Duct Tape Tom

The right image is everything. I have a lot of magazines with Tom Cruise gracing the front cover, but making him into a duct tape cut-out requires a certain picture. It has to be a straightforward headshot which is not something easily found in magazines like Vanity Fair , Esquire , Interview , Details , or GQ . The headshot has to capture something quintessential about the person, a personality trait exposed in a simple upturn of the lips or glint in the eyes.

I think that I previously mentioned my collection of magazines with Mr. Cruise on the cover?? Well, I leafed through my stacks to see if I could find something better than what the internet had to offer.  And I found the perfect picture in the July 1999 issue of  Harper's Bazaar . The front cover shot of Tom is a headshot, but it didn't convey his flirty/fun side. Who wants "too-cool-for-school" Tom? Not me. But inside the magazine I (re-)discovered a great shot.

I played around with the photocopier and made a black-n-white copy of the magazine picture. It was slightly smaller and the contrast was pushed as far as it could go. Then I made a white duct tape single layered fabric and placed my photocopy on top. With a craft knife I cut out the negative (aka black) space.

 



I won't lie and say that making a duct tape Tom Cruise was easy. But it was a ton of fun. And now I have this kick-ass bag with his face on it.

Duct tape is one of my favorite materials to craft with. I recently wrote a book called TAPE IT & MAKE IT (Barron's Educational Series) that comes out on September 17. Check out Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your local bookseller to get a copy. I'll be giving away some of my duct tape wallets, purses, and hair feathers to celebrate it's publication in the next few weeks, so don't forget to check back here to see what's going on.

Oh, and NO, my duct tape Tom Cruise bag will not be part of the giveaways! Sorry. This baby is mine.