of tape over the folded bottom of the pocket in the same manner to reinforce it. Cover the rest of the pocketbook's sides in tape; overlap layers of tape, using more than you think you'll need.

5. Cut two 10-inch lengths of rope for the handles.

6. Make two holes for the the handles in each side of the pocketbook. Position them five inches apart, about three inches down from the top of the pocket, and in the center of the pocketbook. Make each hole in the form of an "x" shaped incision using the craft knife, with each arm of each "x" measuring a half inch in length.

7. Attach the handles on each side of the pocketbook by threading one end of each through the "x" hole from the outside of the pocket. Tie knots on the ends of the rope pieces on the inside to secure them in place.

8. Cover the handles in tape to make them look uniform, if desired.

9. Attach the zipper to the mouth of the pocket. Open the zipper. Tape it in place with two long strips, applying them on the inside of the bag. Reinforce with a row of straight hand stitching running along either side of the zipper, stitching through the entire thickness of the pocketbook's wall.

References

• "The Big-Ass Book of Crafts;" Mark Montano and Auxy Espinoza; 2008