How to Make a Duct Tape Purse

Materials:

sharp scissors
roll(s) of duct tape--one roll of each color to be incorporated into purse
craft knife
plastic sheeting--acetate or transparency film*
collage items: ribbons, magazine pages, fabric, wrapping paper
snap kit
paperback book
measuring tape
* The type used for photocopies or for use on an overhead projector.

Steps:

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

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.

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).

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 (figure E).

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.