duct tape 101 adventurous ideas for art, jewelry, flowers, wallets and more

DUCTTAPE101ADVENTUROUSIDEAS

FORART•JEWELRY•FLOWERS•WALLETSANDMORE

FORESTWALKERDAVIS

CONTENTSFOREWORDBYRICHELAFABIANMORGAN

INTRODUCTION:

DUCTTAPEASARTCHAPTERONE:

GETTINGSTARTEDCHAPTERTWO:

FLOWERSCHAPTERTHREE:

WALLETS,PURSES,BAGS,ANDMORECHAPTERFOUR:

JEWELRYANDOTHERACCESSORIESCHAPTERFIVE:

SCULPTURESCHAPTERSIX:

TABLEAUXRESOURCES

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

FOREWORDIknowthishashappenedtoyou.

Youspotitfromacrossthestore:perfect,bright,andcolorfulrolls,neatlystackedorplayfullyjumbledinanoversizedbin.It’seyecandydrawingyouin,andtheneedtotouchitoverwhelms.Atfirstyoudon’tknowwhatitis,butthenafterpickinguparoll,youfindyourselfsmiling.Ah,ducttape.

Asecondrealizationsinksinasyoutosstherollintoyourshoppingbasketandheadtothecheck-outcounter–andthismakesyouchuckle.You’reinapharmacy!Alongwiththesunscreenandvarietypackofbandages,you’rebuyingarollofhotpinkducttape–andfornoapparentreason.

Ducttapeiseverywherethesedays.Once,duringanintensethreehoursofrunningerrands,Icameacrossitatthehardwarestore,thesupermarket,mylocaltoystore,and(yes)thepharmacy.Itwasn’tevenonmylistofto-do’s.Asaducttapeartist,itsubiquitouspresenceisextremelyconvenient.ImaynotevenrealizethatI’mrunninglowonaparticularcolororpatternuntilIaccidentallywalkdownanaisleandseeit.

Ducttapeisadiversemediumforcreativity.Itcanbeusedtomakewallets,bags,banners,garments,jewelry,belts,andotheraccessories.Itcanbefolded,cut,andmoldedintovariousshapesfor2-Dor3-Dart.Ducttapecanbeasubstituteforfabric,paper,markers,andpaint.I’veevenwitnessedsomeonetryingtocrochetwithit.Whilemostpeoplewouldsnicker,Isilentlycheeredheron.(Go,lady,go!)

Theprojectsinthisbookshowcasethepowerofducttape.Forestunderstandsthatit’snotjustanadhesive.Ducttapeismeanttobeplayedwith,tobemanipulatedandfine-tuned,andtobetransformed.Thereseemstobenolimittowhatapersoncancreate,whetherit’sartorcraft,orsomethinginbetween.Andyoucanbeanold,marriedladywithkidsorayoungbachelorwiththeworldathisfeet.ForestandIaretwoverydifferentpeople,butweshapeourinspirationthroughducttape.Andbecauseofthis,wearekindredspirits.

—RICHELAFABIANMORGAN

INTRODUCTION

DUCTTAPEASART

IWISHIHADAGOODORIGINSTORY.OTHERARTISTSIKNOWCANTALKABOUTTHEFIRSTTIMESOMEONEGAVETHEMAPAINTBRUSHORACAMERA,ABOUTLEARNINGTOSEECOLORANDSHADOWANDLIGHT.“HOWDIDYOUGETSTARTED?”ISPROBABLYTHEMOSTCOMMONQUESTIONIGETASKED,ANDMORETHANADECADELATER,ISTILLDON’THAVEASATISFACTORYANSWER.SOMETIMESIJOKINGLYREPLYTHATIWASFONDOFGIRLSANDKNEWTHATIWOULDN’TBEANYGOODATSPORTS,WHICHISATLEASTALITTLEBITTRUE.

AbetteransweristhatIalwayshadacreativeorientation,wasluckyenoughtobethesonofanartteacherandamusician,andranintocreativepeoplein

schoolwhoinspiredandencouragedme.

Iremembersomewherearoundeighthgrade,itbecamevoguetomakewalletsandbookcoverswithducttape.Myfirstwalletweighedabouttwopoundsandhadpocketseverywhere,hidingnotebooksandpencilsandplayingcardsandapocketknife,butthissoonevolvedintomoreportablemodels.Theconceptoftransformingsomethingblatantlyutilitarianintosomethingbeautifulappealedtome,asitstilldoes.WhenIrealizedthatpeoplewerewillingtopaymefiveortendollarsforaducttapeflower,myinterestwaspiqued,butIwas(andstillam)reluctanttomakeartforprofit,preferringtomakethingsbecauseIfeelliketheyneedtobemade.

TheprogressionfromfirstwalletthroughmoreandmorecomplexartworkstothepresentdaywassoslowandgradualthatsometimesitfeelslikeonedayIwokeuplikethis,teachingartclasses,writingabook,andmakingflowersforweddings.Forthisreason,it’ssometimeshardtoidentifyastartingpoint,oradecisionthatledmehere,butit’saprettyniceplacetobe.

Ducttapeoccupiesanoddplaceintheworldofart.Itisoftenputinanumbrellacategorysuchas“mixedmedia”or“noveltyart,”andmuchoftheexistingmaterialonthesubjectismarketedtowardteenagers,showingtheun-seriousnesswithwhichitisgenerallyregarded.Thisun-seriousness,however,ispartofitsappeal.Itallowsyou,theartist,thefreedomtomakewhatyouwanttomakeinwhateverwayyou’dliketomakeit.It’sunpretentiousandsimple,afunctionalandutilitarianthingthatpeopleallovertheworldhaveelevatedinbeautifulandunexpectedways,likeagourmethot-dogstand.

CHAPTERONE:

GETTINGSTARTED

ONEOFTHETHINGSIENJOYMOSTABOUTDUCTTAPEASAMEDIUMISTHEACCESSIBILITY—TAPECANBEFOUNDATVIRTUALLYANYCORNERSTOREANDISN’TVERYEXPENSIVECOMPAREDWITHOTHERARTMEDIA.INTHISWAY,IT’SVERYDEMOCRATIC.MOSTOFTHENON-TAPEMATERIALSARESIMILARLYAVAILABLEANDINEXPENSIVE,SOTHEBARRIERTOENTRYISVERYLOW.

AnotherthingIlikeisthatitcanbedonealmostanywhere.IfeelmostcomfortablemakingartincoffeehousesandbarsbecauseIthinkit’sprobablygoodformetohavesomehumaninteraction,andI’vemadesomegoodfriendsandprofessionalcontactsthatIwouldn’thaveifIwereinmy

basementworkingtothesoundsofanoldStarTrekepisode.ItrynottotakeupmorespacethanIneed,andifI’moccupyingoneofthefewlargetables,I’llputupasignthatsays“nicepeoplemaysithere”sothatIdon’tfeelguiltyaboutoverstayingmywelcome.It’sagoodideatopicktablesthataresquareorrectangularbecausecirculartablesmakeitdifficulttomakebigsheetsoftapeforwalletsandpursesandthelike.It’salsogoodtofindatablethathasasmooth,unpaintedsurfacebecauseitgivesyouaplacetosetdownyourstripsoftapeasyou’remakingthem,andtheadhesivecanremovepaintfromtabletops,whichcanangertheownersofthecoffeehouseorbar.

TOOLSMostofthetoolsIusearesimpleones,butIencourageyoutousewhateverresourcesyouhaveaccesstoandnotfeellimitedbythemanufacturer’sintent.IrecalloneparticularprojectinwhichIneededtocarvelargepiecesofclosed-cellfoamintosmoothshapessuitablefordecoratingwithtape.Myfather,whoinspectsbeehives,happenedtohaveaspecializedtoolcalledacappingknifethatlooksabitlikeanelectrifiedgardentrowel.Theideawasthattheknifewouldgetwarmandmeltitswaythroughthefoamlikeaheatedicecreamscoop.Asithappens,thiswasnotveryeffective,andIwentbacktousingasteakknife.Goforthandfindthethingsthatworkandlearnfromthethingsthatdon’t.Thatbeingsaid,herearethetoolsIusemostfrequently.

CUTTINGBOARD

Ipreferacuttingboardwithsome“give”toit,liketheself-healingrubbermatsavailableatmostcraftstores.Theknifeisbetterabletoseverthestringsofthetapeifthebladecansinkintothecuttingboardabit.Avoidthehardplasticandwoodenmats.Biggerisbetter.

HOLEPUNCH

Sometimesyouwillneedtomakecircles.Forsmallercircles,aholepunchseemstheobvioussolution,butitstretchesouttheedgesofthecircle,soitjustwon’tdo.Thebestthingforsmallishcirclesisabookdrillorascrewpunch.Thiswooden-handledtoolwithacuttingbittwistsasyoupushitdown,thusrenderingaperfectcircle.Itcomeswithbitsofvarioussizes.Forlargercircles,thecraftknifeisveryeffective.

SCISSORS

Agoodpairofscissorsisessential,butthegoodonesaren’talwaysthemostexpensive.I’vepurchasedseveralpairsatdollarstoresthatoutperformedthoseavailableatcraftstores.Anoteregardingscissors:Whentheygetcloggedupwithadhesiveresidue(andtheywill),takeasmallpieceoftapeandrubthestickysideverycarefullyalongthebladeofthescissorsseveraltimesuntiltheresidueisremoved.It’simportanttodothisfrequentlytoensurecleanercuts.IrecentlyacquiredapairofFiskarsscissorsdesignedforDuckbrandtocutducttapeandotheradhesives.Icanattestthattheyworkbeautifully.

CRAFTKNIFE

Anybrandofthesekniveswilldofine,butIprefertheoneswithmetalhandlesovertheplasticbecausethey’relesslikelytobreak.Ialwayscarryextrablades,becausetheydullquicklyandsometimesbreak.Idon’thaveanofficialcoverformine,soIusedapencap.

WIRECUTTERS

Mywirecuttersareprettysimplethings.Youcanfindthematmostcraftstores.Iboughtapairatadollarstoreonce,buttheybrokealmostimmediately.Besuretooilthemeverynowandagain.

