The Duct Tape Book: 25 Projects to Make With Duct Tape

By Jolie Dobson

Duct tape has become the material of choice for creating fashions that showcase the wearer's originality and ingenuity.
-- The New York Times

Duct tape has become a cultural phenomenon, one of those things that explodes in popularity as more and more people find that its creative possibilities for fun far exceed its practical uses. Everything from prom dresses to artistic shoe repair is now made from this magic tape and millions of people follow the latest designs and projects on the many websites devoted to duct tape.

Duct tape was invented during World War II when the military needed a strong, waterproof tape that could be used for emergency repairs. Using surgical tape as a base the new invention soon became everybody's secret weapon.

This book contains 25 fascinating, original new projects -- some useful, all fun to do -- that are sure to capture the attention of duct tape artists everywhere. Easy to follow instructions and color photographs combine to guide anyone to producing unique and useful duct tape projects, including:

• Bike pannier: customize your ride
• Vest: look great in tape
• Purse: unique, fashionable carryall
• Piggy bank: stick your money away
• Wallet: personalized ID holder
• Bow ties: fun with formal or formal turned fun
• Picture frames: reframe your memories
• Knapsack: personalize your pack
• Skirt and chaps
• Tissue box
• plus many seasonal projects and decorations.

Join the fun! A few minutes spent with this book will help you master the sticky stuff and get on your way to being part of one of the most exciting and creative trends of the decade.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Firefly Books
• Release date: Aug 17, 2012
• ISBN: 9781770880764

Jolie Dobson

Jolie Dobson

Book preview

25 PROJECTS TO MAKE

WITH DUCT TAPE

THE

Duct

Tape

Book

25 PROJECTS TO MAKE

WITH DUCT TAPE

Jolie Dobson

Published by Firefly Books Ltd. 2012

Copyright © 2012 Firefly Books Ltd.

Text and photographs copyright © Jolie Dobson 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publisher.

Publisher Cataloging-in-Publication Data (U.S.)

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Dobson, Jolie.

Dobson, Jolie, 1981-

The duct tape book : 25 projects to make

The duct tape book : 25 projects to make with duct tape with duct tape / Jolie Dobson.

/ Jolie Dobson.

[144] p. : col. photos. ; cm.

ISBN 978-1-77085-098-9

ISBN-13: 978-1-77085-098-9 (pbk.)

1. Handicraft. 2. Duct tape. I. Title. II. Title: Twenty-five 978-1-77088-076-4 (ePub)

projects to make with duct tape.

978-1-77088-077-1 (Web PDF)

TT880.D52 2012 745.5 C2012-902990-4

1. Duct tape. 2. Handicraft. I. Title.

745.5 dc23 TT880.D6376 2012

Published in the United States by

Published in Canada by

Firefly Books (U.S.) Inc.

Firefly Books Ltd.

P.O. Box 1338, Ellicott Station

66 Leek Crescent

Buffalo, New York 14205

Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 1H1

Cover and interior design: Jacqueline Hope Raynor.

Cover model: Jolie Dobson. Interior model: Allison Worek.

The publisher gratefully acknowledges the financial support for our publishing program by the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund as administered by the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Contents

Introduction

Duct tape history 5 • Getting started 6 • Choosing tape 7

Credits for duct tape used in book 7 • Colors and customizing

projects 8 • Stencils and decorating 8 • How to make duct tape

sheets 8 • How to make duct tape straps 10 • Taping flat surfaces 11

Taping right-angle flat surfaces 11 • Taping curved edges 12

Taping curved surfaces 13

Projects

Bike buddy 15 • Funky frame bag 21 • Fab frames 25 • Hot pink

handbag 29 • Smart phone holder 35 • Games on Board 39

Out-to-lunch bag 43 • The spill master 49 • Kleenex crib 53

Bag tag 59 • Wild wild vest 65 • Cheeky chaps 71 • Sassy skirt 77

Backpack 83 • Small-scale monster 91 • This little piggy bank 97

IYU box 103 • Yuletide tree topper 109 • Bodacious bows 115

Mad hatters 119 • Duct bunny 125 • Basket case 129

Analog photo album 135 • The cover up 139 • Passport pal 141

3

Introduction

Duct tape was called the handyman’s secret weapon by Red Green. It’s been stowed on board every space flight since the Gemini missions in the mid-1960s.

And dollars to donuts it’s holding something together right now in your house, car or garage. But the biggest secret about the magic fix-all tape is that it is the ultimate craft material too! Its tensile strength lends itself well to sturdy construction, its resistance to water means it’s suitable for outdoor use and now that it comes in colors other than silver it offers a vivid palette for artists, fashion designers and craftspeople in their creations and projects.

In fact, duct tape DIY has become a cultural phenomenon — the Internet has exploded with duct tape art sites, forums and blogs. Indeed, the 25 projects that follow in these pages are a testament to the tape’s versatility and style and are shown in step-by-step fashion so you too, armed with a few rolls, tools and some basic rip and fold moves, can master the sticky stuff and become a duct tape sensei!

Duct Tape History

Duct tape was invented for the U.S. military by the cool-sounding Revolite Corporation (then a division of Johnson & Johnson) in 1942. Originally designed to seal ammunition cases, the tape was tough, durable and fantastically water-resistant and was promptly enlisted to repair anything that was broken, including jeeps, firearms and aircraft.

Because the adhesive tape had a canvas (or duck cloth) backing and repelled water like certain feathered fowl, it was quickly dubbed duck tape by WWII soldiers. Somewhere along the way (where exactly is a hotly debated topic amongst duct tape historians) there was a gloss from duck to duct tape. This is odd as the tape is rarely used on ducts — in fact many building codes forbid it for this use!

Now Duck®Tape is a brand of duct tape.

The utilitarian effectiveness of duct tape meant the humble gun-metal silver roll would find its way into toolkits in practically every profession and home around the