My friend Georgia stopped by the other day to show me a really cool duct tape wallet she’d purchased. Okay, Georgia’s Mom is a closer friend (Georgia is 10), but I don’t want to discount any awesome friendships that lead to a knock on the door to show me an awesome craft.
You know I had to try for myself.
You will need:
- 2 – 3 rolls of coordinating duck tape (one for the exterior, one for the interior and a third for the trim)
- Clear scotch tape or packing tape cut down to scotch tape width (scotch tape is MUCH easier to work with)
- Exacto knife (parental supervision required)
- Cutting mat with measurements
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Zip-lock freezer bag
- Velcro dots
Start by laying out a piece of your trim coloured duck tape across the length of your cutting mat. Cut this strip into four (roughly) equal rows – length-wise. You will be reaching for these trim pieces throughout the project, so it’s easier to have them pre-cut and ready. (I’ve labelled it in purple so it’s easier to know what I’m referring to)
Duct Tape Wallet – Outer Shell
Lay out the interior colour duck tape across your cutting mat. You want to overlap the rows until you have a rectangle that is 13.5″ wide by 6.5″ high.
Peel this rectangle off of your cutting mat and flip it over so that it is sticky-side-up.
Using the exterior colour duck tape, overlay the sticky rectangle with rows of tape, leaving 1/2″ extra overhanging all four sides. (Your exterior with be bigger than the interior. Trim any scruffy edges.
Cut the sticky corners out by slicing the exterior duck tape from the corner of the interior colour – as though you were continuing the line from each edge – the cut out will be a small square section on each corner.
Fold over the sticky exterior onto the interior at the narrow ends.
Set this piece off to the side.
Duct Tape Wallet – Credit card pockets
Cut 5 pieces of duck tape at 7.5″ long.
Fold each of those pieces in half and cut down so that you have five 3.5″ pieces.
Add a small section, 3.5″, of your trim colour (the trim we cut before beginning) to one edge on each piece.
Cut a 13.5″ piece of duct tape and overlap with another row (or two) until your piece is 3.5″ high. Fold in half and cut down the rough edge so that your piece is 6.5″ long. (3.5″ by 6.5″)
Using a piece of clear tape (packing or clear scotch tape), stick your pockets onto your 6.5″ piece beginning at the top and spacing evenly.
Cut a 6.5″ piece of your trim duck tape and fold over one edge to hold the sides of the pockets closed. Set this piece aside (we will finish it up in a later step).
Duct Tape Wallet – Zip-Lock pocket
Cut a Zip-lock freezer bag 1/2″ on either side of the zipper. Cut sides out so that you have two separate zipper pieces.
Cut two pieces of duck tape (interior or trim colour) to 6.5″. Line up one piece of tape just above the zipper section (zipper should be facing upwards). Fold the excess tape over and stick to the back of the zipper piece. Repeat with the other zipper piece.
Continue layering 6.5″ pieces of tape to extend the bottom of your zipper pocket down to 3.5″ tall. Repeat with the other side.
Lay your two zipper sections, sticky-side-up, so that the zippers are on your right and left and the two sticky sections line up in the middle length-wise.
Lay a piece of 6.5″ duck tape over the centre seam (interior or trim colour). Continue layering 6.5″ pieces of tape until you have reached the edge of the zipper and the entire sticky section has been covered.
Fold in half and close the zip-lock. Use two pieces of trim at 3.5″ to close the sides of your pocket. (fold over from the front to the back and seal)
Cut four pieces of duck tape (exterior colour) to 7.5″ long. Fold each piece in half and cut down so that each is 3.5″.
Using clear scotch tape or ~1/2″ of packing tape, attach one of the 3.5″ pieces (folded side should line up with the top of your zipper pouch) to the end of your pouch. Repeat on the other end.
Flip your pouch over and repeat on both ends again.
Fold these flaps so that you have one on both sides of your pouch. Use a bit of trim tape (3.5″) and put it over the folds on either end so that your flaps will stay flat against the surface (front and back) of your pouch.
Duct Tape Wallet – attaching the pouch to the shell
Line up the top of your pouch with the bottom of your exterior piece. The zipper should be at your stomach.
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Fold the sticky edge over your flaps on each side. Cut a small slice in the sticky edge to release the rest of the edge. You should have a rectangle similar to above.
Press your zipper pocket down so that it lines up with your outer shell – to do this, you will need to create an accordion fold in your flaps.
To attach the other flaps, you will need to repeat this accordion fold, and while holding them in place, fold up your zipper pocket so that it is now facing away from your tummy and into the centre of your wallet.
Hold in place with the side tape and cut a slice to release the rest of the sticky edge.
Whew! You did it! Zipper pocket complete!
Next you need to line up your credit card pocket at the edge of your zipper pocket. If you were to fold your wallet, the credit card pocket would line up perfectly over top of the zipper one.
Fold the last bit of sticky edge tape over the top and bottom edge of your credit card pocket to hold it in place.
Usea 6.5″ piece of your trim and attach it to the long edge of your credit card holder, then stick the other half inside the pocket behind your zipper pocket. See above.
Fold over your wallet and the remaining flap – which will be a couple of inches long – will be the flap that holds your wallet closed. Press a fold with your fingers.
Attach a velcro dot (front and back) to the centre of your closure flap. Press the flap closed and the other velcro dot will adhere to your wallet bottom.
If you find that your flap isn’t long enough – don’t worry – just add another row of duck tape to the end of your flap to extend it. (as below)
Leave your wallet underneath something heavy overnight and it will flatten out and make your folds nice and crisp.
I followed a video tutorial to make the first duct tape wallet with the kids, and while the video ran 19 minutes, the making of them took closer to two hours with playing and pausing and questions from eight 10-year olds.
I decided that there had to be an easier way and that a photo tutorial would have been easier to follow, so I made some changes, eliminated a few of the “prettying” steps and came up with this.
I’ve made four wallets now and I think this is the easiest and briefest tutorial out there… but you tell me.
One more crappy photo, but you get the idea… there were one or two happy 10 year-olds when we were finished (whether that be because we were finished or because of their new duct tape wallet s, I don’t care. Happy is happy)
If you have some patience, give a duct tape wallet a try with your kids – they really are quite impressive when you’re finished and they can customize the colours to create their own masterpiece. I’d say this craft is appropriate for 8 and up – if they have a bit of patience; even with my abbreviated instructions, this will probably take about 30 minutes to make….
but they will be SO PROUD.
Thank you Georgia!
Have a great weekend!
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