Friday, June 27, 2008

Whip it Good with a Duct Tape Bull Whip

David's Duct Tape Bull WhipI have to confess that this summer I've been completely unorganized. I've forgotten important dates, unintentionally flaked on various responsibilities, let things go and generally slacked off--I haven't really meant too, it's just that the kids and I have been having quite a bit of fun and I'm not doing much else. Sometimes I like being the lazy fun mom you know?

We've been doing all sorts of activities and projects and this latest was the result of a lazy Thursday morning: Duct Tape Bull Whips.

We put two folding chairs 12 feet apart then rolled out three lengths of duct tape between them, securing the tape to the tops of the chairs in parallel strips. We ran our hands down the strips, folding them over lengthwise then braided the three strips into a long whip. Once it's braided, we took a wooden dowl, wrapped the ends of the braid around it and wrapped the wooden dowl with duct tape to be a handle. Then we braided three 8-inch pieces of nylon cording halfway together, knotting it at both ends then taping it to the tip of the whip to serve as a snapper. It works I tell you!

David's Duct Tape Bull WhipHighly successful and completely thrilling.

Do you think Indiana Jones' mother was caught saying, "Now make sure you wear your glasses when you play with your whip and make sure you're at least ten feet from everyone around you when you snap it! Ten feet--do you hear me??"

David practiced all afternoon with it, setting up Lillian's Fashion Pollys on the front steps then snapping them into oblivion. Check out the flying hair action of the figure on the left--that doll's a gonner.

Boy was it fun--though now that David has mastered the art of cracking his whip he's determined to learn how to swing across ravines by whipping his bull whip securely around branches above his head and swinging to safety. He's practicing with the basketball hoop. He tries to whip it around the rim but so far no success in that "swinging to safety on the other side" move. Maybe he needs a fedora.

Special acknowledgments go to Skip to My Lou for this duct tape brilliance, she has detailed pictures about how to do this should you have a budding archeologist adventurer around your house. Or maybe you just want a really cool bull whip, who knows?



***

And another thing . . . if you haven't already entered the Protect-a-Bed giveaway over at Metropolitan Mama's then you've already missed out on the fabulous weekly prizes they're giving away. Not only can you win an all-expense paid cruise for two including airfare, each week you have a chance at winning some of Protect-a-Bed's fine products which are especially great for kids--I've got several of my own and they're terrific. Mattress covers that is, not kids. But now that I think about it I have some of those too actually.

Anyway, you could also win some $200 gift certificates to Outback Steakhouse. The sooner you get your name in the better your odds at winning something--and all you have to do is fill in your name and select "Scribbit" as the place where you heard about it. Nothing to it! If you want to see what the fuss is about I've got four Protect-a-Bed pillow covers of my own that you can win by leaving a comment here. I'll draw the winner next Friday and ship them out to you right away. So go enter!

Sponsored by: Mikarose--Beautiful dresses for style and modesty.

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46 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is a wicked cool idea! Duct tape rocks!

Beck said...

I will pass that idea on to my husband as a Do-With-The-Boy craft!

Mercy's Maid said...

You really can do ANYTHING with duct tape, can't you? Fun idea!

Anonymous said...

Please enter me in the protect-a-bed giveaway. Love the duct tape idee! Good work, Scribbit.
-Melanie Glenn

Deb said...

Now that's one use for duct tape that I've never heard of before - interesting! :)

The Apron Queen said...

Duct tape rules! Look out Indiana Jones. My tomboy girls would have a ball with this. But then my husband will be mad when he can't find the duct tape! :D

For your daily dose of vintage goodness & a bit of silliness, stop by Confessions of an Apron Queen

Sheri said...

That's too funny - My daughter just made herself one yesterday but my boys wanted to wait for the brown duct tape so it looks more authentic.

Amber M. said...

Sam and I are totally gonna make one of these for his Indy Halloween costume. Too cool.

mj said...

Cool idea--my kids haven't seen any Indy movies yet, but we're planning to get Raiders soon and see how that goes. Love the homemade bull whips.

Anonymous said...

My boys love this so we will be making a couple this afternoon. I'm almost as excited as they are.

Anonymous said...

Great idea for duct tape - although I'm not so sure about his choice of subjects to be whipped: a couple of dolls. Is there hidden meaning in that? :-)

Amber@OneMamma said...

Too fun with the bull whips! Do you think two is too young for this craft?

Thanks for the chance at the pillow cover! I'm interested to check them out!

Kat Mortensen said...

Better not let my husband see this- he already has the Indy fedora from his younger days!

Kat

Belinda said...

Tell you what, you are one fun mom! I am feeling inadequate . . . (lol)

The pillow covers do sound neat.

Amy said...

