How to Make a Cardboard Sword

Take the dowel rod and cut it to the length that you want your sword. The standard size is around 3 feet long. Take some duct tape and make a small ball of tape on each end of the dowel to keep the dowel rod from tearing through the cardboard. This makes the sword last longer.

Take the cardboard and lay it flat. You will need a large box size, because you want one shape for the entire sword: blade, hilt and handle. Draw the outline of the sword on the cardboard along the grain of the cardboard length-wise on the sword. Make two outlines. Cut out the sword with the box cutter.

Lay one of the sword outlines on the table and tape the dowel to the middle of it. You will want to tape both ends, and two or three places in the middle. If you have a wide sword, use two rods.

Lay the second outline over the taped portion of the first sword outline. Line up the edges so that everything is even. Duct tape the two sides of the sword together. Start by taping the sides, then the top and then around each corner. Tape around the entire sword. Go slowly so that the tape does not get stuck together.

Cover both sides of the sword completely with the duct tape. The more layers you use the stronger the sword will be. Make sure to wrap the handle several times, because it is the part of the sword that will be receiving the most use.

Decorate the sword by placing stickers around the hilt or handle or by gluing plastic jewels to the sword. Do not place any three-dimensional objects directly on the handle where the sword will be grabbed or else the wielder of the sword could get blisters. Use the permanent marker to write phrases on the blade or hilt of the sword.