Here I Am Alive

I finally got my submission approved. :D

Recently, my mom went to the bank and the sheriff’s office. At the bank, they knew about my duct tape dress before my mom said anything. When my mom showed the lady pictures on her phone, the lady took my mom’s phone to show her coworkers.

At the sheriff’s office, the conversation went something like this:
Lady: “So do you have any kids?”
Mom: “Yeah, they’re all in high school. My daughter just went to prom.”
Lady: “I bet that was expensive.”
Mom: “No, my daughter made her dress out of duct tape.”
Lady: “OHMYGAWD I heard about that.”

And then the phone stealing XD. It’s also notable that my mom had never met this lady. I just think it’s kind of funny how so many random people seem to know about it. It’s almost creepy. I’m not used to attention at all.

Duct Tape Project 18: PROM!

To warn you, this is going to be a long post.

Prom went wonderfully. Luckily, it cooled down, so we didn’t completely overheat, but the shirt Brent wore under the button up shirt was SOAKED with sweat. As you probably noticed, there are people without duct tape prom attire in one of the pics, the awesome Jake and Haley went with us. If you’re interested in more pics of them, here is a link. Most of the pictures on this post are from them, so I need to give them a big THANK YOU BROS!

The duct tape was a hit. According to my mom and a few other people, Brent and I got more applause at Grand March than the prom queen. People kept touching us since the duct tape was so different. We got a lot of really nice comments. I’m not used to attention, so I’m kinda spazzy XD.

So what now? I have to put together the entry, but I’m waiting to see the pictures that my grandma took. Once it’s up, I’ll post a link on here. I don’t know if Brent and I will make the top 10 (the ones who receive scholarships), but that’s what I’m hoping for. Wish us luck!

Duct Tape Project 17: Seventeen Hours Until Prom

My plans got a bit screwed up since Brent had to go to the doctor on Wednesday, but we are ALMOST done. We made the jacket tonight. Aside from a little bit of detailing that Brent is doing tonight, WE ARE DONE. Between my work for my senior project (the dress) and what Brent has done, I think we put in about 100 hours. 

It’s supposed to be 80 degrees here tomorrow. So while everyone else at prom is like this:

Brent and I will be like this since duct tape is freakishly hot:

If I don’t die, I will be here with pictures of the final product after prom is over.

Duct Tape Prom 16: Purse

Since I’m probably going to need to bring some extra duct tape (in case something rips), I decided to make a purse. The blue and white heart swirly design is based on something I sketched in 7th grade. I’m not sure if I put too many sparkles. The blue doesn’t really stand out well against the black. If you have any ideas or comments, send me a message.

I don’t think anyone cares, but here’s my game plan for this week.

Wednesday: Get together with Brent to finish the tuxedo jacket and anything else that needs finished.

Thursday: If we don’t have everything finished, get together again to finish it.

Friday morning and afternoon: Brent has school, but I don’t. I’m going to add some minor details to the tux (mostly swirls at the end of sleeves and pant legs).

Friday evening: PROM! Prom is mostly going to consist of sweating and dying. 

Duct Tape Project 15: New Butterfly and “OHMYGAWD! PROM IS IN A WEEK, AND THE TUX ISN’T DONE”

I didn’t really like my first butterfly, so I made another one. I think that the first one didn’t look realistic at all. I think the new one actually looks like a real butterfly. 

In the past few weeks, Brent and I have made duct tape pants, a tie, a shirt, and fabric for the jacket. He didn’t like the suit jacket and shirt as one piece plan since he wanted to be able to take off the jacket, so we’re making it two pieces. Thankfully, he is surprisingly skilled with duct tape, and he did most of the tux by himself after I got him started.

Here’s the problem: I’m going on a college visit, so I’m not going to be able to work on duct tape for 3-4 days. That gives me two full days before prom to finish. If he can get the tux to me, I can probably do the detailing the day of prom (since I have off of school, but he doesn’t since he goes to a different school).

So yeah, it’s panic time.

Duct Tape Project 14: Pants and Butterflies

After not being on tumblr for an embarrassingly long time, I return!

Anyway, Brent and I have started the tuxedo, more specifically, the pants. We got a leg and a half done tonight before I had to go. Hopefully, Brent finishes those up soon so we can start the insane plan that I have for the shirt/jacket.