COFFEE

…andlotsofit!

BASIC

SKILLSTHEPROJECTSINTHISBOOKREPRESENTAPRETTYWIDESCALEOFDIFFICULTY,BUTEVENTHEEASIESTPROJECTSCANBEDAUNTINGWITHOUTAPRIMEROFTHEESSENTIALSKILLS.ITMIGHTHELPIFYOU’REVERYNEWTODUCTTAPETOPRACTICETEARINGANDFOLDINGSOMESQUARES,JUSTTOGETTHEFEELOFIT.

FOLDINGTAPE

Keepyourfingersoutoftheway.

Usethesidesofthetapeforguidance.

Alwaysfoldfromthecreasedownwardtoavoidwrinkles.Ifyou’refoldingasheetoftape,alwaysfoldfromthecreasetowardtheopenend.

TEARINGTAPE

Whentearingtapeofftheroll,firstunwrapthedesiredlengthoftape.Next,holdtherollinyourlefthandanduseyourleftindexfingerasthestoppingpointforyourtapestrip.

Last,graspthefreestripwithyourrighthandclosetoyourstopper-finger,andthenthrustyourrighthandquicklydownwardusingthepadofyourthumb(pictured)asanedge.Alternatively,youcanattachthetapeendtotheedgeofyourtable,unrollittothedesiredlength,andthencutitwithscissorswhilekeepingthestriptautwiththerollinyourotherhand.Tearingtapeslowlymay

resultinanunevenorstretchededge,sodon’tbeafraidtotearwithvigorandgusto.

MAKINGSHEETS

Whenmakingsheetsoftapeforwallets,purses,orotherbig,flattishthings,planaheadsotheydon’tcomeapartlater.Layyourstripsonyourtabletopsticky-sideup(SSU—anacronymI’lluseoccasionallyinthisbook),overlappingeachbyabout1/4to1/3inch(6to8mm).Next,completeyoursheetbylayinganotherlayerofstripssticky-sidedownperpendiculartoyourfirstlayer.Makingyourtoplayerperpendiculartoyourbottomlayerkeepstheoverlapsfrombecomingtooprominent,andprovidesaddedstrength.

Whenyou’reoverlappingthetape,youshouldtouchthemlightlywithyourfingerstosealtheadhesive.Whenyou’readdingstripsforthetoplayer,you’llwanttohavethecenterofthetapestriptouchthebottomlayerfirst,droppingyourhandsslowlytomakesurethestripisevenlyandsmoothlyapplied.

OTHERBEGINNINGTIPS

IprefertouseDuckbrandducttapebecauseofthequalityofthetapeandthevarietyofcolors,butnotallDuckbrandtapesarethesame!Somerollshaveapatternofperforations(whichfeelsmoother),andsomehaveacrossed-stringpattern(whicharemoretexturedinappearance).Youshouldlookfortherollswiththecrossedstrings;they’reeasiertotear,andtheedgesarestraighterthantheperforatedtape,whichcanformabruptlateralripswhenbeingtorn.

Planningoutyourprojectsinstagescanbeatime-saver,especiallywhendealingwithdozensofidenticalparts.Itiseasier,forexample,toteartwentystrips,foldthem,cutthem,andapplythemtogetherratherthandoingeachoneinturn.Ifyouneedninestripsofequallengthforawallet,youcanmeasurethefirst,thenstretchthatoneoutinfrontofyou,andmeasuretheothersagainstit.Thesameistrueforwiresandothermaterials.

Moreonplanning:Iliketosketchoutmyprojectsaheadoftimetopredictpossibledesignproblems.Ihavesentmanycoloredpencilstotheirgravesthisway.It’struewhattheysayaboutanounceofpreventionbeingworthapoundofcure:Nothingisworsethangettinghalfwaythrougha“grandwork”andhavingtorestartbecauseyoudidn’trealizetherewassomethingwrongwiththeplan.

Newsprintisusefulasafillermaterial,butnewspapersareusuallyprintedwithaninkthatsmearswhenyoucrumpleit,whichcancauseblacksmudgingonyourhandsandspreadtolighter-coloredtapes.Inoticedthisonthesashimiespecially.Beforeyouuseprintedpapersforducttapeart,crumplesomebetweenyourfingerstoseewhethertheinkshowsuponyourhands.Ifso,youmightconsiderusingadifferentpaper.

Thereisoftenalotofrepetitioustedium,anditcanbehelpfultosharetheloadbyenlistingfamily,neighbors,andfriendstoassistintearingorfolding.You’dbesurprisedhowmuchworkcanbeboughtwithabeeroracoffeeorabarofchocolate.

CHAPTERTWO:

FLOWERS

ISTARTEDMAKINGFLOWERSINGRADESCHOOLFORMYFRIENDS.BACKTHEN,THEYWEREEXTREMELYSIMPLEANDDIDN’THAVEANYWIRESINTHEM,SOTHEYWEREN’TVERYDURABLE.INCOLLEGE,ISTARTEDSELLINGTHEMTORAISEMONEYFORTHEENVIRONMENTALCLUB.

ThoughI’vealwayshadadeep,abidingloveforbiologyandnature,Iwas(andstillam)lessconcernedwithbotanicalaccuracythanwithaestheticsensibilityandmakingstuffIthinkisinterestingandchallenging.Iapologizetoreadersforthelargeportionofthisbookdedicatedtoflowers,butIhope

you’llforgivemeforthefollowingreasons.First,natureconstantlysurprisesmewithadiversityofbeautyanddepththatartistscouldspendtheirwholelivesemulating,asthousandsofartistshave.Second,theskillsnecessaryinmakingflowers—namely,asenseofsymmetry,aneyeforproportion,andalotofpatience—willserveyouwellineveryprojectyouundertake.

POINT-PETALROSETHEFIRSTPROJECTMOSTPEOPLELEARN,ANDTHEFIRSTONEITEACHMYSTUDENTS,ISTHEPOINT-PETALROSE.ITISONEOFTHEOLDCLASSICSOFTHEDUCTTAPETRADE,IFSUCHATHINGCANBESAIDTOEXIST.IUSETHEPOINTPETALSINJUSTABOUTEVERYTHINGIDO,WHETHERAFLOWERORNOT.

WITHPRACTICEANDPLANNING,YOUCANMAKESPIRALSANDCONCENTRICCIRCLESWITHALTERNATINGCOLORS,OREVENSPIDERSANDEYEBALLS.THESEAREPARTICULARLYFUNANDREWARDINGWHENYOUGETTHEMRIGHT.

Beforewemaketheflower,wehavetohavesomethingtoputiton.Itcanbeanythingatall,butwe’regoingtousewire.Tearapieceoftapevertically,sothatit’sthesamelengthasyourwire,thenrollthetapecarefullyaroundthewire,beginningattheedge.

First,you’lltearaseriesofsquares.Thecompletedflowerwillhaveanywherebetweentwentyandfiftypetals,sothat’showmanysquaresyouneed,thoughit’snotnecessarytotearthemallatonce.

Next,takeonecornerofasquareandfolditdownsothatitformsarighttriangleregionofsmoothtape,withadhesivebordersontwosides.Thenewlysmoothsectionshouldbeabout75percentofthesurfaceofthepetalatthisstage.

Takeonecornerandfolditalongthehypotenuseofthetriangleuntilitlooksroughlyhouse-shaped.Thefrontofthepetalshouldhaveasmoothtriangularsectionwitharectangularsectionbeneath.Theoppositesideshouldhavenoadhesiveshowing,andthepointshouldbeveryslightlyrounded,withalittleloopononeside.

Holdyourwireverticallyinonehandandyourpetalintheother.Stickthepetaltotheendofthewirewiththepointstickingstraightupandthenrollitaroundthestem.Thepetalshouldbestuckhighenoughtokeepthewirefromshowing,butlowenoughsothatitdoesn’tfloparound.

Repeatwithsubsequentpetals,keepingthepointseitherlinedupatthetoporvery,veryslightlyincreasinginheightwitheachnewlevel.Ifitlookslikeacone,you’regoinguptoofast;makesurethepetals’tipsareclosertothesameheight.

ROSEVARIATIONSFROMLEFTTORIGHT:HALF-SIZEPETALS,ARRANGEDRANDOMLY;“ARTICHOKE-STYLE”CENTERWITHPENTAGONALSYMMETRY;SQUARESYMMETRYBICOLOR;ANDTRICOLORSPIRAL.

PLAINLILY

Alilyhasthreepetals,sowe’llmeasureoutthreestripsofequallengthandthreewiresabouthalfthelengthofthestrips.

Placingthewireinthecenterofthetape,withthetipalittlelessthanhalfwaydownthelength,carefullyfoldthetapeoverthewire,leavingsomeadhesiveonthebottomandsomespacebetweenthewiretipandthefold.

Cutthestripintoapetalshape.

Whenyourpetalsarecut,you’llplacethemonthestem,butfirstyouneedtomakeaflowercenterbigenoughtoholdthepetals.Forthisone,Iusedthepoint-petalstyle.

Tofinish,makeafewextrapointpetalsinthesamecolorasyourstem,andplacethematthejunctureoftheflowerandthestem,tocoveruptheseamsandtomakeasmoothtransition.Innaturethesearecalledsepals.

Lilieshavelance-shaped,elongatedleaves,sowe’llfoldalongpieceoftapeoverawireandcutoutapointattheend.

TORN-STRIPLILYINSTEADOFCUTTINGTHEPETALSHAPEANDTHENDECORATINGIT,IPLACEDTORNSTRIPSONTHEFOLDEDLENGTHOFTAPEBEFOREICUTIT,MAKINGAMORENATURAL-LOOKINGBOUNDARY

SCALESLILYTHISFLOWERWASMADEBYCUTTINGVERYSMALLSQUARES,THENFOLDINGTHEMINTOPOINTPETALS,ANDTHENPLACINGTHOSEPOINTSONTOANUNCUTLILYPETAL(STILLINTHERECTANGULARSTAGE).ONCEALLTHEPOINTSWEREINPLACE,ICUTTHESHAPEOFTHELILYPETAL,CREATINGSHARPEREDGESTHANIFIHADDONETHOSETWOSTEPSINREVERSE.INITIALLY,IINTENDEDTOMAKEONEFLOWERFOREACHOFTHEEIGHTMAJORHOUSESOFAPOPULARFANTASYNOVELSERIES,BUTTOTHISDATE,IHAVEN’TGOTTENPASTTHEDRAGON.

