crafts using old video tapes?

Question

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for crafts I could do with old video casette tapes. I have so many and we only watch DVDs now. Maybe I could do something with the film itself? I'd just hate to create so much trash.

Answer 1

I have heard of someone spinning the tape into string, and using that string for craft projects.
It might be used for knitting shopping bags. Specially when you make string in other colours out of the free bags many shops hand out.

I can not find a picture of the videotape example, but here are some links that show plastic bags being reused, all for slings that being the subject of this forum, and instructions on how to spin.

In the first link the videotape is also mentioned.
http://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1120019688/21#21
http://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1120178047/15
http://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1120178047/26

Answer 2

You could take the tape out and use it in one of the ways mentioned, or just let your kids/grandkids use them as building blocks maybe? (could tape some together to make different shapes too)

Or you could glue or tape them together (then possibly cover with something decorative, temporarily or permanently) to make something stiff and/or large... maybe a table top (or even a whole table) --kids could even use as a surface to lay out a train set or Playmobile scenes, etc... or use as a room divider, or make boxes of various sizes and shapes, etc.

The strongest glue, if you use glue, would probably be a 2 part epoxy, or possibly a superglue, but others could work depending on the stress the glue would be subjected to and whether the surface needed to be roughed up first, etc.

I'd check out recycling too if you really don't want them taking up space in any form. ..


Good luck!

Diane B.

Answer 3

Probably wont last very long regardless of what you make--they're pretty fragile.

If they are store bought, sell them at a yard sale or donate them to goodwill. But not if they're taped by you--that's bootlegging if you sell them.

OR you could put them out in the trash and make them somebody else's headache.

Answer 4

Here is a link to some instructions for crocheting a bag from the pulled out tape.
http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=1731

Anita
http://www.AnitasArts.com

Answer 5

Your town may accept them for recycling. It's worth a call to find out.

Answer 6

Record them on DVD. Since DVD Recorders are cheap now.