Craft Videos

Shipping Tape Sculpture

How to Make a Shipping Tape Sculpture

Creating sculpture from transparent shipping tape can have intriguing results – as you can see here, from one of the first entries to the third annual Scotch ® Off the Roll Sculpture Contest, sponsored by 3M. Open to residents of the U.S. and D.C. who are at least 16 years old, the contest offers a chance to win $5000 cash – but the web site also offers great tips, and how-to techniques for mastering this rather unusual art form. Entries must be received by March 24, 2012. For more information, read the Contest Rules and FAQ.

I think this is a great project for senior art students to try, as the material is readily available and the creative possibilities are endless. You can make a cast of solid objects using the strong, transparent shipping tape, but freeform sculptures, including the human body, are also achievable.

Contest judge Mark Jenkins presents the creation of a human sculpture, using Scotch shipping tape, from start to finish, in this time-lapse video. Other how-to videos, including casting on solid object, and the free form sculpture of a small horse, are available here.