Duct Tape Purses

The other day I submitted some duct tape purses to the editor of Haute Handbags.  I received word today that they have chosen 3 of my 5 designs to include in their April 1 edition of the magazine!  I'll keep those designs a secret...you'll have to wait for the magazine.  But here are the two "rejects!"

The first one I named "Anenome" because it reminded me of the ocean.  I used chrome duct tape, silver brads, vintage jewelry, and D-rings to give it some silver accents.  The flower was made by backing a long strip of duct tape with another strip of duct tape—offsetting the strips about 1/4" so that you end up with both edges having 1/4" of stickiness.  Trim away one of the sticky edges.  With your scissors, make 1/8" snips in the tape, cutting to, but into the sticky edge.  This will create a "fringed" strip with an uncut sticky edge.  Determine how big you want your flower and make a circle base with the duct tape.  I overlapped side by side a couple of 3" long pieces of duct tape, backed them with the same, then cut it into a 3" circle.  Starting with the outside edge of the circle, begin to stick your fringe onto the base.  Keep adding the continuos fringe around the circle until you get to the center.  You may need to cut more fringe to complete the flower.  Using epoxy, add a vintage piece of jewelry to the center.  Epoxy, or hot glue gun the flower to the bag.

The next one I named "Black Tie."  It has a fancy tuxedo look to it.  I folded the white duct tape over on itself to within 1/4" of the edge, leaving a sticky strip.  Then I gathered it as I stuck it to a duct tape base.  Chrome duct tape was also used for accents.  The black tie is actually a shoe clip that is epoxied in place.  The fabric lining wraps over the top edge to the front to add some extra interest to the purse.  Small black brads were added to the base of the handles to make them more secure.

I always knew that duct tape was functional, but who knew it could be so pretty also?

UPDATE:
I just finished one more purse to add to the mix.  This one has a different flower.  It's made the same way as the first one, only cut with petals instead of "fringe."

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