You can tell a lot about people by what they wear, and my accessories are usually “after the fact.” Creeping around in all kinds of weather, I demand a carryall that can take a beating, is water-resistant, and is roomy enough for surveillance equipment, a couple of cheap novels, a disguise kit, lipsticks, and a sandwich. Of course, it’s got to be stainproof, and if I can wipe my prints down with a quick spritz of window cleaner, all the better. Finding a dream bag that fit the bill was more of a chore than ditching my last husband. Like so many other things in life, if I wanted the job done right, I had to do it myself.
Fortunately, creating a custom bag is lots of fun, and duct tape has become my medium of choice. It’s super strong and has that rugged “don’t mess with me” vibe, “This is duct tape, and, clearly, I know how to use it.” Just to make my intentions clear, I’ve fashioned my shoulder strap from standard-issue CSI tape. They call it a “messenger bag” for a reason! From crime spree to shopping spree, this is the perfect tote for a standard-size laptop, getaway accessories, and all your other damaged goods.
3 to 4 paper bags
Measuring tape
Scissors
2 rolls yellow duct tape
Bubble Wrap
Crime scene tape (see Sources, also available online at law enforcement supply stores——seriously!)
Clear packing tape
Black construction paper
Glue stick
1. Open up a paper bag and cut it in half at the vertical seams. Remove and recycle the bottom panel of the bag.
2. Cut a 12 x 16½-inch piece of the brown paper for the front panel of the bag. Lay horizontal strips of duct tape across one side of the paper, slightly overlapping each row, to create a base layer of tape for the messenger bag.
3. Deconstruct a second paper bag for the back panel of the bag. This time you’ll need to use paper patched together from both the front and back sections of the paper bag, to create a panel piece that measures 19½ x 16½ inches. Slightly overlap the bag sections and tape them in place. Again, lay horizontal tape stripes to finish covering one side of the bag panel piece.
4. Tape the front and back panels together, creating one long piece of material that measures 31½ x 16½ inches.
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5. Tape Bubble Wrap to the side of the bag that isn’t covered with duct tape. Cover the Bubble Wrap layer with the yellow duct tape.
6. Tape together scrap pieces from the two deconstructed paper bags to create a strip 72 inches long and 4 inches wide. Cover the underside of the paper arm strap with yellow duct tape.
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7. Center the 3-inch-wide crime scene tape on top of the arm strap. Use yellow duct tape to hold the crime scene tape in place, slightly overlapping the top and bottom ¼ inch of the crime scene tape and folding the duct tape over onto the back side of the strap. Cover the crime scene tape entirely with clear packing tape to keep it from tearing.
8. Tape the arm strap to the vertical edges of the front panel.
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9. Tape the bottom of the arm strap edges to the bottom of the back panel.
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10. Tape the arm strap to the back panel. Starting at the bottom edges of the arm strap, tape 12 inches up toward the top. The remainder of this panel is your overlapping front flap.
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11. To reinforce your bag, tape the inside of the arm strap seams as well.
12. Enlarge the body outline design template to your desired size and cut it out. Trace it onto black construction paper and cut it out.
13. Lay the design on the bag. If it overlaps onto the front flap, cut it in half and glue half to the flap and half to the bag, as shown in the photo.
14. Cover the design with clear packing tape to protect it.