Duct Tape Book Cover

In this Instructable, we will be learning how to make a duct tape book cover. It's great to distinguish your book from someone else's. It protects the book, being water resistant and durable. It also looks very cool.

Let's get started.

For this Instuctable, you'll need 2 rolls of duct tape (I used two colors) The book you're making the cover for, sharp scissors, a ruler or square of some type, and a measuring tape.

Start off with measuring the dimensions of the book, and write them down. Then based on the dimensions of the book, cut strips of duct tape a little longer than the book its self and fold them in half carefully. To fold the duct tape strips, all you have to do is cut a length of duct tape as long as you want in and fold them in half. If you end up with wrinkles in your folded duct tape strips, don't worry. If you do the next few steps correctly you won't be able to see them.

Once you've made a good amount of strips, measure out how many of them will be needed to cover the book cover completely, vertically and horizontally. Then make enough for both sides of the book cover and a few extra, just in case. Then separate your piles and sort through them, cutting off uneven sticky bits and tips where you need to.

Using your ruler or square, tape the strips that will run down the cover vertically to the end of the ruler. Then weave in the horizontally running strips tightly making sure they are not loose at all. When weaving make sure to alternate how you start. First going: over-under-over and so on, and on the second strip going: under-over-under and so on. I If you can, strategically place the strips so you can's see whatever wrinkles you might've made in the folding process. When you are finished weaving the strips for the top of the cover, tighten where necessary, and tape off all edges. Then repeat the same process with the remaining strips for the back of the cover. You should end up with two woven duct tape sheets, the same size, and slightly bigger than the cover of the book.

Next you will take the sheets and trim the edges (flaps) so that the can fold over the book cover and connect as shown in the third picture. Once you have done this, tape the covers together, making sure to leave enough room for the book spine to work properly. Once you have done this, lay the book over the almost completed cover and fold the flaps over the the book cover and connect them together using a small piece of duct tape.(As shown in the 6th picture) This step is trial and error, make adjustments to the length of the duct tape cover as needed. This can be done by un-taping (Ripping apart) the connection between the two sheets and adjusting it from there. Once you are done, you can close the book and enjoy your new cover! You can add a piece of duct tape the top of the book and write the title, or write the title on the spine of the book, but I chose to leave it blank.

I hope you enjoyed this Instructable and have a great day.