EXPLODED-PLANETLILYSOMETIMES,IFIWANTMORESURFACEAREAFORDECORATION,IUSETWOSTRIPSFOREACHPETAL,WHICHMUSTBELENGTHENEDTOACCOUNTFORTHEPROPORTIONS.ICALLTHISDECORATION“THEEXPLODINGPLANET,”FORMEDBYCUTTINGACIRCLEANDSLICINGITINTOBITSWITHACRAFTKNIFE,ANDTHENCAREFULLYPLACINGEACHPIECEONTHEPETAL;IRETAINTHECIRCULARSHAPEBYEXPANDINGITSDIAMETER,ALLOWINGTHEUNDERLYINGCOLORTOFILLINTHENEGATIVESPACE.

TINYLILIESIUSUALLYFINDTHATTHESMALLERYOUCANMAKESOMETHING,THECOOLERITIS.THEINVERSEISALSOTRUE,BUTITWOULDTAKEALOTOFTAPEANDAVERYLONGTIMETOMAKEAVIKINGLONGSHIPOUTOFDUCTTAPE.

SMOOTH-PETALROSEITTAKESLESSTIMETOMAKETHISSTYLEOFROSETHANTHEPOINT-PETALROSEANDLOOKSMOREREALISTIC,BUTITDEFINITELYTAKESSOMEPRACTICETOGETTHEHANGOFIT.

You’llneedquiteafewstripsoftapebetween2and6inches(5and15cm)long,foldedalongtheirlength,withroomforadhesive.

Then,cutthetopcornersoff,makingitassmoothaspossible

Wrapthepetalsonebyonearoundthestem(Istartedthiswithonepointpetal)sothatsomeairspaceisleftbetweentheoutsideedgeofthepetalandthestem.Thisisaccomplishedbypinchingthebottomsurfacetight,whilekeepingthetopsurfaceloose.

Continueaddingpetalssothatthetopofeachnewstripisroughlyevenwiththepreviouspetals.

SMOOTH-PETALROSEVARIATIONTHESMALLBLUEROSEHEREWASMADEWITHTHESAMETECHNIQUEASTHELARGERSMOOTH-PETALROSE,BUTWITHSTRIPSONE-THIRDTHESIZE.

MELTEDCLOCK(CENTERPUNCTURE)

THISISACENTER-PUNCTUREFLOWERINTHESHAPEOFAMELTEDCLOCK,INHOMAGETOSALVADORDALÍ’SPAINTINGTHEPERSISTENCEOFMEMORY.IHAVEASPECIALAFFECTIONFORFLOWERSTHATAREALSOOTHEROBJECTS,ANDIHAVEANOTHERSPECIALAFFECTIONFORTHEWORKOFDALÍANDTHEOTHERSURREALISTS.

ORCHIDORCHIDSAREALOTLIKELILIES,BUTWITHANODDLYIRREGULARBOTTOMPETALTHATHASTWOWIRESINSIDE.ITTOOKALOTOFPRACTICETOGETTHESHAPERIGHT.

WATERLILYTHESEWATERLILIESBOTHFEATURETHESHORT-GRASSSTYLEOFCENTER.THELILYPADISMADEBYLAYINGSEVERALSTRIPSSSU(SEEPAGE18),THENPLACINGACOILOFWIREONIT.BEFORESEALINGITINWITHTHETOPLAYEROFTAPE,POKETHEWIRETHROUGHTHECENTEROFTHECOILSOTHATYOUCANATTACHTHEFLOWER,THENSEALITANDCUTOUTTHELILYPADSHAPE.

HIBISCUSVARIATIONSHIBISCUSESAREESSENTIALLYFIVE-PETALEDLILIES,ANDBECAUSETHEYCREATEMORESURFACEAREA,THEYGIVETHEARTISTALARGERCANVASTOWORKWITH.THECENTERSOFALLTHREEOFTHESEBEGINWITHPOINTPETALSINDIFFERENTPATTERNS,WITHLANCESINTHE“DIGITAL”FLOWERANDCLASSICSTAMENSINTHEYELLOWHIBISCUS.ALLTHREEFLOWERSAREALSODECORATEDWITHTAPECUTWITHACRAFTKNIFE.

EYEBALLFLOWERTHEFIRSTFEWEYEBALLFLOWERSHADPOINTPETALSINSTEADOFSMOOTHPETALS.ILIKETHISBETTER.

BIRD’SBEAKCOMPOUNDFLOWER

IMADEANUMBEROFTINYLILIESHERE,ANDTHENAFFIXEDTHEMTOACENTRALPOINTTOMAKEACOMPOUNDFLOWER.IDIDN’TPUTWIRESINANYOFTHECREAM-COLOREDPETALSTOSAVETIME,BUTBECAUSETHEPETALSTENDTOCLOSEUP,INRETROSPECTTHEWIRESWOULDHAVEBEENHELPFUL.

BONSAITHISISATYPEOFCENTER-PUNCTUREFLOWERWHEREEACHCIRCULARFLOWERISCUTROUGHLYOUTOFASMOOTHSTRIP,THENDECORATEDWITHSEVERALCOLORSCUTWITHTHECRAFTKNIFE.THEWIREISTHENPOKEDTHROUGHTHECENTERANDASMALLPIECEOFYELLOWTAPEISPLACEDOVERTHEWIREANDCUTINTOALANCESHAPETOKEEPTHEFLOWERFROMSLIPPINGOFFTHEWIRE.THISONEHASMORETHANFIFTYFLOWERS,THESMALLESTOFWHICHARESMALLERTHANAPENCILERASER.YOUCOULDMAKEATREELIKETHISWITHLEAVESORFRUITINSTEADOFFLOWERSIFYOUWISH.

COMPOUNDCENTER-PUNCTUREFLOWER

THISONEISSIMILARTOTHEBONSAIFLOWER,BUTALLTHEWIRESEMANATEFROMASINGLEPOINT.THEFLOWERSAREKEPTATTHEENDOFTHEWIREBYBUNCHINGTHEWIRESLIGHTLYBEHINDTHEPETAL.YOUCOULDALSODOTHISWITHADABOFTAPE.

ARTICHOKECENTER

ThisiswhatIcallan“artichoke.”It’smadebyslightlyloweringthelevelofeachlayerofpointpetals.

LONGROLLCENTER

Thisisa“longroll”.Tearanextra-longstripoftape,folditlengthwise(leavingalittleroomatthebottomedgeforadhesive),thencarefullyrollitaroundawireuntilyou’vegottheproperthickness.Ilikethisonefordaisies.

SHORT-GRASSCENTER

Forashort-grasscenter,foldastripoftapeonitswidthlikethesmooth-petalrose,thencutdeeptrianglesoutofthesmoothsideuntiltheylooklikegrass.Ittakesawhile,butit’sausefulthingfortexture(seethefoxonpage103).

LONG-GRASSCENTER

Thelong-grasscenterisliketheshortgrass,butthestripisfoldedlengthwiselikealilypetal.It’salsogoodforthingsbesidesflowers.

DRAGONTONGUECENTER

Icallthese“dragon’stongues,”notforanygoodreasonbutbecauseIneededtocallthemsomething.They’rebasicallylonggrasswithaVcutinthetop.

BUTTERFLYTONGUECENTER

Butterflytonguesareathinstripoftapewrappedaroundawire,thencoiled.Ilikethelookofthem,buttheyhaveatendencytounravelafterawhile.Ihaven’tcomeupwithaperfectsolution,buttryingtowrapthemlooselyseemstoworkokay.

LANCECENTER

Iliketomaketheseoutofsilverorgoldtape,andifyou’vegotafewflowerswiththiscenterinabouquet,itlooksparticularlyfancy.

SPIRALCENTER

ImadethiswithacoilofwireonasmallsheetofSSUtape,cutitoutinaspiralpattern,andthendecorateditwithcutstrips.

CLASSICSTAMEN

Icallthese“classicstamens”becausetheymostcloselyresemblethepollen-producingstructuresinmostflowers.It’sawire,usuallycoveredwithtape,withastripofbright-coloredtapeontop.

WHEATSTALKCENTER

Iamparticularlyfondofthese,whichIcall“wheatstalks.”They’resimilartotheartichokecenter,butwitheachsuccessivelayerdroppedfartherdown.

CHAPTERTHREE:

WALLETS,PURSES,BAGS,ANDMORE

THEPROJECTSINTHISCATEGORYALLREQUIREMAKINGLARGESHEETSOFTAPE,ORELSETHEY’REMEANTFORUSEWITHPROJECTSINVOLVINGLARGESHEETSOFTAPE.THISOFTENMEANSYOU’LLHAVEAWORKSPACECOVEREDWITHASURFACEOFSTICKYTAPE,WHICHCANBINDTOGETHERWITHONEWRONGMOVE.TAKEYOURTIME,ANDASKFORHELPIFYOUNEEDANEXTRAHAND.

Therearelotsofwaystofastenyourwallets,purses,boxes,andbags,whichmayrequirepurchasingspecialmaterialssuchasadhesive-backedVelcrostrips,snaps,grommets,orbuckles.Noneoftheseareveryexpensiveor

terriblydifficulttoinstall,thoughthegrommetsandsnapsrequireahammer.

BASICWALLETTHEFIRSTTHING,OTHERTHANTHEPOINT-PETALROSE,THATMOSTPEOPLELEARNTOMAKEISTHEWALLET.ITCOMESINMANYFORMS,FROMASIMPLEBI-FOLDENVELOPETOASWISSARMY-STYLEMULTI-TOOLWITHFIFTYPOCKETSTHATUNFOLDLIKEALOTUS.WE’REGOINGTOTRYFORTHEMIDDLEGROUNDHERE.

