BY ASHLEY CURRIE
Crafters use the tape to make everything from decorative flowers and wallets to clothing and accessories, and Halloween is a big occasion for such items.
In Canada these colourful tapes can be purchased in stores such as Michaels, Staples and Wal-Mart, and they range in price from about $5 a roll for basic colours such as red and blue all the way to $13 a roll for the new glow in the dark tape.
Once you learn the basics of working with duct tape, it only takes a little practice before you can move on to big projects such as creating your own costume.
Jonathan Webster, 22, of Philadelphia, Pa., got started creating with duct tape when he was just 13.
“A friend of mine showed me a wallet that he had made. I thought it looked cool so I went home and started making things, and have been doing it ever since. I keep doing it because I enjoy the creativity and being able to make anything out of it,” he said.
Webster now runs the most popular duct tape channel on YouTube where he posts duct tape tutorials and collections videos to show off what he’s made and show others how they can make their own. You can see his videos at www.youtube.com/ducttapestuff.
Webster said he’s never made a whole costume out of duct tape but he has made different accessories that could be used for Halloween.
“I have made a few different things that could easily be incorporated into a costume like a Captain America helmet and shield, Thor’s hammer and an Arc Reactor from Iron Man,” he said.
Webster said making your costume out of duct tape has some benefits over purchasing a costume. “Using duct tape will make your costume totally unique and also gives you a way of customizing it any way you like. It’s also typically a lot cheaper than buying an entire costume and props.”
Sadie Pos, a 22-year-old Guelph resident is a frequent Michaels shopper. She said she never thought of using duct tape to make a Halloween costume, but she thinks it’s a good idea.
“It might be cool to create a mask or something from it. I come to Michaels and I see all the different colours and patterns of tape that they have. There’s definitely enough to work with,” she said.
“I try to put as little effort into my costumes as possible. Duct tape seems like an easy way to add some creativity to a store bought costume,” Pos said.
Duct tape isn’t only for Halloween costumes; it can also be used to create decorations or even to embellish a pumpkin. Duck brand runs a contest each year for pumpkin decoration; the current contest is accepting entries until Nov. 1.
For the rules or to enter your own pumpkin, visit the Duck Brand page at www.duckbrand.com/Promotions/stick-or-treat.aspx.
