Make a Duct Tape Purse

If you want to make a big statement at your next party, a duct tape purse is just the ticket. Duct tape purses are a cheap and easy way to stand out from the crowd, and making accessories with duct tape has become surprisingly trendy. Follow these steps to learn how to make a duct tape purse.

Steps

Standard Handbag

  1. Buy several rolls of duct tape. It now comes in a variety of colors (and patterns!) as well as the standard gray.
    • Duct tape has so many uses it's now available just about anywhere. Walmart has a good selection and each roll runs at about $5.00 right now.
    • Feel free to choose as many colors or patterns as you desire. You could also place a different color on the inside.
  2. Cut a piece of cardboard into five pieces. The five pieces will be the bottom, large sides and small sides of your duct tape purse.
    • The size of the purse is entirely up to you; just make sure the sides match up and fit with the bottom.
  3. Cover each piece of cardboard in duct tape. Cover it fully, making sure that it is all gray (or whichever color you've chosen) by the time you're done.
    • To cover a corner, run over it with duct tape and cut the tape so that you form a good, neat corner.
  4. Assemble your purse. Once you've covered all your pieces, put everything together by placing the pieces on the bottom of the purse and taping them on.
  5. Make your strap. To do this, take two pieces of tape and cut them to the length you want. Now place them together, leaving a little space.
    • This space, once folded over, will keep your strap from feeling sticky. Now just tape the strap to the bottom of the bag.

With Fabric

  1. Cut a piece of fabric for the inside of your purse. Remember, your purse will be half this size.
    • Avoid fabrics that are too thin or sheer. Your tape needs something to cling to and shouldn't let the duct tape show on the inside.
  2. Tape your fabric face down on a clean surface. This makes it secure when you're working with the tape.
    • Decide what kind of colors and patterns you want for your purse before you go any further. You are not limited to vertical or horizontal strips; make any pattern you want or cut up the tape into shapes.
  3. Cover your fabric with your tape in the desired pattern. The tape should cover all of the fabric and leave none exposed.
    • Go past the fabric an inch (2.5 cm) or so. Taping to the table or floor should not be an issue (use a clean surface!).
    • Overlap the tape as uniformly as possible.
  4. Cut off the excess tape along the edge. Peel your piece off your surface and turn it over, fabric side up.
    • Turn over your purse. You should see a giant rectangle of duct tape.
  5. Tape up both sides of your purse. Don't tape up the top!
    • This serves as the seam and can be a completely different color or pattern of tape.
    • It's easier to lay the duct tape (the seam) sticky side up on the table and put the purse on top to meet it.
    • Trim the excess with scissors.
  6. Tuck in the edges of the seam. This is the trickiest part.
    • Before you insert the seam into the bottom of the bag, fold it onto itself to make it un-sticky. Then insert it; it should be much easier to manipulate.
    • The seam should be tucked into the fabric, disappearing.
  7. Tape the insides of your purse and along the top edge. This gives it structure.
    • Tape along the bottom one strip of duct tape. This gives it a base.
    • Tape one strip along each side. This gives it a sturdy left and right.
    • Tape along the top to remove any rough edges.
  8. Cover a pre-measured rope in duct tape. This serves as your strap.
    • Make it a bit longer than you need; a bit will be used to be knotted or taped to the inside.
  9. Place your grommets in the desired position. There should be simple directions on the package.
    • If you don't have grommets, you can stick to a plain duct tape strap. Duct tape is very sturdy and won't budge; however, grommets give your purse a more professional look.
  10. Insert the strap into the grommets and secure. Your duct tape purse is complete.
    • Tape the rope in place or tie in a knot to secure.

