Winner: Craft Challenge - Tape Dispenser Rethink/reuse

 

One of my favorite things to do is participate in craft challenges. Our local craft recycle place, Austin Creative Reuse (ACR) (not sponsored) hosts a craft challenge each month. Usually, the item they choose is something they have an abundance of, but not always. This challenge was to rethink an ordinary tape dispenser. 

The natural shape of the tape dispenser is similar to a ship (at least in my mind it is). So, I set off on this adventure to create a ship or two or three. I actually wanted to make more, but decided three was enough. 

I stole my husband's tape dispense as it was a different shape than all the other dispensers. His was to become the Viking ship. 

 

Here's how I transformed the tape dispenser into a Viking ship. The eagle is a piece of a trophy. I repainted it along with the tape dispenser to look like wood. Took a couple of wine corks, cute them down to size, used paint marker and embellishments to make them look like shields. The sail is a paper towel and washi tape. I wanted the sail to be flexible as if it was being blown by the wind. Wooden dowel used for the mast and added oars. 

Next, was the Pirate Ship. Painted the dispenser to give it some depth. Glued on beads to be the cannons and used paint marker to add the white to them. This is where I discovered how good "Bearly Art Glue" really is. I was skeptical that the beads would stay on, but WOW, they stayed and didn't slide or anything. Totally my new favorite glue!! The ladder was a mini picket fence - cut it down to size and cut the pointed tops off. Then painted. 

Yes, you guessed it, the sails are face masks that I repainted and embellished. Another wooden dowel for the mast. Saucy take-out container for the "Crows Nest". My Granddaughter said it needed slime/seaweed on it to bring character to it. Spritzed on shimmer spray. Made my own seaweed by painting on an acrylic board. Once dried, ran it under water and scraped it into yucky mess. Added that to the ladder. 

Can't have a pirate ship without a treasure chest. Painted a small bead holder and filled with small beads to look like treasure. Tore and rolled up a small piece of paper and place in the bottle. 

Finally, The Chinese junk ship was created. Painted the "wood" onto the brown tape dispenser with a thin paint pen. Painted the scrapbook paper used for the sails. Wooden dowel and bamboo sticks (and bamboo pieces) used on/in/or supporting the sails. Strung a variety of beads together to hang off the ship. 

These were a lot of fun to make. My husband says I can now be called Admiral since I have a fleet of ships. 

Happy adventuring, 

Admiral Mimi signing off.....

#AustinCreativeReuse