Mywalletstartswithninestripsoftape,anoddnumberbecauseitplacesthefoldsinthecentersofthestrips,ratherthantheoverlaps.Forashorterwallet,usesevenstripsandforatallerwallet,eleven.

Carefullyfoldthenearandfaredgesintothecenter.Ifthisresultsinastickygap,fillitinwithasmallstripoftape.

Formanenvelopebyfoldinginhalf.Usingscissors,cutonesidesothatit’sstraightandeven,thenfromthisedgefoldthewalleteitherinthirdsorinhalf,justtogetasenseofhowbigit’sgoingtobe.Cuttheremainingsidewhenyou’reconfidentit’stherightlength.

Whenthewalletisaslongasyou’dlikeit,cutastripsomewhatlongerthantheheightofyourwallet,andplaceonesideofthewalletalongitlikethis.

Cutoutthecornersasshownandfoldtheflapsovertosealthefrontandbackofthewallettogether.Repeatwiththeotheredge.

Foldandcutsomepanelsforpockets.Makethemslightlysmallerthanthewalletsegment,thensealthemwithafewstripsonthreesidesandexcisetheremainder.

Myfirstwallethadapocketonthesidethatcontainedaplayingcardwrappedwithseveralfeetofducttapeforemergencies(brokenglasses,aholeintheshoe,etc.).Idon’trecommendusingaplayingcardbecausethelastfewincheswillsticktothecardboardandbecomeuseless,butapieceofplasticwithafewyardsoftapeissomethingIthinkeveryoneshouldhaveonhisorherperson.

Thecompletedwallet,withaclearplasticpanelforphotographsandsomeoneelse’smoney.

VERTICALWALLETIMADETHISINTHESAMEMANNERASTHEBASICWALLET,BUTWITHDIFFERENTMEASUREMENTS.THELEFTHALFOFTHEWALLETCONTAINSAPOCKET,SOYOURSTARTINGSHEETOFSMOOTHTAPE(I.E.,AFTERTHESEALINGLAYERISAPPLIEDTOTHESSUTAPE)SHOULDBETHREEWALLET-WIDTHSWIDE,ANDTHENANOTHERWIDTHORTWOFORTHEPOCKETS,DEPENDINGONHOWMANYYOUWANT.IT’SHELDTOGETHERWITHANADDITIONALROUNDEDFLAPANDASQUAREOFVELCRO.YOUCANALSOMAKEACHECKBOOKINTHISWAY.

BASICPURSE

Thecompletedbag’scoverflapattachestothebagwithVelcroandisdecoratedwithasmallcircleforafakebutton.

Thebasicpurseisafrontpanelandabackpanel,withastrapandaflaptocovertheopening.Morecomplicatedversionsemploydifferentkindsofsidepanelsformorestoragecapacity,pockets,andsoon,buttheyallbeginwithasheetoftape.

Iusedbluetie-dyedtapeforthebottomsheetandcovereditwithperpendicularlyplacedorangetie-dyedtapeforthetopsheet.

Theedgesweresealedwithastripofblack.

Iattachedthestrapasfaralongitslengthaspossibletotheentireinsideedgeofthepurse,whichgivesthebagsomestrengthandmakesitlesslikelyforthestraptocomeout.

ROUNDPURSETHISROUNDPURSEISMADEUPOFAFRONTANDABACKTHATWEREMEASUREDANDCUTTOGETHERTOMAKETHEMIDENTICAL,EXCEPTFORTHECLOSINGFLAP,WHICHISANINTEGRALPARTOFTHEBACKPANEL.THEFRONTANDBACKARECONNECTEDWITHATHIRDCONTINUOUSSIDEPANEL,WHICHISSEALEDONTHEINSIDEANDOUTSIDEWITHMANYSMALLSTRIPSOFTAPE.ALSO,WHENTHEBRAIDEDSTRAPSAREPULLEDANDSTRETCHEDTIGHT,ASSEENHERE,THEYHAVEADIFFERENTLOOKTHANTHESMOOTHBRAIDEDSTRAPSEENONPAGE62.

SPORRANVARIANTOFROUNDPURSE

THESPORRANISATRADITIONALPURSECARRIEDBYKILT-WEARINGSCOTSANDIRISHMEN.IWASINSPIREDTOMAKETHISVARIATIONONTHEROUNDPURSEAFTERATTENDINGABURNSSUPPERATTHEHOMEOFASCOTTISHFRIEND.NOTICEHOWTHEFRONTANDBACKPANELSARESEWNTOGETHERWITHDUCTTAPETHREAD.

BEACHBAGTHEBEACHBAGSTARTEDWITHACROSSSHAPEFORMEDBYSSUSTRIPSINTWOPERPENDICULARDIRECTIONS.ITHENCOVEREDTHEMCROSSWISEWITHSSUSTRIPS,THENBROUGHTTHESIDESUPINTOABOXSHAPE.IT’SBESTIFYOUMEASURETHEBOTTOMOFTHEBAGTOFITOVERANACTUALCARDBOARDBOX,SOTHATYOUCANUSEITTOFORMTHECORNERS.IFYOUDON’T,YOU’LLBEFORCEDTOAWKWARDLYTRYTOJOINTHEEDGESTOGETHEROVERTHEBACKOFACHAIRORENLISTTHEAIDOFAYOUNGERBROTHERORHELPFULNEIGHBOR.

RAINBOWROUNDBAGWITHZIPPER

IWANTEDTOMAKESOMETHINGWITHAZIPPER,ANDIWANTEDITTOBEROUND.BEYONDTHAT,THISWASANEXPERIMENTWITHANUNKNOWNCONCLUSION.IUSEDTHREESTRIPSOFEACHCOLOR,LAIDTHEMSSU,ANDCOVEREDTHEMWITHANEUTRALCOLORCROSSWISE.ONCEI’DCUTTHEEDGESOFFANDEVENEDITOUT,IROLLEDITUPINTOATUBE,ANDSETABOUTLOOKINGFORACYLINDEROFAPPROXIMATESIZE(ABUCKET,COOKINGPOT,JAR,ETC.)TOACTASAFORM.IFIMADETHISAGAIN,I’DFINDAFORMCYLINDERANDTHENCUTTHETAPETOTHERIGHTLENGTH.IMADETHESIDESSLIGHTLYLARGERTHANTHEOPENINGS,ANDTHENCUTSLITSALLTHEWAYAROUNDTHEEXCESS,FOLDINGTHE“WINGS”UPANDTHENTAPINGTHEMDOWN.I’DUSEASMALLERVERSIONOFTHISBAGDESIGNASAPENCILCASE,ORTHEFULL-SIZEVERSIONTOSTOREMYLEGOBLOCKS,IFISTILLHADANY.

PURSEPANELVARIATIONSTHESEFEWPICTURESDEMONSTRATESOMEOFTHEDIFFERENTWAYSYOUCANWEAVEPANELSFORYOURPROJECTS,ESPECIALLYPURSESANDBAGS.THEREAREMANYMORE,I’MSURE,THATTHEDILIGENTTAPEARTISTWILLDISCOVERWITHEXPERIMENTATION.ASFORTHESE,THE1×1WEAVEISCERTAINLYTHESIMPLEST.

pursepanelvariation,triangle

Ifyou’reworriedaboutstrength,youcanputawireinthestripsbeforeyoufoldthem.Alwaysmakeyourwovenpanelslargerthanyouthinkthey’llneedtobe,firstbecausethere’ssomeshrinkingintheassembly,andsecondbecauseit’salwayseasiertocutexcessthantotrytomakeextensions.Thehardestone

formetofigureoutwasthetriangle.Itwouldprobablyhavebeeneasierwithwide,flatstripsratherthanthesmall,thinonesIused.

pursepanelvariation,thin-thick

pursepanelvariation,2×1

pursepanelvariation,1×1

BALLA’SCANDLETHISPANELOFACANDLEILLUSTRATESTHEKINDOFDECORATIONYOUCANMAKEONAPURSEORBAGWITHACRAFTKNIFEANDACUTTINGBOARD.THISPARTICULARONEWASINFLUENCEDBYAPAINTINGCALLEDSTREETLIGHTBYTHEITALIANFUTURISTPAINTERGIACOMOBALLA.

SCALEANDFISHSCALEPURSEPANEL

THESEARETWOOFMYFAVORITEDECORATIONSFORPURSES.IT’SVERYTIME-CONSUMING,BUTITLOOKSGREATINTHEFINISHEDPRODUCT.PLUS,IFYOUPLANAHEADANDARECAREFULABOUTPLACEMENT,YOUCANMAKEINTERESTINGDESIGNSUSINGTHEPOINTSASPIXELS.THEROUNDEDSCALESAREMOREFRAGILETHANTHEPOINTPETALS,SOIT’SAGOODIDEATOEITHERSTOPTHEM1TO2INCHES(2.5TO5CM)ABOVETHEBASEORSEALTHELASTLAYERWITHACOATOFCLEARTAPETOAVOIDSQUISHING.

BRAIDEDSTRAP

Thecompletedbraid,withplaceholderstripsoneachendtokeepitsteadyuntilit’sreadytobeattachedtoabagorpurse.

Thebraidedstrapbeginsasbraidsdo,withthreestripsarrangednexttoeachotherandtapedtothetabletokeeptheminplacewhileworking.Whenthestrapiscompleted,you’llgobackandcorrectthesefirstfewinchestomakethemconsistentwiththerestofthebraid.

Movetwostripstotheside,thenbringtheoutermoststripinthepairtothemiddle,turningitahalfturnasyoudoso.

Repeattheprocessusingtheoutermoststripfromtheoppositeside.

Continuethisprocess,creasingthetapealongthelineofthebraidasyoubringeachstrapintothecenter.