In the meantime, I’m working on making a hair clip. Right now, this is my butterfly. I’ll probably change it since I think it want it to be more realistic.

And, as you might have noticed, I got my hair cut.  

Duct Tape Project 13: OHMAYGAWD SHOES!

I finally got around to doing the shoes. I have no free time anymore. I covered an old pair of heels with duct tape. Then, I added an extra strap (for looks), the flower, and the swirls.

I’m definitely taking a break from duct tape for a while. I have a jam-packed schedule, and NO CLUE what to do for the tuxedo. I also have my senior project paper on to write about this.

Duct Tape Project 12: Straps

My dress is complete. This has been about 54 hours of work so far, which means my senior project is 90% done. I’ll take some non-webcam pics soon. 

I’m not sure what kind of shoes I want. I think low heels with straps might be pretty, but it’s hard to find comfy heels. I don’t know anything about designing shoes, so this will be an adventure. 

Duct Tape Project 11: The Base Dress is Complete…Maybe

After a few hours of experimenting, I ended up with these pretty little flowers. I have a bit of touching up to do on the black part of the dress because there are some weird edges, but otherwise, the base dress is done. I still have straps to make, so I have a bit of work left to do. 

Duct Tape Project 10: “I LIED!” and Forget Me Nots

I wasn’t planning on working yesterday or today since I had a family trip, but I LIED! I finished the swirls on the white and included some silver accents that are hard to see in the webcam pics.

I reached my decision on what to do next since I was stuck between stars (my original plan) and flowers (my mom’s idea). I was listening to “Say You Like Me” by We the Kings and heard the lyrics “Forget me not, forget me now.” If Brent is ok with it (once he gets his electricity back), I might use Forget Me Nots as the decoration since they kind of look like stars:

Duct Tape Project 9: I’m Sick and Tired of Swirls

I finished doing the blue swirls. I’d take pictures, but my room is a train wreck and there’s no real difference. I spent 3 1/2 hours today on this, so I’m stressed and ready for a break.

I’m taking the next two days off from this. I need to recharge and figure out what I’m doing next. I don’t have any real idea for what to do to the white. It needs something, but I don’t know what. I know I need a break since at this point, I’m just kind of like: 

Duct Tape Project 8: I’ve Broken the 30 Hour Mark. Kill Me Now!

As of right now, I’ve spent about 12 hours doing those swirls. Granted, I’ve been multitasking while working, but that’s still a lot. I’m too lazy to put the dress on for a picture since I’ve been working on it for 6 1/2 hours straight, but I used a camera that wasn’t a webcam, so that should count for something.

Since I’ve managed to hurt myself for the first time while making this, I can now say that my blood and sweat went into it. Tears will probably be worked in there eventually, but right now, it’s mostly just sweat since duct tape is freakishly hot and doesn’t breathe at all. 

As far as my senior project goes, I’ve hit the halfway mark hour-wise. I realized that I can get the 60 hours and then add more after I present, which means I can wait until the last minute to finish. Brent and I haven’t started the tuxedo yet. We’re putting the PRO in procrastination. I’m just going to stop myself now before I say something else stupid since I’m so tired. 

Duct Tape Project 7: Swirls Are Awful

After realizing that the swirls I had last night had a weird texture and were coming off, I ripped off what I had done yesterday and started over. The problem is that I’m doing it the long way, and by the long way, I mean that the little bit that I have done took three hours.

Originally, I was cutting the duct tape into strips and bending it, but now, I’m cutting it into swirls and taping them together. This lays WAY flatter than the old, faster method did.

I have to finish this by the end of January for my senior project. I’m so screwed.

Duct Tape Project 6.2: Base Dress is Complete!

I made a 10 ‘o clock run to Walmart to get more duct tape. I ended up with five rolls, yes, FIVE, which was all I bought. It probably seemed weird to the cashier, especially since my brothers went, and one of them bought hairspray, Slim Jims, and silly string. 

Anyway, once I got home, I spent like another hour and a half finishing the base dress. I am covered in duct tape. I had pieces in my hair and stuck to my socks. The dress is about 6 inches longer now in most places. I woke up at 3 P.M. and accomplished something. I am a winner at life.

Duct Tape Dress 6.1: I Still Need More Duct Tape

Since I took a picture of the swirls for Jake, I decided to share it with tumblr too. Swirls like that are going on all of the black, and black swirls are going on the white stripe with stars. on them.