Redesigned Pencil Case

Before I left for school, I decided to update my pencil case.  Last time I did it was a year ago, when I exchanged the old, worn-out duct tape with new duct tape and kept the same design.  This year, however, I wanted to change it, as I rarely used the big pocket on the right side, and I also recently acquired some highlighters that I wanted to store in the pencil case.

After a year of use

Instead of only using white duct tape, I added some color by including green duct tape in my new design.  In terms of redesigning the case, I planned beforehand that there would be another row of pencil slots (like on the left side) on the right side to replace the pocket.

Duck Brand has changed its packaging...

As I was taking off the old duct tape, I noticed that the tape was leaving some residue.  I had never encountered that before, but the black duct tape underneath is a few years old and is not as smooth as new duct tape is.

Not a fan of tape residue on anything

The process for making the pencil slots was the same as before, which includes folding two long duct tape strips in half so the sticky sides are not showing anymore.

Green strips for the first side

Prepared strips of duct tape hanging off the table, ready for use

First side finished!

This time, I only made seven pencil slots on one side, as opposed to nine, in order to have room to fit a writing utensil in between slots.

Starting on the other side, I positioned the writing utensils so when the pencil case is folded, they were not on top of the pen on the other side.  It created somewhat of a staggered appearance.

Highlighters used as a guideline for making the slots

Second side finished!

I did not change anything on the inside of the pencil case; I left it as it is.  The current arrangement worked well for me, and continues to.

After finishing, I closed the pencil case to see if everything lined up, and it looked beautiful!  I can now store up to 14 writing instruments, though I probably will not need that many.

Kind of looks like a zipper, eh?

Updated Pencil Case

My pencil case was starting to fall apart, so I decided to fix it up, tearing it apart until just the base was left.  I patched up any ripped areas and discarded the pouch and places to put the pens.  I purchased white duct tape and changed the color scheme from orange and black to white and black.

White pocket

To create the strips of duct tape that holds each pen in, I use the previous strips as a model and copied the spacing in between each spot for the pens.

I attached each strip onto the pencil case.

The inside of the case, where I store my pencils, eraser, scissors, and lead, stayed the same as before.

With pens inserted!

I really like the new color scheme of black and white; it looks very clean and modern to me.

Multi-Pocket Folder

I needed a folder that had many pockets so I could store all the papers from all my subjects in one place.  I found one of these multi-pocket folder at Staples, but it cost more than what I wanted to pay for it.  Instead, I came home and made my own from package tape and brown paper bags.

I first made the outside folder that has two pockets and an extra-wide spine to hold the other pockets.  On the spine, I drew lines that indicated the location where I would attach each sheet.  They were evenly spaced out.  The front cover is 24 cm by 29 cm with a 4 cm spine in the middle and 10 cm tall pockets.

I made the outside folder a little larger so I could fold over the edges and make then even stronger to resist wear and tear.  To finish, I taped the edges with package tape.

Folded edges along the top and the sides, before tape

Each sheet that I attached on the inside had two pockets, one on the front and one on the back.  To create the folder, I cut a piece of brown paper bag 80 cm by 40 cm and folded it vertically three times, once in half, and two times 11 cm from the bottom to create the pockets.  I taped the edges again and taped it to the outside folder with the extended spine.

A finished folder

Attached

I made three more of these folders that attached on in the inside.

Two more folders

To attach the second, third, and fourth folder, I taped them, as I did with the first one.  However, I also made sure the piece of tape in between two folders secured the back of the previous folder and the front of the current folder.

One tape shared in between two folders

 After attaching the fourth folder, I was done!

Finished!

My multi-pocket folder has 10 pockets in total, and it took 5 brown paper bags and more than 3 hours to complete.  I can't wait to use it in school!

Multi-CD Case

I have a lot of CDs that I burn, but I can never find a case for them.  They are stashed around the house in used envelopes, closed with rubber bands or just placed on a countertop, collecting dust.  To solve this problem of mine, I made a multi-CD case out of duct tape.

I first created the cover of the case, creating a duct tape rectangle whose length was a little more than double the diameter of a CD and whose height was a little more than the diameter.

For the CD holder, I made a square that whose side length was a little longer than the diameter of the CD.

Each side of the square can be used to hold CDs, so I made two strap-like things.  To make them, I took pieces three pieces of duct tape and folded them in half.  Two were the length of the side of the square, and another was the length of the base of the square.  I connected the three strips, and repeated the process to make two of them.

I taped each strap to a side of the square.

To join the CD holder to the cover, I taped the holder to the cover on both sides.

I made more CD holders so I could store more CDs in the case.  Each CD holder is a different color.

A blue CD holder underneath

View from above

The only slight downside to this CD case is that each CD holder is very thick, due to the amount of duct tape, and not a lot of CD holders can fit inside the case.  However, if I were to make the case cover longer in the beginning, I would be able to fit more CD holders in.

Adding a Zipper

My weaved pencil case had loops and hooks to keep it closed.  I did not like this design, as it was aesthetically unappealing, and it was a little hard to get it closed every time.  I decided to attach a zipper to my pouch instead.

I cut the side walls a little bit so that the tops did not touch the top of the case itself.  This is not a necessary step; it only makes it easier to attach the zipper later on.