TOOLROLLIHADSEVERALSUGGESTIONSFROMFRIENDSTOMAKEATOOLROLL,ANDBECAUSEIHAVEANABUNDANCEOFWIRES,KNIVES,SCISSORS,ANDEARRINGBACKS,ITMADESENSEFORMYOWNPERSONALUSEASWELL.THISONEISABOUT24INCHES(61CM)LONG,COMPOSEDOFFOURFOLDED-UPSECTIONS.IFIDIDTHISAGAIN,IWOULDMAKESURETHATTHEBOUNDARIESOFTHEPOCKETSFALLNEATLYINTOTHECREASESOFTHEFOURSECTIONS,TOAVOIDWRINKLING.EACHOFTHEPOCKETSHASITSOWNCOVER,WHICHISSECUREDWITHABITOFVELCRO.THEOUTERFLAPS,WHICHPREVENTANYTHINGFROMFALLINGOUTOFITONCEIT’SFOLDEDUP,ARESECUREDWITHSNAPS.

BOOKCOVERIMADETHISBOOKCOVERBYMAKINGALONGSHEETOFSMOOTHTAPESEVERALINCHESTALLERANDLONGERTHANITHOUGHTIWOULDNEED(TOBUFFERINCASEOFMISTAKES).YOU’LLWANTTOCUTTHETAPEWHILEIT’SFOLDEDAROUNDTHESPINEOFTHEBOOK,ORITMAYCOMEUPSHORT.THISONEISDECORATEDWITHANATOMBECAUSEIT’SASCIENCEBOOK.(APOLOGIESTOSCIENTISTSFORUSINGTHEBOHRMODELOFANATOM—IWOULDHAVEPREFERREDAPROBABILITYCLOUD,BUTTHATSEEMEDLIKEANAWFULLOTOFWORKWITHTHERAZORBLADE.)

CHAINMAILCHAINMAILIS,BELIEVEITORNOT,ONEOFTHEMOREDIFFICULTPROJECTSINTHISBOOK.MYFIRSTFEWATTEMPTSFAILEDFROMBEINGTOOSMALLORFROMNOTCONNECTINGTHEMPROPERLY.ICUTALLTHECIRCLESOUTATTHESAMETIME,SOTHATICOULDENSURETHEYWERETHESAMESIZE,ANDTHEACTOFCUTTINGTHECENTEROUTOFTHERINGNECESSITATEDMAKINGASLITINTHESIDEOFTHERINGFORACCESS.IFIRSTTRIEDTOCUTTHECIRCLEOUTWITHACRAFTKNIFETOAVOIDHAVINGTOPATCHTHECUTINTHESIDEOFTHERING,BUTTHATWORKEDPOORLY.IT’SEASIERIFYOUTAPETHERINGSTOYOURWORKSPACETOKEEPTHEMFROMMOVINGAROUND,ANDBESURETOTAPEEACHRINGCLOSEDBEFOREAPPLYINGTHENEXTRING.

PLATEMAILTHECIRCULARPLATESINTHERECTANGULAREXAMPLEAREJOINEDWITHFISHINGLINE;THEPLATESINTHETRIANGULAREXAMPLEAREJOINEDWITHWIRE.ICOULDSEETHISTECHNIQUEBEINGUSEDFORHEADDRESSES,STREAMERS,BRACELETS,ANDMANYOTHERTHINGS.WITHTHEFISHINGLINE,ITWASSURPRISINGLYSIMPLE.

CHAPTERFOUR:

JEWELRYANDOTHERACCESSORIES

EARRINGSAREAMONGMYFAVORITEPROJECTSBECAUSETHEYDEMANDALOTOFCONCENTRATIONANDATTENTIONTODETAIL,ANDBECAUSEICANMAKEABOUT700EARRINGSWITHTHEAMOUNTOFTAPETHATABLAZERJACKETMIGHTREQUIRE.DUCTTAPEISESPECIALLYWELLSUITEDTOTHISBECAUSEIT’SLIGHTERTHANMOSTMATERIALSUSUALLYUSEDFOREARRINGS,WHICHMEANSYOUCOULDWEARALARGERDUCTTAPEEARRINGTHANAMETALORWOODEARRINGWITHOUTADDITIONALDISCOMFORT.

Iliketouseahigher-qualitysilver-platedwireforthesethanIwouldnormallyuseforducttapeart.Youshouldtrytogetasmallergauge,becausethelarger

gaugesarehardertotwist.Manyoftheseprojectsinvolvespecialbackings,suchaspins,clips,chains,andthelike,whichcanbepurchasedatcraftstores.

WIRE-FRAMEEARRINGS,SNOWFLAKE

ASIMPLEWIREFRAMEISTHEEASIESTWAYTOMAKEEARRINGSOUTOFDUCTTAPE.FIRST,THREADAWIRETHROUGHTHEEARRINGBACK,PULLALOOP,ANDTWISTSEVERALTURNSTOCREATEAFEWMILLIMETERSDISTANCEBETWEENTHEEARRINGBACKANDTHEBEGINNINGOFTHEWIREFRAME.NEXT,FORMTHEWIREINTOACIRCLE(OROTHERSHAPE).FINISHBYFOLDINGAPIECEOFTAPEANDCUTTINGTHEEXCESSAROUNDTHEWIREFRAME.

WIRE-FRAMEEARRINGS,GALAXYITHINKALOTABOUTQUESTIONSOFSCALE,SOIMADETHISPAIROFEARRINGSWITHAPICTUREOFAGALAXYONONESIDEAND“HOMESWEETHOME”ONTHEOTHERSIDE.DON’TTRYTOUSEITTOFINDYOURWAYBACKIFYOUGETLOSTINOUTERSPACE,HOWEVER.

CALLALILYEARRINGS

Thefinishedearringsshouldlooksomethinglikethis.

Callalilyearringsaremyfavoritekind,andconsistoftwoparts.Thefirstpartisthestem,whichstartswithapieceofwirethreadedthroughanearringback,wrappedwithgreentape,andtoppedwithapieceofcolorfultape,likeyellowororange.

Thesecondpartisthepetalorhood,whichinvolvesasmalllilypetalshapewithawire.Iusuallymakeminewithahalf-stripwidthanddecoratethemwithcutpieces.

Carefullywrapthepetalaroundthestemandsealitwithoneortwopointpetals.

SUNFLOWEREARRINGSTHESUNFLOWEREARRINGSAREACOMBINATIONOFTHEPOINT-PETALROSEANDTHELILY,WRITSMALL.ITISIMPORTANTTOMAKETHEOUTERPETALSAUNIFORMSIZE,SOIT’SAGOODIDEATOCUTALLTHEWIRESANDTAPESTRIPSYOU’LLNEEDBEFOREYOUSTARTFOLDINGANDSHAPING.IFYOUMAKETHEWIRESJUSTALITTLEBITLONGERTHANTHEPETALS,THERE’LLBESOMELEFTOVERTOWRAPAROUNDTHESTEMANDSEALWITHTHESEPALS,GIVINGITMORESTRENGTH.

DNAEARRINGSTHEDNAEARRINGSINTHISBOOKAREMYNINTHATTEMPTTOMAKETHEM.ITRIEDVERSIONSWITHPIECESOFTAPEWRAPPEDAROUNDWIRE,BUTTHEEDGESOFTHETAPEUNRAVELEDAFTERAWHILE,SOISETTLEDONTAPEFOLDEDOVERTHEWIRERATHERTHANWRAPPED.SOMEOFTHEVERSIONSHADTHEEDGESOFTHEHELIXWRAPPEDWITHTAPE,SOMEDIDN’T.SOMEHADTHENUCLEOTIDESATTACHEDTOTHEEDGESWITHWIRE,SOMEWITHTAPE.ANYHOW,THESEAREREALLYHARDANDIWELCOMEWHATEVERSOLUTIONSYOU,THEDILIGENTREADER,MIGHTCOMEUPWITH.

FEATHEREARRINGSFEATHERSCOMEINMANYSHAPES,BUTTHEONESIMAKEGENERALLYAREROUNDEDATTHETOP,HAVESMALLCUTSINTHESIDESTOINDICATESEPARATIONSANDMAKEITLOOKMORELIFELIKE,ANDTHELEFTANDRIGHTSIDESSTAGGEREDSLIGHTLYASTHEYMEETTHEBASE.SOMETIMESIMAKESEVERALFEATHERSFOREACHEAR.

NECKLACETHEDESIGNFORTHISNECKLACEWASINSPIREDBYASTONEMOSAIC,ANDISVERYSIMILARINSTRUCTURETOTHEWIRE-FRAMEEARRINGS,EXCEPTFORTHELARGELOOPATTHETOP,WHICHLEAVESROOMFORTHENECKLACECHAIN.

BUTTERFLYPINITTOOKSEVERALTRIESTOFINDASUITABLEMETHODFORATTACHINGTHEBUTTERFLYBODYTOTHEPINBACKING,ANDFORATTACHINGTHEWINGSTOTHEBODY.ISETTLEDONTYINGTHEBODYDOWNWITHWIRE,ANDCOVERINGTHEWIRESWITHTAPE,BUTYOURMETHODSANDRESULTSMAYVARY.THEWIREFROMEACHWINGWASTHREADEDAROUNDANDUNDERTHEBODY,THENTAPEDTOTHEUNDERSIDEOFTHEOPPOSITEWING.THECIRCLESWEREFORMEDWITHTHEHOLEPUNCH,ANDRATHERTHANCUTOUTEACHYELLOWSECTION,IDECIDEDTOCUTFOURYELLOWSECTIONS(TWOFOREACHWING)ANDCREATETHEDIVISIONSINTHESCALESBYOVERLAYINGBLACKSTRIPS.

BOWTIEMYFIRSTATTEMPTATABOWTIEWASALONGSTRIPOFTAPECUTTOTHEPROPERSHAPE,BUTIFOUNDTHATWHENITRIEDTOTIEIT,THERIGIDITYMADEITDIFFICULT,ANDITDIDN’TLOOKRIGHTATALL.THESOLUTIONICAMEUPWITHWASTOMAKEITPRE-TIED,WITHPIECESOFVELCROONTHESTRAPTOADJUSTTHESIZE.

