Soaring gas prices may have turned your annual family vacation into a staycation this summer. If you are looking for entertainment closer to home, visit the eighth annual Avon Heritage Duct Tape Festival in Avon Lake next weekend.
The event, titled Real Fans Stick Together, will kick off Friday and run through Sunday at Memorial Park, 3701 Veterans Memorial Parkway.
The three-day festival’s theme celebrates sports by introducing College Duck Tape brand duct tape featuring logos, mascots and colors of favorite college teams.
There will be fashions, sculptures and parade floats made out of Duck Tape brand duct tape, along with fun, food and entertainment.
If you go, dress appropriately with flip flops made of duct tape that comes in a variety of colors and patterns. I found directions for flip flops on a video at http://www.monkeysee.com/play/14641-how-to-make-duct-tape-flip-flops on the Web.
While I was searching for just the right colors to use for mine, I discovered Duck Brand duct tape is also available in 81/4- by 10-inch sheets with easy-to-peel backing that make them perfect for scrapbooking and crafts.
For more information about the Avon Heritage Duct Tape Festival, directions and hotel accommodations, call 866-818-1116 or visit DuctTapeFestival.com.
I used foam that I covered separately from the cardboard base so you could see how it looks using the zebra-stripes on a red base. If using foam, glue it directly to the cardboard and cover them together to make the flip flops more durable.
Supplies you will need:
• Duct tape in at least two colors, either in sheets or rolls.
• Cardboard large enough to make two foot patterns.
• Scissors.
• A pencil.
Trace your foot (or another pair of flip flops) onto cardboard and cut out. Repeat with foam then glue to the top of the cardboard.
Begin covering the flip flops with horizontal strips of tape, wrapping around to the bottom.
When the flip flop is covered, punch a hole in the top where your big toe and first toe separate. Set aside.
Lay an 18-inch piece duct tape, sticky side up, on your work surface. Fold a long edge about halfway up then fold the other long edge down. Fold the piece in half and thread about 2 inches of the folded end through the hole. Turn the flip flop over and tape the end down.
Turn the flip flop over and place your foot inside. Bring the tape strip down to the sides to measure where you want it to go. Flip it back over and tape the ends to the bottom of the flip flop.
Add more tape to the bottom of the flip flop until it is totally covered.
Tear off a small piece of duct tape and tear it in half. Fold up one end to the center then wrap the piece around the center strap.
Kathy Antoniotti writes a craft column for the Beacon Journal. If you have a craft idea or question, contact Kathy Antoniotti, Akron Beacon Journal, P.O. Box 640, Akron, OH 44309-0640; 330-996-3565; or via email at kantoniotti@thebeaconjournal.com.