I am SO that mom this summer, but things aren't getting done. Oh well! I am really enjoying some time with the kids and have lost track of that darn to-do list!

I loved this idea from Skip to My Lou too. She is so creative.

Kelly @ Love Well said...

Those are the best kind of summers, really.

(How goes the house remodel? Did I miss that update?)

Anonymous said...

I thought we Southerners were the only ones infatuated with duct tape. I guess I was wrong!

Derick and Becky said...

Now I am singing whip it in my head!

James and Angela said...

you are seriously one cool mom!!!

John and Laura said...

ha ha ha! I love the bull whip idea. Hilarious!

Genny said...

My son would love this! And I love Metropolitan Mama's site. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

In two years we will give it a try. Plenty of duck tape in our house.

Marilyn - A Mixed Bouquet said...

Love it! My 19 year old would probably still enjoy this project.

AlaneM said...

Cool project but I'ma hafta wait on that one. My kids would be downright dangerous with these in their grubby lil hands ;)

calicobebop said...

Why didn't I know about this when I was a kid! I could have ruled the neighborhood with my Indiana Jones self!

Unknown said...

You are much braver than I am...

Jennifer said...

Hey! If I win this contest I'll have to buy the pillows... good way to convince my husband that we need them. :)

Jennifer said...

I am sure the 12 year old male at this house will want to write you a big fat thankyou when we finish creating this "puppy" !!

Thankyou for the idea!!

Anonymous said...

Thought I'd heard of every use for use of duct tape out there ... but this was a new one on me.

Curious to see who reaches your blog in the future via a Google search for "bull whip" and "duct tape"!

Susan Bearman said...

This is such a fun idea. We have a giant rope swing in our yard that is up over a branch on a huge Cottonwood tree. The branch is probably 50 feet high, and my little Tarzans love to climb to the top of our play set and do loud yell as they swing across the yard. I used to think this was great fun until I read Bridge to Teribithia (and then saw the movie). Now I have nightmares about the rope breaking and the children breaking in turn.

Anonymous said...

Duct tape uses obviously have no limits! I'll keep this one in mind for one of our lazy summer days....and will make a game out of who can knock something over when slinging it.

Laura said...

Hilarious! Just whip it!!

Would love to try the protect-a-bed covers. Heard they are awesome.

Superdumb Supervillain said...

I think my kids are too young for bullwhips of any kind. But pillow protectors? Sign me up!

Anonymous said...

So, what can't one do with duct tape? Amazing! We would love to try these pillow covers. Thanks for all the fun!

Suzie Williams said...

Great project! Looks like lots of fun. My two year old isn't allowed to have anything like this though. Daddy bought her a baseball bat and less than 5 minutes after she opened it we had to take it away because she was harassing our pug with it!

I saw your blog contest posted on Metropolitan Mama. I actually won a Protect a pillow cover from her a few months ago and I really like it. We've got 6 pillows and two kiddos in our bed (our lovely FULL size bed) and could really use some more covers!

Ginny said...

Me & the kiddos have terrible allergies, could use some of the protective covers!

noreen said...

I can't wait for my girls to get bigger before we try this, I just hope I remember. Great giveaway too, lots of allergy suffers in our house

Crunchy Green Mom - Suzanne said...

I'd love to get these for my teens. With acne issues this helps keep their skin clearer!

Oh, and the duct tape whip... GAH! Ya'll are braver than me.

Melanie Sheridan said...

The whip is a great idea. Duct tape is awsome. Thanks for the chance with the pillow cases. We all have horrible allergies!

frugallm said...

What a cool idea! I see more and more duct tape ideas every day. It's so versatile.

Anonymous said...

The duct tape idea looks like something my 5 year old would really get into. Thanks for the great idea.

Please enter me in the protect-a-bed giveaway.


Brie
tonkg@vail.k12.az.us

Melissa said...

enter me in the giveaway please. love duct tape also

Rockin' Mama said...

Ok...I'm going to leave myself very vulnerable and tell you why we need one of these...
I have been nursing my son for a little over a year...well...he sleeps in our bed...and nurses at night...and our bed...stinks! We have to get it cleaned way too regularly and it would help to have covers!

jasonncaryn at yahoo dot com

Erica said...

Love the duct tape whips. Half of my family owns the duct tape book. It really does exist. Anyway, I'd love the Protect-a-Bed pillowcase covers; we don't have any and with our allergies they'd be great. Thanks! BTW, I found you through Metropolitan Mama. :)

Unknown said...

I will have to show my husband this post. He is a high school teacher and recently lost his wallet. He and his kids have been obsessed with making one out of duct tape for him!

I'd love to win one of the pillow covers. I've been hoping to try them out!

Beth Ann said...

Im thinking my kids will love it! Im scared to do it though! LOL