NECKTIEALTHOUGHTHISMAYLOOKLIKEI’VEMADEALONGSTRIPOFTAPEFABRICANDTIEDITINTOTHECLASSICSHAPE,IHAVENOT.IMADETHEDANGLINGPARTANDTHEKNOTANDTHENECKPARTSEPARATELY.IWASCONCERNEDABOUTITBEINGTHICKANDHEAVYENOUGHTOHOLDITSELFDOWN,RATHERTHANCURLINGUPORCREASINGASASINGLELAYERMIGHT,SOIWENTOVERITWITHSEVERALLAYERSOFWHITETAPECOVEREDWITHPATTERNEDTAPE.THENECKPARTCONNECTSTOTHEKNOTWITHVELCRO.

HAIRBOWTHISSTARTEDASATALL-ISHSHEETOFTAPE,CAREFULLYFOLDEDANDCREASEDANDTHENCRIMPEDINTHEMIDDLE.IDISCOVEREDTHROUGHTRIALANDERRORTHATIT’SBESTTOMAKEITALITTLE“TALLER”THANYOUTHINKISNECESSARY,BECAUSEITSHRINKSINTHEFOLDING.

STRAIGHTBELTHEREWEHAVETWOEXAMPLESOFBELTS,ANDTWOKINDSOFBUCKLES.FORTHESTRAIGHTBELT,IMEASUREDONEOFMYBELTSANDLAIDOUTTWOSTRIPSOFTAPEOFTHATLENGTHSSU.THEN,IFOLDEDTHEEDGESINTOGETTHEPROPERWIDTH,ANDCOVEREDITWITHTWOMORESTRIPSOFLENGTHWISETAPETOGETTHERIGHTTHICKNESS.THEHOLESWEREMADEWITHMYSCREWPUNCH,BUTIFYOUWANTEDTHEBELTTOLASTLONGER,YOUCOULDUSEGROMMETS.

BRAIDEDBELTABASICBRAIDISDISCUSSEDINTHEBRAIDEDSTRAPPROJECTONPAGE62.THISBRAIDEDBELTISAFIVE-WAYBRAID,WHICHWASVERYCHALLENGING.IFOUNDINSTRUCTIONSONLINE,ANDONCEIGOTTHEHANGOFIT,ITWASSMOOTHSAILING.

DRIVER’SCAP/FLATCAPINEARLYALWAYSWEARAHATLIKETHIS—IT’SCALLEDADRIVER’SCAPORAFLATCAP,ANDBECAUSETHEY’REEXPENSIVE,YOUCANIMAGINEMYEAGERNESSFORADO-IT-YOURSELFALTERNATIVE.FORTHISONE,ITOREOUTSEVERALSHEETSOFALUMINUMFOILANDFORMEDTHEMONMYHEADUNTILTHEYRETAINEDTHEAPPROPRIATESHAPE.THEN,WHILETHEFOILWASSTILLONMYHEAD,IMADEAFEWQUICKPLACEMENTSOFTAPETOHOLDITSSHAPE.ICAREFULLYPLACEDMORETAPEUNTILTHEHATWASCOMPLETELYCOVERED.MYADVICEISTOMAKEITFITYOURHEADSNUGLY,BUTTOHAVEMOREMATERIALEXTENDINGDOWNAROUNDTHEEDGESUNTILTHEHATISCOMPLETE,BECAUSEIT’SALWAYSEASIERTOSUBTRACTMATERIALTHANTOADDIT.

BOOKMARKTHISBOOKMARKISRATHERSIMPLE.MORECOMPLICATEDVERSIONSINVOLVESEALINGAWIREORRIBBONINTHETAPESOTHATITPROTRUDESOUTFROMTHETOPOFTHEBOOK.YOUMAYALSOWANTTODECORATETHEBOOKMARKWITHIMAGESFROMYOURFAVORITEBOOK.THISBOOKMARKISINSPIREDBYVINCENTVANGOGH’SSTARRYNIGHTPAINTING(ASSOMUCHOFMYWORKIS).

DOGLEASHTHEDOGLEASHISESSENTIALLYTHESAMEASASTRAIGHTBELT,BUTWITHACLASPINSTEADOFABUCKLE.IDECORATEDMINEWITHPAWPRINTS,BUTYOU’REFREETODECORATEHOWEVERYOUWISH.IREINFORCEDTHEATTACHMENTPOINTOFTHELOOPWITHWIRE,BUTSTAPLESAREALSOEFFECTIVE.

PENNANTFLAGTHISISPRETTYSTRAIGHTFORWARD:IMADEASHEETOFTAPEWITHABOUT11/2INCHES(3.8CM)OFADHESIVEONONESIDE,CUTOUTAPENNANTSHAPE,ANDDECORATEDITWITHACIRCLEANDASTRIPE.THEN,IWRAPPEDTHESTICKYSIDEAROUNDTHEPOLE.ITRIEDTOPICKAPATTERNTHATDOESN’TSIGNIFYANYTHINGINPARTICULAR—ANYRESEMBLANCETOREAL-WORLDFLAGSORSYMBOLSISPURELYCOINCIDENTAL.

CHAPTERFIVE:

SCULPTURES

“SCULPTURE”MAYNOTFULLYAPPLYTOALLOFTHESEITEMS(ORREALLY,ANYOFTHEM,BECAUSETAPEISNOTSCULPTED),BUTTHEYAREALLTHREE-DIMENSIONALARTWORKS.FORTHEUNDERLYINGSTRUCTURE,IUSEDCARDBOARD,PAPER,PLASTICBAGS,RECYCLEDBOTTLES,LEADFISHINGSINKERS,ANDOTHERTHINGS.FORLARGERARTWORKSTHANTHEONESINTHISBOOK,I’VEUSEDPVCPIPE,POLYETHYLENEFOAMSHEETS,CHICKENWIRE,ANDPLYWOOD.

HUMMINGBIRDIFORMEDTHEBASEMATERIALFORTHEHUMMINGBIRD(WHICHHAPPENSTOBETHESTUFFINGFROMANOLDPAIROFSLIPPERS)AROUNDAVERYLONGWIRE—LONGERTHANIWOULDORDINARILYNEEDFORTHEELONGATEDBEAK.THEREASONFORTHISISTHATTHEBEAKWIREBECOMESTHESTEMOFAFLOWER,SOTHATITLOOKSLIKETHEHUMMINGBIRDISDRINKINGNECTAR.

CANARYTHEFEATHERSFORTHECANARYAREESSENTIALLYTINYLILYPETALS.IDIDNOTPUTWIRESINTHEFEATHERSBECAUSEITWOULDHAVETAKENAGHASTLYAMOUNTOFTIME,BUTINRETROSPECT,IWOULDHAVELIKEDTODOSOFORTHE“FLIGHTFEATHERS”INTHEWINGSANDTAIL.

BUMBLEBEESTHEBUMBLEBEESAREMADEBYROLLINGDUCTTAPEAROUNDTHEENDOFAWIRE(SEALINGTWOSMALLWIRESINFORTHEANTENNAE),DECORATINGWITHVERYSMALLSTRIPSOF“SHORTGRASSSTYLE”TAPE,ANDFINISHINGWITHWINGSMADEFROMCLEARDUCTTAPE(THECROSSTHREADSOFTHECLEARDUCTTAPEHADASURPRISINGLYREALISTICEFFECT).

OWLTHEINTERIOROFTHISOWLISCRUMPLED-UPPIECESOFNOTEBOOKPAPER,FORMEDINTOAROUGHOVALSHAPEWITHAFLATBOTTOM.NEXT,ICOVEREDTHEPAPERINAPRIMEROFBROWNTAPE.THENIMADEPOINTPETALS1/4INCH(6MM)INSIZE,ARRANGINGTHEMINROWSFROMTHEBOTTOMTOTHETOP.WHENIGOTTOTHETOP,IFINISHEDWITH1/2-INCH(12MM)POINTPETALSFORTHEEARSANDCUTOUTTRIANGLESANDCIRCLESWITHACRAFTKNIFEFORTHEEYES.

GOLDFISHITHOUGHTABOUTMAKINGROUNDEDLILYPETALSFORTHESCALESOFTHEGOLDFISH,BUTDECIDEDTHATUSINGTHEHOLEPUNCHWOULDGIVEASIMILARVISUALEFFECTWITHLESSTIMEANDLABOR.THEFINSAREFIXEDWITHWIRES.

TROUTTHISISABROOKTROUT.THECOLORATIONCOMESFROMCAREFULLYSELECTINGANDCUTTINGOUTTHEDARKERANDLIGHTERCOLORSFROMTHESKULL-AND-CROSSBONESPATTERNOFDUCTTAPE.IDOTHISSORTOFTHINGALOTWHENTHEONLYSOURCEOFADESIREDCOLORISASPARTOFAPATTERN.

MOBILETHISISMYSECONDATTEMPTATAMOBILE.THESTRINGSONTHEFIRSTONE(FISHINGLINEINBOTHCASES)WERETOOLONG,ANDITPROVEDDIFFICULTTOADJUSTTHEWEIGHTBECAUSEOFTHECOMPLICATEDSHAPESI’DUSED.IHADSOMEHEAVYLEADWIRESANDSINKERSINTHEFISHINGTACKLEBOXTHATIUSEDTOMAKETHESMALLERCIRCLESHEAVIERTHANTHELARGECIRCLES.

FISHINGLURETHISISANOLDFISHINGLURE,WHICHIREFURBISHEDWITHDUCTTAPERATHERTHANTRYINGTOMAKEALUREFROMSCRATCH.I’VECOATEDITWITHANEPOXYTOMAKEITWATERPROOF.WHENMYBROTHERRETURNSFROMHISFISHINGTRIP,HE’LLTELLMEWHETHERIT’SANEFFECTIVEPROJECTORJUSTANAESTHETICONE.EITHERWAY,ILIKEUSINGDUCTTAPEARTASAWAYTORECYCLEANDREFURBISHOLDTHINGSANDBRINGTHEMNEWUSE.

VASETHISVASE/DECORATEDJARSEEMSSIMPLE,BUTIT’SACTUALLYANELEGANTWAYTOPREVENTGLASSSHARDSFROMGETTINGEVERYWHEREWHENYOUBREAKSOMETHING.IFYOUWERETODROPAGLASSJARCOATEDWITHDUCTTAPE,THEGLASSPIECESSTICKTOTHEDUCTTAPE,MAKINGITSAFERANDEASIERTOCLEANUP.

