Tape Me a Flower (DIY Ep. 2)

So first of all March is behind us and now it is the time for those “April Showers” that bring beautiful “May Flowers”  or in this case… “April DuckTape brings April Flowers”.  Wow, that doesn’t have that great of a ring as the original.  But you get the picture.

What in the world I am DIY(ing) for you today?  You may ask.  Duck Tape Flower Pens!  I learned how to do this at my friends birthday party.  Can you guess the theme?  Duck Tape!  So one of the activities was to make Duck Taped things with fun and colorful Duck Tape.  Try to say Duck Tape 3 times fast.  It’s really weird and difficult.  I know because I tried.

But this little DIY is fairly simple.  All you will need is…

• Duck Tape! (get fun colors and patterns for your desirable look)

• Exacto Knife! (if you have little kids please help them out with this, they are very useful but like any sharp objects, if not used right will cut you and you will have an ouchy)

• Pens! (round, square, any shape you like. :)

• Finally a quilters board with measurements. But since every one doesn't have this, a ruler taped down on a wood board or stiff card board, something to protect your table or floor from the Exacto knife.  Step One:  Take the lid off of your pen. :)

Step Two:  Measure out the duck tape (DT), to the length of the pen from bottom to just before the pen does that tilted cone thing. Wrap the tape around pen until edge if flush with the pen. ( you may need to wrap a couple times depending on how thin or wide your pen is) 

Step Three:  Cut a small inch by inch square, put it on the bottom flat of the pen, make some slits and fold onto pen.  (this is optional, but I like to do it because it gives it a more “finished look” in the end.)

Step Four:  Grab your contrasting (DT)  line it up, and cut into 2 inch strips. (these are your petals) 

Step Five:  a. This can get a little tricky.  But if you keep practicing you’ll get it.  Fold the strip at a diagonal like you are going to match up the corners.  But fold it about 3/8 from the edge of the corners.

b.  Next you will grab one of the corners and fold it so it turns into a triangle with a sticky lip.  Congratulations!  If your (DT) looks like this picture, you have successfully made your first petal if not, try again you’ll get it.

Step Six:  (the fun part) wrap your petal around the pen.  Sticky side on the pen. (The beginning of your flower has begun.) 

Step Seven: Continue wrapping all of your petals around and around until you are satisfied with the fullness.  (do not make the rows into tiers but stack them on each other so you come out with a flower shape instead of a cone shape.)  Play around with it and have fun!

Step Eight:  Make as many flower pens as your wonderful hearts desire, and then put them in a jar/vase/ or pen container and smile for a craft well done.