Side walls are shorter

When I bought the zipper, the package came with instructions on how to attach a zipper to clothes with an iron or a needle.  I promptly disregarded these instructions and threw them out, as they did not apply at all to attaching it to duct tape.  In order to attach the zipper to duct tape, the zipper first needs to have "handles" made from duct tape that make it easier to attach to the sides of the pencil case.  To make the "handles", I placed a piece of duct tape underneath the zipper.  The edge of the tape paralleled the zipper but did not touch it.

Length of the tape needs to match the length of the zipper

I folded the piece of tape over in half onto the other side to create the first "handle."  I repeated the process on the other side of the zipper to create the two "handles."

Folded piece of duct tape

Both "handles" added

To attach the zipper to the case, I split a piece of duct tape in half to create two long, thin strips.

Length of the tape needs to match the length of the case

I added one of the strips to the "handles" of the zipper, placing only half of the sticky side on the "handle."  I placed the zipper along the edge of the case in the inside and pressed down on the tape, securing it into place.

Make sure the zipper is not upside-down!

I repeated the process on the other side, but I undid the zipper first to separate the already attached side from the side I was about to attach.  Not only did this make the entire process easier, but I also was able to see where I placed the tape inside.

With the zipper completely attached, I thought I was done.  However, the zipper, because of the added duct tape "handles", was really wide and would flatten, exposing some sticky side of the tape.

Not done yet!

To fix this problem, I cut another strip of duct tape in half to make two long, thin strips.  I placed the case flat on the table and placed a strip of duct tape onto the edge of the case and onto the zipper.  By doing this, I eliminated the little crevice between the the zipper and wall.  I taped the other side up as well.

Problem solved!

With zipper completely attached, I tested it out.  I was very happy with the results.  The zipper is easy to use and looks better than the loops and hooks I had implemented before.

Tape the ends of the zipper in

To finish the case, all I had to do was tape the ends of the zipper in.  The zipper itself is only nine inches, a perfect length for the case, but the cloth ends hung out over the edge, as seen in the pictures.  Once I tape the ends in, the case looked awesome!

All-Purpose Pouch/Pencil Case/Clutch

Using the weaved square, I made a simple pencil case that can be used as a pouch, container, clutch, or anything.  The case consists of the square folded in half, side walls to keep the contents from falling out, and two fasteners to keep it closed.

The side walls of the case are easy to make.  I made two rectangles that were a little less than half of the length of the side of the square.   Their width is around 1.5 times the width of a roll of duct tape.

The length of the sides cannot be more than half of the length of the side of the square

Two completed side walls

Before I connected the side walls to the square base, I folded them in half length-wise.  To connect the walls, I lined up the corners and then taped the side to the base.  I opened the flap and taped the other side to eliminate the stickiness showing.  I repeated the process with the other wall.

Connected to the base

Some sticky side is showing

Both side walls attached

The process for joining the side walls to the other side of the base is the same, but it is a little harder to tape the inside.  Thinking ahead, I attached pieces of tape to the not-yet-attached side of the walls.

Tape is underneath the side walls

I folded the side walls in half and had the sticky side of the tape showing so when I folded the base over, they would line up and stick together.  I did that for one side and then repeated the process for the other.

One side attached

Again, some of the sticky side of the tape was showing, so I taped it over in the same manner as I attached the side walls before.

Don't let that stickiness show!

The case is very spacious, but it does not stay closed on its own.  To keep it closed, I made two fasteners.  They consist of two loops and two "hooks".  The "hooks" are not really hooks but small duct tape balls taped to the case.

Case wide open

To make the hooks, I cut two pieces of duct tape and rolled them up.  I taped the ends to the case, each about 2.5 inches from the end.

Loops attached

To make the small duct tape balls, I crumpled up small pieces of duct tape and taped a long strip across each one.  The ends of the long strip keep the ball fastened on the case.  The pencil case is finished!

Final product

For instructions on adding a zipper instead, go here.

Coin Organizer for Wallet

One of the biggest problems that I have with a duct tape wallet is that the coins, when placed in the same pocket as the dollar bills, bunch together in one corner and create a huge bump.  In one of my previous wallets, I sought to solve this problem by creating a separate pocket for the coins on the right side of the wallet.  The opening was towards the spine of the wallet to prevent any coins from falling out of the wallet, but this only made getting the coins out that much harder.

My first attempt at solving the coin problem

When my friend Cora asked me to make her a wallet, it gave me an opportunity to try and solve the coin problem again.  This time, I decided to make a separate pocket for each type of coin.  I grouped the pennies and the dimes together because they were about the same size, and the nickels and quarters got their own pocket.  I then made three strips of duct tape that each had a height about the diameter of each type of coin.

Each coin has its own particular diameter

I then placed each strip on another piece of duct tape that was longer and taller than the strip so it could stick to the base of the wallet.

Each strip looked like this before it was attached to the wallet

Afterwards, each pocket was added to the wallet.  I tried to keep some space between the bottom of one pocket and the opening of the one below it so it would be easier to take the coins out.

The final wallet with card slots on one side and coin pockets on the other

The advantage of this coin arrangement in a wallet is that it is easy to find exact change.  One does not need to look through his or her entire collection of coins in the wallet, but instead just pull the dimes and pennies from the first pocket, take out nickels from the second, and retrieve quarters from the third. The wallet looks pretty cool too, with the alternating colors of teal and black.

With coins added

The one worry I have with this type of coin organizer is that the pennies and the dimes will fall out of the top if the wallet is held upside down.  However, upon testing, the coins only fell out if I banged the wallet against the table, which I doubt would happen in a pocket or purse.