GLOBETHEBASEFORTHISGLOBEISASPHEREOFSTYROFOAMTHATIPURCHASEDATACRAFTSTORE.I’VEALWAYSLIKEDMAPSANDGLOBES,SOICONSIDEREDITAPERSONALCHALLENGETOTRYTOCOLORINTHEDETAILSFROMMEMORY.

HOLIDAYWREATHTHISWREATHWASPROBABLYONEOFTHEMOSTLABOR-INTENSIVEPROJECTSI’VEEVERDONE.THEBACKOFTHEWREATHISAPAPERLANTERNPURCHASEDATACRAFTSTORE.IT’SCOMPRISEDOFSEVERALCONCENTRICRINGSOFMETALCOVEREDINPAPERWITHCROSSSTRINGS.ITWASABSOLUTELYTHEPERFECTTHING.ONCEI’DMADEALEAF,IPOKEDTHEWIRETHROUGHTOTHEOTHERSIDEANDTAPEDITINPLACE.IDIDTHESAMETHINGTOTHEPINEBRANCHESANDTHEHOLLYBERRIES.THEPINECONESAREPOINT-PETAL-BASED,ANDTHENEEDLESAREBASICALLYTHELONG-GRASSCENTERS(SEEPAGE44).

SUSHIWHENICONSIDEREDFOODSTOMAKEOUTOFDUCTTAPE,SUSHI/SASHIMIWASMYFIRSTTHOUGHT.ITUSUALLYINVOLVESBRIGHTCOLORSANDSTARKLINES,UNLIKESOMETHINGLIKEPAELLA,WHICHIIMAGINEWOULDBEMUCHMOREDIFFICULT.FORTHESALMONSASHIMI,ICRUMPLEDASHEETOFNEWSPAPERANDCOVEREDITWITHWHITESTRIPSOFTAPE.ITORETHESTRIPSVERYSMALLTOMINIMIZETHEPOINTYEFFECTOFFOLDINGLARGERSTRIPSOFTAPEOVERAROUNDEDSURFACE.ICALLTHESEPOINTS“TAPEELBOWS.”THESUSHIWASMADEBYROLLINGUPAPAPERSHOPPINGBAGINTOATUBEANDTHENCUTTINGITINTOSIXEQUAL-SIZESECTIONS,THENCOVERINGTHEMWITHTAPEOFTHEPROPERCOLOR.

FOXTHEBASEFORTHISFOXISAWIREFRAMETWISTEDINTOAROUGHQUADRUPEDSHAPE.IWRAPPEDPLASTICBAGSAROUNDTHEWIRES,KEEPINGTHEMINPLACEWITHAPRIMERCOATOFORANGETAPE.FORTHEHAIR,IFOLDEDANDCUTTHINPOINTS(SEESHORTGRASSCENTERSANDLONG-GRASSCENTERS,PAGE44),USINGSHORTGRASSFORTHELEGSANDNECK,ANDLONGGRASSFORTHETAILANDBODY.

APPLE-SHAPEDCHANGEBOXTHISISACONTAINERTHATYOUMIGHTUSEFORKEEPINGSOMELUNCHMONEYOROTHERSMALLOBJECTSTOCLIPTOACHILD’SBACKPACK.ISTARTEDWITHA1-LITERSODABOTTLE,CUTOUTTHEBOTTOMANDTOP,SQUEEZEDTHEMTOGETHER,ANDTHENCOVEREDTHEMWITHTAPE.

SNAKEHANDPUPPETTHISISAHANDPUPPETDESIGNIMADEWITHSOMEOFMYCLASSESOFMIDDLESCHOOLERSINOHIO.IT’SJUSTAPAPERBAGCRUMPLEDUPOVERONEHANDANDCOVEREDINAFEWLAYERSOFDUCTTAPE.YOUCOULDMAKEALMOSTANYKINDOFCHARACTERORANIMALINTHISWAY.IMADEASNAKE.

PLAIN/MASQUERADEMASKTHISISANEFFECTIVETEMPLATEFORANYMASKYOU’DLIKETOMAKE.ITISCARDBOARDCOVEREDWITHSTRIPSOFTAPE.IT’SEASIERTOGETSYMMETRYIFYOUDRAWHALFAMASKONAFOLDEDPIECEOFPAPERFIRST.

TOUCANMASKTHENOSEFORTHISMASKBEGANASAPIECEOFCARDBOARD,FOLDEDINTOAROUGHARCHSHAPE.TOFORMTHEBENDS,IUSEDSCISSORSTOCUTTRIANGULARINCISIONSONEITHERSIDEOFTHEARCH,THENICLOSEDTHETRIANGULARGAPSWITHTAPE.THISFORCESTHEPIECEOFCARDBOARDTOCURVEDOWNWARD.ITHENCUTTHETIPOFTHENOSEINTOANANGLEDPOINT.YOUCOULDMAKEASHARPERPOINTFORABIRDOFPREYLIKEANEAGLE,ORASHORTERNOSEWITHABOTTOMSECTIONFORASONGBIRD.THEFEATHERSAREMADEINTHESAMESTYLEASLILYPETALS(PAGE27)ORTHEFEATHEREARRINGS(PAGE76).

MARIONETTEFORTHISMARIONETTE,IUSEDCRUMPLEDPLASTICGROCERYBAGS,WHICHWEREMOREPLIABLEANDMADEROUNDERSURFACESTHANCRUMPLEDPAPER.UNFORTUNATELY,IDISCOVEREDTHATIT’SVERYDIFFICULTTOPOKEAHOLETHROUGHDOZENSOFLAYERSOFPLASTICLARGEENOUGHTOTHREADASTRING.INTHEFUTURE,IMIGHTUSEFOAM.

SNAKECHAINPUPPET/MUPPETWITHSTICKSTHISPUPPETSTARTEDASADRAGON,ANDTURNEDINTOASNAKEASIWENTALONG.DON’TBEAFRAIDTOGOWITHITIFYOURPROJECTSTARTSGOINGINANUNEXPECTEDDIRECTION.IT’SMADEOFPAPER-TOWELCARDBOARDTUBES,FILLEDWITHPAPERANDSTRUNGTOGETHERWITHFISHINGLINE.

CHAPTERSIX:

TABLEAUX

IPREFERTOMAKETWO-DIMENSIONALARTWORKSONMATBOARD,BUTYOUCANSURELYUSEWOOD,CANVAS,ORANYOTHERFLATSURFACEYOUDESIRE.IADVISEYOUTOMEASUREYOURSURFACETOTHESIZEOFTHEFRAMEYOU’LLEVENTUALLYUSE.NOTETHATBECAUSEBOTHTHESUBSTRATEMATERIALANDTHETAPEHAVETHICKNESS,YOU’LLHAVETOACCOUNTFORTHISWHENPICKINGAFRAME.ILIKETOFINDFRAMESATTHRIFTSTORESANDYARDSALES,THENMAKEAPIECEOFARTTOFITTHEFRAMERATHERTHANMAKINGARTANDTHENHIRINGSOMEONETOBUILDACUSTOMFRAME,WHICHCANBEEXPENSIVE.

CHROMOSOMESIWASGIVENSOMEROLLSOFTAPEFROMADIFFERENTTAPECOMPANYTHANTHEONEIORDINARILYUSE,ANDFOUNDTHATTHETWOBRANDS’YELLOWSANDPURPLESWERESLIGHTLYDIFFERENT,ALLOWINGMESOMEMORESHADINGOPTIONS.ITSTARTEDASRANDOMOVERLAPPINGLINES,BUTATSOMEPOINT,IDECIDEDTHEYRESEMBLEDCHROMOSOMES.

YELLOWLADYTHISWASANEXPERIMENTINEXAGGERATINGFEATURESTOMAKEHERSEEM“CUTE.”THEYELLOWNESSISLESSAFUNCTIONOFTHISANDMOREBECAUSEDUCTTAPEHASYETTOPROVIDEMEWITHMANYREALISTICFLESHTONES.

MOUNTAINSTHISLANDSCAPEISPARTIALLYINSPIREDBYPAULCEZANNE,ANDINPARTBYSOMEOFTHEVISTASOFTHEAMERICANWEST,WHEREINOWLIVE.IFYOU’RELOOKINGFORWORKTOEMULATEINDUCTTAPE,CEZANNE’SSHORTBRUSHSTROKESAREAGOODPLACETOSTART.

PIXILATIONTHETREEISMADEUPOF“DIGITALCAMOUFLAGE”PATTERNEDDUCTTAPE,WITHTHEINDIVIDUALCOLORSCUTOUTANDREARRANGED.THEDESIGNERSOFVIDEOGAMESFROMMYYOUTHUSEDSPARSEVISUALRESOURCESTOCREATEENTIREWORLDSOUTOFPIXELS,SOTHATMYKIDBRAINHADNOTROUBLEATALLSEEINGCARTOONCHARACTERSANDCARSANDBARRELSOUTOFTHESKILLFULLYARRANGEDBLURRYRECTANGLESONTHESCREEN.YOUCANMAKESIMILARWORKWITHCREATIVEUSEOFCIRCLESORLINESORCURVES.

HUMMINGBIRDLADYTHISISAFAIRLYSTRAIGHTFORWARDPIECE—THEBODYANDWINGSOFTHEHUMMINGBIRDWERECUTINTHEIRENTIRETYONTHECUTTINGBOARDANDTHENEMBELLISHEDWITHTHERED,BLACK,GREEN,TEAL,ANDBROWNDETAILS.THEORANGETRIANGLESINTHEFLOWERARETINYSQUARES(PARALLELANDPERPENDICULARLINESWITHACRAFTKNIFE)CUTDIAGONALLY,ASINTHESNOWFLAKEEARRINGS(PAGE70).

