Introduction: Duct Tape Guitar Pickpocket
Ok, so I haven't posted an instructable in awhile and I figured it was time to do so. This Guitar "Pickpocket" (I love horrible puns!) is a useful tool if you don't like digging around in your guitar bag for a specific pick. It is a gift card holder from starbucks that has been strengthened with a little bit of duct tape and cut to hold five guitar picks. Because you don't always have a gift card holder on hand you might have to improvise. It is a rather easy instructable to make and I made it in like 15 minutes. Please enjoy.
Step 1: Materials
These are the materials you will need to make you're pickpocket.
1. A sharp craft knife. I used an exacto knife but any craft knife should do. I wouldn't recommend swiss army knives because they aren't good for projects and if you've spent money on a good swiss army knife you don't want to ruin the blades.
2. A starbucks gift card holder. This thing folds up on itself so it keeps the picks protected. If you don't have something like this you'll have to improvise. Cardboard doesn't work unless the stuff you have is REALLY thin. I tried using a really thin shoebox and it was still to thick to fold up.
3. Duct tape. This is not essential but I really recommend it because the cuts you make to fit the picks can come pretty close to the edge. The duct tape keeps the thing from ripping apart completely. I used black, but you can use whatever. I would have used pink if I had it.
4. Some picks. The pickpocket holds five picks. You can modify it to hold however many you want. Those picks I just bought recently from a store called Not of This World. I think my favorite is the multicolored one.
1. A sharp craft knife. I used an exacto knife but any craft knife should do. I wouldn't recommend swiss army knives because they aren't good for projects and if you've spent money on a good swiss army knife you don't want to ruin the blades.
2. A starbucks gift card holder. This thing folds up on itself so it keeps the picks protected. If you don't have something like this you'll have to improvise. Cardboard doesn't work unless the stuff you have is REALLY thin. I tried using a really thin shoebox and it was still to thick to fold up.
3. Duct tape. This is not essential but I really recommend it because the cuts you make to fit the picks can come pretty close to the edge. The duct tape keeps the thing from ripping apart completely. I used black, but you can use whatever. I would have used pink if I had it.
4. Some picks. The pickpocket holds five picks. You can modify it to hold however many you want. Those picks I just bought recently from a store called Not of This World. I think my favorite is the multicolored one.
Step 2: Strengthening the Pickpocket
Start by evenly wrapping duct tape around the main part of the card holder (the part that the picks are going to go in.) Make sure you don't overlap onto the other sections.
Now begin to wrap tape around the part where the pocket for the gift card is. On this part, only wrap one strip around near the part of the holder that folds. Also, measure and tape the end of this part of the holder. Make sure you DO NOT wrap over the semicircle that the small flap fits into to hold the whole thing closed.
Look at the pictures for clarification.
Now begin to wrap tape around the part where the pocket for the gift card is. On this part, only wrap one strip around near the part of the holder that folds. Also, measure and tape the end of this part of the holder. Make sure you DO NOT wrap over the semicircle that the small flap fits into to hold the whole thing closed.
Look at the pictures for clarification.
Step 3: Cutting Slots for the Picks
Place a pick at this position on the main area of the pickpocket (The section that was completely taped over.) Using your knife, make two small cuts at the top and bottom of the pick. Check picture to see where.
Remove the pick and follow the cuts through to each other, making sure that they go all the way through the material. Your first pick slot has been made. Repeat this four more times in the places shown in the last picture to have your five pick slots.
Voila! You are done! Fold it up and you're picks are secure. You don't have to dig through your guitar bag anymore searching for a specific pick. Now you have them all in one place! If the sides look like they are in danger of ripping, just cut a thin piece of duct tape and stick it on to reinforce it. If you want, reinforce the folding parts with small pieces of duct tape so they don't rip.
Remove the pick and follow the cuts through to each other, making sure that they go all the way through the material. Your first pick slot has been made. Repeat this four more times in the places shown in the last picture to have your five pick slots.
Voila! You are done! Fold it up and you're picks are secure. You don't have to dig through your guitar bag anymore searching for a specific pick. Now you have them all in one place! If the sides look like they are in danger of ripping, just cut a thin piece of duct tape and stick it on to reinforce it. If you want, reinforce the folding parts with small pieces of duct tape so they don't rip.
