How to Make a Duct Tape Purse

Figure A

Steps:

1. Choose a paperback book the size and shape of desired purse.

2. Peel enough (gray) duct tape off the roll to wrap around the book once. Cut it neatly at a 90-degree angle. Wrap it carefully around the book--sticky side out (figure A).

Figure B

3. Continue adding strips of duct tape, overlapping them by about a quarter of an inch until the whole book is wrapped in duct tape with the sticky side out. Do not wrap the top and bottom of the book--only the bottom of the purse will be wrapped in step #4 (figure B). The top portion will be the purse opening.

Figure C

4. Stand the book on one of its unwrapped ends. Cut a piece of tape that is about two inches longer than the open end of the book. Place it sticky side up on the open top end. Carefully stick the sides of the tape down on the sides of the book and then fold the tape down on the ends. Stick the corners down, as you would wrap a package. Tape two pieces on the bottom if your book is wider than the tape (figure C).

Figure D

5. Place collage items on the exposed sticky tape on one or both broad sides of the purse (figure D). Cut a piece of transparency film that is about three quarters of an inch smaller than the broad sides of the purse and place it over your collage elements. Tack the film in place with smaller pieces of tape as needed.

6. To make the strap, measure the desired length of the strap using a measuring tape. Cut several strips of transparency sheets a little bit narrower than the book. Cut the transparency sheet lengthwise to get the longest possible strap sections.

Figure F

7. Roll out and cut a piece of duct tape (red) that is the length of the strap plus the length of the sides and bottom of the purse. Lay it on the table sticky side up. Lay the strips of transparency down the middle of the strip of duct tape (figure F). Overlap the transparency strips by about a quarter of an inch so that the strap will not have creases between the pieces.

Figure G

8. Fold the edges of the tape around the other side of the transparency film. Cut another piece of tape the length of the strap and careful lay the transparency side down on the tape so that the transparency is totally covered in tape. Fold the edges of the tape around to the other side of the strap again (figure G).

Figure H

9. Taking one end of the strap, place it at the bottom middle of the purse. Wrap it up the side. Place the other end of the strap at the bottom of the purse, overlapping it on the first end and wrap it up the side of the purse. The strap should make a loop all the way around the purse (figure H).

Figure I

10. Wrap the purse with the tape sticking the sticky side onto the purse this time. Wrap the bottom similar to wrapping a package. Make a tape border around the collage elements on the broad side of the purse (figure I). Wrap the top edges carefully by folding the tape over the top edge. Make several 45-degree angle cuts so that the corners look nice. Before folding down corners, cut out a "v" or two 45-degree angles so that the corners fold up neatly. Remove the book.

Figure K

11. Make a flap for the top of the purse by overlapping several pieces of tape measuring the width of the broad side. Tape the flap to the top edge of the purse (figure K).

Figure L

12. Install a snap on the flap and opposite top edge along the open side of the purse following the instructions that came with the snap kit (figure L).

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