STARSTHISISANOTHERVANGOGH-INSPIREDPIECE,ONEOFTHEFIRSTTWO-DIMENSIONALARTWORKSTHATIEVERMADEWITHDUCTTAPE,CIRCA2005.THEBACKGROUNDISTORNSTRIPS,ANDTHEFOREGROUNDWASMADEWITHTHECRAFTKNIFE.THECHROMETAPEUSEDFORTHESTARSHASSINCEFADEDWITHFRICTION,BEFOREISTARTEDUSINGCLEARACRYLICCOATINGTOPREVENTTHIS.

QUESTIONOFSCALEWITHTHISPIECE,IWANTEDTODRAWACOMPARISONBETWEENTHINGSTHATAREINCOMPREHENSIBLYLARGEANDINCREDIBLYSMALL.MUCHOFTHISWASDONEWITHTHESCREWPUNCHANDTHERESTISFROMTHECRAFTKNIFE.IHADALWAYSINTENDEDITTOBEHUNGWITHTHEPLANETSPORTIONONTOPANDTHEATOMSPORTIONBELOW.THECENTERQUARTEROFTHEPICTUREMARKSATRANSITIONFROMLIGHTSTRIPSONDARKTODARKSTRIPSONLIGHT,WHICHIHOPEDWOULDREMINDTHEVIEWEROFM.C.ESCHER’STRANSITIONS.

PROMETHEUSPROMETHEUSWASAGREEKGODWHOBROUGHTFIREFROMMOUNTOLYMPUSTOTHEMENOFEARTH.IIMAGINEDTHISASAFIRE-HAIREDMANWITHASPHEREOFENERGY.THESPHEREISMADEOFGLOW-IN-THE-DARKTAPE.THECURLFROMMAKINGARCSWITHTAPEISPARTICULARLYNOTICEABLEHERE;THISCANBEREDUCEDBYMAKINGASMALLSLITINTHEOUTEREDGEOFTHECURVEANDBRIDGINGTHEGAPWITHANADDITIONALDAUBOFTAPE.THISCANBETIME-CONSUMING;YOURMILEAGEMAYVARY.

NEONSPIRALTHISSPIRALWASMADEBYTEARINGSTRIPSANDLAYINGTHEMHORIZONTALLYONAPIECEOFTHINPLASTIC(ITCAMEFROMACONTAINEROFCOOKIES),THENCUTTINGTHESHAPESANDCAREFULLYPEELINGTHEMFROMTHEPLASTICSCRAPS.THISTECHNIQUEISUSEFULFORMAKINGCOLORFULLETTERSORFLOWERPETALSANDMUCHMORE.

PAISLEYLADYTOMAKETHISPICTURE,IPLACEDSTRIPSOFGRAYTAPEONACARDBOARDSURFACEINTHESHAPEOFANOVAL,THENMARKEDTHEPLACESONTHEOVALWHERETHEEYES,NOSE,ANDLIPSWOULDBE.NEXT,ISTACKEDDOZENSOFSTRIPSOFTAPEONTHE“TALLEST”PARTSOFTHEFACE(TIPOFTHENOSE,CHIN,CHEEKBONES,ANDFOREHEAD),LEAVINGLESSMATERIALONTHELOWERPARTSOFTHEEYESANDEDGEOFTHEFACE,ASITRECEDESTOWARDTHEBACKOFTHEHEAD.LAST,IFINISHEDTHEPICTUREWITHCOLOREDTAPE,CREATINGAWORKWITHDEPTH.

ALBUMCOVERIHAVEMADETWOALBUMCOVERSFORMUSICALFRIENDS.THISISONE(FRONTANDBACK)IDIDFORMYFRIENDANDREWBONNIS.IWASINSPIREDBYONEOFMYFORMERSTUDENTS,WHODIDSOMEBEAUTIFULWORKREPLICATINGHERFAVORITEALBUMCOVERSINDUCTTAPE.

POINT-CIRCLEI’VEMADEANUMBEROFVERSIONSOFTHIS,BUTTHISONEISTHELARGEST.ITTOOKSEVERALWEEKSTOTEARALLTHESQUARESANDFOLDANDPLACETHEM.LUCKILY,IHADSOMEHELP.ISTARTEDBYMAKINGTHEBACKGROUND,THENIDREWACIRCLE.ITRIEDTOKEEPTHEPOINTSEVENLYSPACEDASIWENTAROUNDTHECIRCLE,LININGUPTHEPOINTSWITHTHECIRCLEI’DDRAWNANDGOINGSTEADILYTOWARDTHECENTER.WHENINEAREDTHEMIDDLE,ISWITCHEDFROMFULL-SIZESQUARESTOHALF-SIZE,THENQUARTER-ANDEIGHTH-SIZESQUARES.

RESOURCESwww.duckbrand.com

TheDuckBrandmaintainsagreatwebsite,withsectionsonwheretobuytape,contests,andprojectideas.Youcanseetheirwholeselection,andorderdirectlyfromthesite.TheFAQsectionisalsoagreatplacetoheadforanswerstoyourtape-relatedquestions.

www.deviantart.com

DeviantArtisanenormousglobalcommunityofartistspostingartvoluntarilytovariousgalleries.Searchingfor“DuckTape”,“DuctTape”or“TapeArt”willgiveyouthousandsofideasforinterestingprojects.Keepinmind,though,thatyoushouldalwaysbecarefulaboutusingothers’ideas—usethemasinspiration,butdon’tduplicate.

www.michaels.com

www.joann.com

www.patcatans.com

CraftstoreslikeMichael’s,JoAnnFabrics,andPatCatan’saregreatplacestobuynotonlytape,butalsoothermaterialslikewire,foam,jewelrybackings,andtools.

OtherMaterials:

Muchofthematerialsthatmakeupthestructureofyourartworkcanbefoundaroundyouforfree—cardboardboxes,paper,discardedwires,andplasticbottles.Itisalwaysagoodideatomakefriendswithtradespeoplelikecarpenters,plumbers,andelectriciansbecausetheyoftenhaveusefulscraps.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSTherearemanypeopleIwouldliketothank.Iamtremendouslyluckytohavehadawonderfultribeofhumanbeingswhonurturedandencouragedandhelpedmeinsomeway.Tragically,nomatterhowlongImakethislist,it’sdoomedtobeincomplete.IamsurethatassoonasIsubmitthistothepublisher,Iwillsmackmyforeheadinshameforexcludingsomeoneimportant.I’llmakeeveryefforttocorrectthiseventually.

Mymomanddad,ClareandJim,whosehelpisincalculableandongoing,andwhoremainmyfavoritepeopleandmybestrolemodelsforever.

Mybrother,Clay,thebestlittlebrotheranyoneeverhad.

Mycousins,grandparents,uncles,andaunts.

ShurTechBrands,marketersofDuckbrandducttape.

TheFineArtsAssociationofWilloughbyandWickliffeMiddleSchool,andallmystudentswhotaughtmemorethanyou’llknow.

RichardGallupandGallup’sFineArt.

CliffNovakandKirtlandHighSchool.

MickBriscoe.

QuarryBooks,andJonathanSimcoskyforhispatience.

MattHunsaker.

BrookCastle-Goins.

AndrewBonnis,LeahLou&TheTwoLeftShoes.

ChrisStoicovici.

LeahMcCoy.

StanandNancyPavelecky.

TheColesfamily.

TedBurtt.

JamieJelenicandRachelOlson,forlettingmemakeartforyourweddings.

GregHarrisonandtheotherEnclavians.

LakelandCommunityCollege.

Myworkshopsandtheirstaffsandowners:

OHIO:

BordersMentor

BarnesandNobleMentor

RickFoxandtheKirtlander

NegativeSpace

Fuel

JavaExpress

Algebra

GypsyBean

Phoenix

TheFairmountBar

TheBottlehouse

BluePlanetCoffee

CenterPerk

OREGON:

BluebirdCoffee

Dudley’s

Backporch

McMenamins

VERMONT:

LangdonStreetCafé

BasementTeenCenterandtheWCYSB

ABOUTTHEAUTHORForestgrewupinasuburbofCleveland,Ohio,wherehelearnedaloveoftheartsfromhismusicianfatherandartistmother.HehastaughtducttapeartclassesattheWilloughbyFineArtsAssociation,and,throughthem,atvariousschoolsinnortheastOhio.HehasonoccasionbeencommissionedtodoartworkfortheDuckbrand,participatingintheannualDuckTapeFestivalinAvon,Ohio,andhasmadeartforseveralalbumcoversandtwoweddings.

Inadditiontohisartwork,heenjoysplayingmusic,cooking,makingbeer,andparticipatinginpubtriviachallenges.Heiscurrentlylivingwithhisbrother,brother’sgirlfriend,andcousininBend,Oregon,whereheworksatacoffeeshopandenjoysthenaturalbeautyofthehighdesert.

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TOMYPARENTS,JIMANDCLAREDAVIS,WHOWILLHOPEFULLYFORGIVEMESOMEDAYFORTHIS

ENTIRELYINADEQUATEDEDICATION.

©2015byQuarryBooks

FirstpublishedintheUnitedStatesofAmericain2015by

QuarryBooks,amemberof

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Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedinanyformwithoutwrittenpermissionofthecopyrightowners.Allimagesinthisbookhavebeenreproducedwiththeknowledgeandpriorconsentoftheartistsconcerned,andnoresponsibilityisacceptedbytheproducer,publisher,orprinterforanyinfringementofcopyrightorotherwise,arisingfromthecontentsofthispublication.Everyefforthasbeenmadetoensurethatcreditsaccuratelycomplywithinformationsupplied.Weapologizeforanyinaccuraciesthatmayhaveoccurredandwillresolveinaccurateormissinginformationinasubsequentreprintingofthebook.

Digitaleditionpublishedin2015

Digitaledition:978-1-62788-323-8Flexiboundedition:978-1-63159-016-0

LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData

Davis,ForestWalker.

 Ducttape:101adventurousideasforart,jewelry,flowers,wallets,andmore/ForestWalkerDavis.

  pagescm

  ISBN978-1-63159-016-0(paperback)—ISBN978-1-62788-323-8(digitaledition)

  1.Tapecraft.2.Ducttape.I.Title.

  TT869.7.D382015

  745.59—dc23

2014049094

DesignedatBurgeAgency