Teen years are a time for learning and experimentation, and for a group of curious Oak Harbor youth, duct tape joined the mix.

While older, mature generations consider the handy staple an ultimate remedy for quick, effective household emergencies, to the younger, hip generation, the magical tape provides a pathway to fantastic personalized accessories, even apparel.

Nine teens stretched, stuck and sliced the material into hats, wallets, bags and pencil-tip roses Monday evening at a workshop sponsored by the Oak Harbor Library.

Anne Murphy, youth librarian, directed the workshop, explaining basic patterns as she demonstrated the art and versatility of duct tape in textile form.

As it turns out, duct tape crafts are fairly inexpensive: Wal-Mart stocks 15 colors at $3.27 apiece and Home Depot offers four colors, priced at $6.97 each.

Tracy Pernell, an employee in the Wal-Mart paint section, said school events and contests sometimes clear out the stock, which ranges from the standard gray to camouflage.

At the library workshop Sydney Shackerford and D.J. Sagapolu used the sticky tape for more than the craft called for with an improvised, impromptu game of duct tape bowling.

Hali Daggerhart spent the afternoon session working on a hot pink and lime green striped handbag, while her older sister, Heather, worked from a pattern creating a wallet.

Frequent attendees of teen library events, Hali’s favorite activity is game night, while Heather said she enjoys it all.

Olivia Lauritzen favors the crafts, especially a recent class on origami, the ancient Japenese art of folding paper into figurines.

Oak Harbor Sno-Isle Library teen workshops rotate between manga and anime, video gaming and various craft projects, Murphy said.

“It’s a great thing to give them something to do,” she said. The activities cater to different interests, which draw a mix of kids every week, although some teens participate in all the offerings.

For more information on upcoming teen events, visit the library at 1000 SE Regatta Dr., visit www.sno-isle.org, or call Teen Librarian Ann Murphy at 675-5115.