| How to Make a Duct Tape Book Cover Aug 21st 2012, 08:00 Forget covering your books with boring brown paper bags or contact paper. You can create a duct tape cover for your own textbooks, or any other books, in your own unique style! If the books are standard size, you can reuse these covers again and again. Here's how... - Make a pattern. Flatten the book as best as you can and trace the book's cover shape onto some paper. It's better to make the pattern slightly bigger than too small.
- Add 3 inch (7.5cm) "flaps" to each end of the pattern. Cut out the pattern.
- Put together "duct tape fabric" that's generously bigger than your pattern. Make each side a different color for easier tracing.
- Tear a piece of duct tape the length of your pattern.
- Place the tape, sticky side up, on a flat surface. Tear another strip of tape and place it lengthwise on top of the first strip so that only half of the sticky is covered.
- Flip the "fabric" over and continue sticking new strips to the exposed sticky areas of the "fabric" until you have a piece of duct tape "fabric" larger than your pattern. You will place two strips, face down, each time you flip sides of the "fabric". Take care to overlap the edges slightly to avoid leaving a sticky line that will be in contact with your book.
- Trace your pattern onto the "cloth" and cut it out.
- Crease the flap line. Fold it down firmly and then unfold it to make the crease.
- Place two short pieces of tape to the cover as shown, sticky side down. Leave a few inches going beyond the edge of the cover.
- Fold the two short pieces back towards the cover, exposing the sticky side up. As you hold them in place, fold the flap along the crease and onto the ends of the short pieces of tape. Press down firmly. The flap should now create a pocket that leaves room for a book cover to be inserted within the flap.
- Repeat for the other flap.
- Place a strip of tape along the bottom edge so that half of it is under the cover and the other half is seen, sticky side up.
- Fold the strip's sticky side over to cover the raw edge.
- Repeat for the top edge of the cover.
- Snip the flap open again at all four edges.
- Slide the covers into their pockets.
- Enjoy your well-protected book!
- Practice with an old book first, in case you mess up.
- As an alternate method, cover your book with a paper book cover, then stick duct tape to the paper. This uses less duct tape and also keeps any adhesive from accidentally coming in contact with your book.
- It can help to weigh the book down overnight with some heavier books to help the cover mold to the book so that it stays shut.
Edit Warnings - It hurts to peel duct tape off of skin––don't get it on you.
- Peeling duct tape off of a book will damage the book. Before putting the cover on the book make sure there is no adhesive exposed.
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