Duct Tape School Notebooks

Well, school has started. I have a notebook for every subject, and I like to try and figure out ways to tell each notebook apart, since they all pretty much look the same. Yes, I can lable them with markers, or draw on them, but my favorite way to make my notebooks fun to use is to decorate the cover with duct tape.

One of my notebooks went from this:

To this:

It's a lot of fun, and reinforces your notebook as well.

Four Strand Braided Bracelet

This bracelet is round, not flat. It has an interesting texture, and is actually a lot easier than it looks. Here's what you do:

Cut four strands of yarn, any weight, 20 in. long. I used worsted weight. You can use as many colors as you want, though to start, I would recommend using four different colors until you get good at it. 

Tie a knot about 2.5 in. from the end.

Tape the end above the knot to a flat surface with tape, or you can safety pin the knot to a pillow, cushion, or your pant leg. 

Seperate and number the strands, 1 through 4, right to left. I wrote down on a sheet of paper what color was what number. 

Here is how you braid it:

1. String 1 over string 2. 

2. String 3 over all the strings to the right. 

3. String 4 over string 1. 

4. String 2 over all the strings to the left. 

Renumber the strings, and repeat until it is as long as you need it to be. As you do this, you will get faster and faster. Try and pull your strings snug as you braid. 

When you are done, tie a knot at the end of the strand. 

There you go! Now just tie it on like you would a friendship bracelet.

Duct Tape Coaster

I made four of these coasters for my room, and I use them all the time. Below are the ones I made. They are so simple, and work really well. 

I like to use a cutting board and blade or Exacto knife when I do this. 

You will need three colors of duct tape.

Cut: 

Four 4 in. strips of two colors for the woven part. 

Four 4 in. strips of the last color. These will be for the border. 

Two 5 in. strips. It doesn't matter what color these are. 

Two 4 in. strips on one of the colors. Your choice. They will be for the back of the coaster. 

Take one of the weave 4 in. strips, and fold one side in, then the other side. This ensures the edges are clean. Repeat with the rest of the weave strips. 

Lay one of the 5 in. strips sticky side up. Then lay four of the weave strips on it about 1/2 in. from each end, so they are right up against each other. Make sure the strips are all the same color.

Do the same with the other color of weave strips. 

Lay the two strips on top of each other. Make sure the edges of the top strips meet the place where the bottom strips come off the 5 in. strip. 

Weave the two together. 

Place one of the strips for the border, longside, halfway down the first row.

Fold it over, so it is longer on the backside than on the front side. 

Repeat with the other three sides, taking off your 5 in. pieces of duct tape as you go around. 

Flip your coaster over. 

Lay the last two 4 in. pieces across the back so it covers the woven part there. 

Enjoy! 

Side Fishtail Braid

If you want to keep your hair wavy over night, or out of your way if it's hot, or both, here is a cute style that works well, and stays in good. You can do it dry, or wet.

Pull your hair over one shoulder.

Secure with a loose elastic.

Next, you will fishtail braid. Separate your ponytail into two sections.

Take a strand from one section,

Cross it over, and give it to the other section.

Then take a strand from that section, cross it over, and give it to the other section.

Repeat all the way down, and secure with another clear elastic. There you go!

French Manicure Stars

The French manicure is a classic nail design. Here is an interesting and pretty version of it.


You can use French manicure stickers, or just do it yourself. I used stickers. The important thing is to try and get the white polish only on the top whitish part of your nail. Or, if your nails aren't perfectly shaped, just do your best to get a nice curve.

For the next step, use a different color. I used a light sparkly blue. Using a toothpick or skinny nail brush, trace the base of the white with your color. Repeat on all other fingers.

Now, take that same color, or a different color, and make a line down across the colored band.
Make a smaller "x" across both lines so you have a star. Repeat on your other thumb.

There you go!

Bow/Infinity Bracelet

Here is a cute and simple bracelet for those days you're feeling confident. Or, just anytime, really. This is what you need:

12 in. Wire plus extra
Two 18 in. Pieces of cord
1 small button with loop on the back
2 thumbtacks that stick up.


Stick the thumbtacks 1.5 in. apart, and wind one end of the 12 in. wire around one of them a couple times.

Start wrapping the wire around the thumbtack posts in a figure-eight formation.
Wrap the end of the wire around one of the strands, and cut the access off.

Take a small piece of wire, and wrap it around the middle of the figure-eight.

Cut two four-inch strands of wire.

Fold one in half, and slip it through one of the loops. Twist the wire a couple times, then leave a space, and twist it a few more times until you have a small loop connected to the figure-eight. To form the space, you can stick a skinny straw, or a wide needle, or just anything small. The loop can't be too big.

Repeat with the other side.

Loop one of the cords through one of the small loops you just made.

Twist a small piece of wire a few times around both strands of the cord, about 1/2 in. from the small loop.

Measure your wrist with it now, and tie a knot so it goes only about halfway around your wrist.

Leave a space just large enough for the button to go through, and tie another knot. Cut the cord.


Fasten the other cord onto the opposite loop like you did the first one. Tie a knot on this one where it meets the loop on the other cord's end. Take another small piece of wire, and make a loop out of it around the loop on the button, so both cords can fit through it. Thread this wire loop into the two cords you are working with now, sliding it all the way to the knot.

Tie another knot behind the button to hold it in place.

Fold down any loose wire ends that are scratchy with long-nose pliers.

Singe the ends of the cord, so that they don't unravel.

Finished!