Woven

  1. Make the horizontal strips. They should be 12 inches long and serve as your secondary color.
    • Use a ruler for an exact measurement.
    • Fold each strip in half lengthwise. Try to be diligent in folding; the opposite side of the duct tape is a different color and will be seen.
    • Repeat this 23 times. That's right, 23. Use a different color on occasion if you see fit.
      • Put weights on them (books, stacks of paper, boxes) to flatten them out.
  2. Make the vertical strips. Measure out 25 inches (63.5 cm) of your main color.
    • Fold each strip in half, just like you did with the horizontal strips. Do this 12 times.
    • Cover all straps with weights for around an hour to flatten completely. They'll be easier to work with.
  3. Construct the seam. Rip off a piece of duct tape from your main color that's about 14 inches (36 cm) long.
    • Fold it in half sticky side out and make a crease.
    • Line all 12 of the vertical strips along the crease. Get them up close and personal to each other.
    • Reverse the seam and fold along the crease, adhering the ends together.
    • Do this for both sides.
  4. Start weaving. Make sure each strip is snug in its place.
    • For weaving, go under, over, under, over for the first strip and then over, under, over under for the second. Repeat.
    • Throw in a different color here and there to mix it up.
  5. Cover what you've done with your horizontal strips. This should go on the back of your purse. It acts as a liner.
    • Be as straight as possible--the strips will create lines.
    • Don't skip this part; the liner makes your bag much sturdier.
    • Continue weaving and constructing the lining as you go until you meet the far seam.
  6. Add a strip along the longest edge. Leave half of the strip hanging, exposed.
    • Flip the entire piece over and fold the hanging edge over, taping it to the opposite side of the bag.
    • Repeat for both sides.
  7. Make two strips the height of your bag. These will serve as the sides. They should be at least 4 inches (10 cm) wide and 8 inches (20 cm) tall.
    • Fold your strip in half sticky side out. Lay on another strip sticky side up touching the upper, sticky edge of your first piece.
    • Unfold the bottom piece so that the two pieces are totally stuck together. Fold the top sticky part over the middle, so that there is only sticky on the bottom edge.
    • Flip it over and repeat.
      • If you're lost, we understand. Basically, halfway overlap the pieces of tape, flip it, halfway overlap them again and repeat until it is the size you want.
    • With the last one, fold it down so you have a sheet with no sticky band at the top or bottom.
  8. Trim down the edges. You want your sides to be a bit bigger at the bottom than at the top.
    • Like a triangle...but not quite. The two sides should come to a point if the piece were to go on.
  9. Tape the sides to the inside of your piece. Count 8 strips in for centering.
    • This will not be centered; one side is supposed to be longer than the other.
  10. Place a strip along the bottom of the side to the top edge of the purse. This will adhere the sides together.
    • Fold it in half sticky side out.
    • Connect the sides together. Repeat this three more times.
  11. Cover all the edges with a strip of your primary color. This hides any pieces that wound up not completely straight.
    • One side should be longer than the other. It's a flap-top purse; the longer side serves as the cover.
      • Attach velcro to keep the purse from opening needlessly.
  12. Make the handle. Cut three strips a bit longer than half the length you want the strap to be.
    • Lay one down, sticky side up. Cover half of it with another strip, sticky side down. Fold one half over the other.
    • Flip the piece and cover the now-exposed sticky edge halfway with the third sticky piece.
    • Flip over again and fold the edge down so there are no exposed edges.
    • Tape the two pieces together and tape them to the inside of the bag.

An Inner Pocket

  1. Construct a piece like the side of the purse. It should be a bit smaller--around 6 inches.
    • Do not taper the edges like you did the side; it should stay in a rectangle shape.
  2. Add angled bands to each side. This is the inner side of your pocket.
    • Add a sticky band to the bottom. Take a 6 inch piece and put it half on, half off the bottom of your little square. Trim it to an angle.
      • Cut with the sticky side of the tape up. It's easier to cut and leaves less residue on your scissors.
    • Flip over and fold these edges in half onto each other. What you end up with should resemble an envelope, sticky sides on the edges.
  3. Stick it onto the inner liner. Place it as high or low as you please.
    • Secure the edges with extra duct tape. If you don't, the pocket will fall off eventually.



Tips

  • Make sure each piece is completely covered in duct tape. If a piece is partially uncovered, it will spoil the look of your new purse.
  • Use scissors you don't love. After this project, they may be permanently sticky.
  • Make sure your pieces fit together. When measuring your cardboard pieces, make sure the bottom of the purse is big enough to accommodate all of your sides.
  • You can make this purse a messenger bag by adjusting the sizes of all the pieces of cardboard.

Warnings

  • Use caution when working with a straight razor.

Things You'll Need

Method One: Standard Handbag

  • Cardboard
  • Duct tape
  • Razor blade
  • Ruler
  • Scissors
  • Pen

Method Two: Woven

  • Fabric
  • Duct tape
  • Scissors
  • Rope
  • Grommets

Inner Pocket

  • Duct tape
  • Scissors

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

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