This fancy suitcase is fun to make and useful too! It can be used to hold private notes, secret treasures, vacation souvenirs, and so much more. Next time you go on a vacation, you can fill it will games and other items to help keep you occupied during the trip. With the variety of colorful duct tape available at craft stores right now, you can really use your imagination when it comes to personalizing it.
- Age Guideline: 8 Years and Up
- Time Required: 60 minutes (Does not include drying time)
The above age and time guidelines are estimates. This project can be modified to suit other ages and may take more or less time depending on your circumstances.
Let's begin by gathering the supplies you will need...
Gathering The Supplies for Your Duct Tape Suitcase
Before you start any project it is easiest to gather together all of the supplies. To make this duct tape suitcase, you will need:
Now we can start covering the box with the duct tape...
How to Cover the Shoe Box Lid with Duct Tape
To cover the lid of the shoe box, simply cut strips of duct tape about 2-inches longer than the length of your shoe box lid and stick them to the lid so they hang over the end a little on each side. Wrap the ends around to the inside of the box lid. Try to get them to lay flat on the inside of the lid so the suitcase will open and close easier.
While placing the duct tape on the lid, overlap them so none of the shoebox shows.
You can use one or several different colors of duct tape to cover your show box lid. You can also cover the lid with one color and then use other colors to decorate it.
Now we need to cover the bottom of the box...
Cover the Bottom of the Box with Duct Tape
To cover the box, I started by cutting pieces of duct tape about an inch longer than the box bottom. Cover the box bottom, overlapping the tape as you did on the lid.
To cover the sides of the box, I started along the top edge of the box and wrapped a piece of duct tape around it once, overlapping the ends a little bit. I then wrapped a second piece around the box in the same manner, overlapping the edge of the first piece a little bit to hide the box.
Continue until the entire box is covered.
Of course, you can cover your box however you like. There is no right or wrong way. The only trick is to make sure the tape along the top edge of the box does not get too thick for the lid to be able to slide off and on.
The next step is to attach the lid to the box...
How to Attach the Shoe Box Lid to the Box Bottom
Place the lid on top of the shoe box. Cut two piece of duct tape about 4-inches long. I used green duct tape because I wanted some contrast, but you can use the same color as your box if you like. Place the duct tape on the box and the lid as shown in the picture.
Once you have those pieces of tape in place, you need to secure them...
Secure the Tape to the Lid and The Box Bottom
After you get your two piece of tape in place to attach the lid to the box bottom, use some duct tape the same color as your suitcase. Also, use two piece of tape on the inside of your box to secure the lid to the box bottom as shown in the lower picture.
Next we will make the closure for your suitcase...
Create a Closure for Your Suitcase
Cut a piece of duct tape about 4- to 5-inches long. Fold it in half lengthwise. Trim the ends so they are straight. Take the one of the Velcro dots, either the hook side or the loop side (I used the loop side), and stick it near one of the ends as shown in the photo.
Now you need to attach the closure to the suitcase...
How to Attach the Closure to the Suitcase
Use a piece of duct tape that matches the color of your suitcase to attach the closure to the suitcase onto the lid. Do this on the side opposite of the tape you used to attach the lid to the box.
Place the other Velcro dot onto the box directly beneath the dot on the closure. If you have trouble with the Velcro dots sticking while you are using your suitcase, you can secure it with some glue.
You are now ready to make the handle for your suitcase...
To make the handle for your suitcase, cut two pieces of duct tape about 10- to 12-inches long. Fold one of those piece in half length wise, as shown in the photo. Place the other one stick side up on your work surface, then place the folded piece of duct tape onto half of it. Finally, fold over the other half of the sticky side to make a handle the is approximately 10-inches long by 1-inch wide.
Now you can finish your duct tape suitcase by attaching the handle...
Use duct tape the same color as your suitcase to attach the handle to the suitcase. Use a few pieces of tape to make sure that your handle stays in place when you lift the suitcase by the handle.
Your suitcase is now done and ready to be decorated. Find some fun stickers to decorate your suitcase with, or use anything else you like. Use your suitcase to hold special treasures or to carry some small toys and games next time you go on a trip.