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HOW TO MAKE A DUCK TAPE BACKPACK CHARM Use your favorite patterns of Duck Tape to make backpack charms. Colorful, unique, and easy to make!
materials needed: (makes 4 ornaments) 4 colors/patterns of duck tape (or more); 1.88 inches wide 1 letter-size sheet of heavy cardstock (100 lb, but thinner is fine) Large 'pony' beads (about 5 for each charm) Embroidery floss in various colors (about 8 inches for each charm) 4 small 'lobster-claw' clasps (about 1-inch size) Scissors or Sizzix Big Shot or cutting machine (Silhouette Cameo, Cricut Explorer etc) Thin black rollerball ink pen optional: Crop-A-Dile Power Punch and Eyelet Setter (for punching holes AND finishing with eyelets; you can skip this and just use a hole puncher) optional: 3/16-inch color eyelets (for use with Sizzix Big Shot; you can skip this and just use a hole puncher) links: Sizzix Big Shot: www.sizzix.com Silhouette Cameo: www.silhouetteamerica.com Cricut Explorer: www.cricut.com Crop-A-Dile Power Punch and Eyelet Setter www.wermemorykeepers.com
Let’s make it! steps: 1. Outline a 3-inch square in pencil on the cardstock (or use our 4-charm layout pattern); this will be your maximum work area.
2. Cover just the 3-inch square (and a bit more) with pieces of duck tape next to each other (you'll need 2 pieces to cover the whole 3 inches, so it's a chance to use 2 colors/patterns that are fun next to each other; you can also cut the duck tape thinner, so that you use more strips of different colors).
3. Flip the cardstock over and cover the same 3-inch square section with another 2 (or more) pieces of duck tape. (you can hold the cardstock against the light to make sure that you are covering the same area; the color/patterns of the duck tape can be the same as the front or totally different).
4. On either side of the cardstock, trace the shape or your ornament over the duck tape with thin black rollerball ink pen. It can be any shape you want; just stay inside the tape; around 3 inches max (you can use our stencil shapes).
5. Cut out the shape with scissors.
optional: Once the shape is cut, you can decorate it even more, with stickers on top of the tape.
6. Punch a small hole (3/16-inch) near one of the
edges of your charm shape, about half inch away from the edge (you can use Crop-a-Dile to punch the hole and finish it with a 3/16-inch color eyelet).
7. Set the charm aside and grab a lobster-claw
clasp. Cut about 10 inches of color floss and stick it through the clasp, to the halfway point (so, doubled up, it will be 5 inches).
8. Start stringing beads (through both parts of the
floss) and scoot them all the way up to the clasp. Use as many beads as you want (we recommend 5), but only use up about 2 to 3 inches of the double floss.
9. Tie a knot just above the beads at the other end
of the floss (both 2 loose ends), so that they don't slip out (might need to be a double knot if your floss is very thin).
10.
At the very end of the floss (the 2 loose ends), pass one end of floss through the hole in the charm and tie a knot with the other strand, to keep the charm in place. You can make a double knot or even dab the knot with a glue gun, to make it extra secure. You're done! Hook it to a backpack, zipper, or anything else you like!