Tutorial: Explosion design tape mani


Hi everyone, welcome to my 'explosion' shape tutorial! The first time I used this design was in my 4th of July mani , representing fireworks. You loved it and requested a tutorial, so here it is :) The taping technique I use for it is similar to the zigzag pattern, so it's not very hard but it does require some patience because there are two taping sessions. So to make the time this design takes reasonable, I recommend using one-coaters or a fast drying topcoat. Let's get started!

Start with the base color you like (if necessary with a basecoat underneath) and let it dry completely. To speed up the drying process you can apply a fast drying topcoat. The one I often use is Seche Vite, which enables me to place the tape strips on my nails after about 10 minutes.
Now cut some triangles out of tape to make the 'explosion' shape. The way I do it is by first cutting a little piece off the tape roll which I then cut in half diagonally, like shown in the picture(s).

I personally like to cut the strips while I let my base color dry. But I have to be careful then, otherwise the tape might get stuck to my nails and ruin the polish. So admittedly, it is safer to start with cutting before applying the base color. However, if you've learned how to cut the tape without having it touch your polished nails, it can save you a lot of time.
Now place the triangles one by one next to each other on the corner of your nail, in a slight curve. This will create the 'explosion' shape. It's your choice to make the shape at the cuticles or the tip, however my experience is that it's a lot easier near the tip, like shown in the picture. Because that way you're polishing away from the tape, reducing the chance of polish seeping underneath. Also you don't have to reckon with cuticles nearby.
Make sure all the pieces of tape are fully adhered to the surface (they tend to lift up near the edges of the nail), if not use your finger or a tweezer to push them down or reattach them if needed.
Then apply your first layering color with a thin coat and carefully peel off the pieces of tape right away. Try to peel them off individually, if you can, because most of the time your design will come out neater this way.
Then let the design dry for a while. Use a fast drying topcoat to quicken the drying if needed.
When the polish is entirely dry, you can start the taping process once again with your second layering color. Only this time place the triangles a bit more towards the tip, covering up a part of the first layering color like shown in the picture.
Apply your second layering polish and again remove the tape strips right away.
At last apply your topcoat, clean up and you are done! Don't forget to moisturize your cuticles afterwards, because pulling tape off your skin so many times can really dry it out!
Use this design for a full mani or cute accent nails. When you're going for a full mani, you can do the design on different spots on each nail for a playful look (example here).
Check out the tutorial page for some useful tips. Also I would love to see your attempt on my design, so feel free to leave a link to your creation in the comment section!

Polishes I used in this post are OPI Dim Sum Plum, Color Club Where's The Soiree? and China Glaze Millennium.

104 comments

  1. Thanks for the tutorial!! I'm trying this right now!!

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  2. THANKS FOR TUTORIAL. I MUST TRY IT.

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  3. Love it! I must try this!!! Thanks for showing how to do it :)

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  4. Great nails and great tutorial too, thanks for sharing. I love your use of colours for this mani.

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  5. how long does this take you to finish the whole thing?

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  6. This is a great tutorial! It doesn't look too difficult...at least that's what I'm saying before I try it.

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  7. Thank you for the tutorial! I will try this soon :)

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  8. tnx for the tutorial :) it's beautiful!

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  9. I love this! I'm going to have to try it soon!
    In the meantime I have attempted a zig-zag tape mani after reading your tutorials. I've put my own spin on it, but you can see it on my blog here:
    http://manicure-maniac.blogspot.com/2011/08/traffic-jam-with-twist-inspiration-from.html

    I've tagged a link to your blog in the post :)
    Thanks for the inspiration!
    V

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  10. Great tutorial!! I have to try tape manis one day. Did you apply SV after your layering or what?

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  11. this looks so amazing! i just put new polishes today so i guess i have to wait couple of days before i can try this one.

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  12. I think I just found my mistake, why my tape manis don't come out the way I planned, I always wait like 10 minutes before I pull off the tape! :D

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  13. Wow, this design is amazing, you're incrediably talented. How long was it before you got really good at using tape? Thanks for the tutorial, I'll definatly be trying it out!

    xx

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  14. I just ran out of my top coat so once I go pick up some more I'm all over this tut. thanks! It's wonderful

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  15. this will be my next challenge! è_é/

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  16. Love it! Thanks for the tutorial!

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  17. it looks very professional, great tutorial, i love your nails:D

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  18. I absolutely love your designs! Need to try this one some time!

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  19. this is so cute! i'll definitely be using this tutorial in the future! (:

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  20. Like always great tutorial! I cant wait to try this !!

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  21. I'm in love of your mani:D
    great tutorial

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  22. Can't wait to try this. Your manicures are always so much fun.

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  23. Thank you so much for this tutorial! Once I make this mani I come here to show you ;)

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  24. I really really dig these!! I love the way you do tutorials! Very easy to follow :) XOXO

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  25. Awesome tutorial! I haveee to try this!

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  26. Awesome and very helpful tutorial Im so going to try this for pink wed I will come back and leave the link if I do again thanks so much!

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  27. Love this!!! Thanks for the tips on the drying process as well, I never thought about using a quick drying top coat between layers :)

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  28. so amazing!
    I guess, I will try that out! :)

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  29. This is amazing! How beautiful! Thanks for showing us how to do this :)

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  30. Thanks for the tutorial-for me,i'm not sure I have the patience and it looks like it takes a long time! It is really cool though!

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  31. awesome tutorial! after I saw the design, I went ahead and tried it out on myself anyway in all different spots on the nail. I like how you tape the opposite way I do though.. I tape over the part I want to keep, then paint the rest a colour. interesting!

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  32. Thanks! I'm going to try this look out.

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  33. Since I work as a blast investigation expert, I think this tutorial is perfect for me!! :D
    Thank you so much for sharing! :)

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  34. Wow, Nailside-- you are SO talented with these tape manicures!! Thanks for the tutorial. I would just never have thought of that LOL

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  35. Your tutorial kicks a$$ cuz I'm so art challenged and I was able to do this not as good as yours but I'm very happy with the results it's so cute and was very easy thanks so so much! here is my post about it if u have the time if not no worries thanks girl! http://lovebeangirl.blogspot.com/2011/08/essie-turquoise-caicos-and-scotch-tape.html

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  36. thanks for the tutorial! I never figured out how you got the two explosions exactly the same, I acually use the same tapestrips both times and still don´t get it the same :D It is ofcource just a differeence in what you like the most, nothing better than the other, but I really wanted to be able to do both. I think it is the way you cut your tape that make the difference, and a little also how you angle the first explosion :) I´m really loving tape manis so thank you for all the inspiration!

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  37. Wow! all your tape mani's are so gorgeous and so neat. I have to give this a try. Thanks for sharing your tut :)

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  38. I gave this awesome design a try on my blog!! But its not as good as yours lol :P

    http://kknails.blogspot.com/2011/08/as-seen-on.html

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  39. Hele goeie tutorial! Dit wilde ik steeds al zeggen, maar het kwam er niet van! Ik denk dat ik het voor de eerste keer eens op 1 nagel uitprobeer. Het lijkt me al gaaf als dat lukt! Je tips zijn ook erg handig!

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  40. I love this trying it soon thank you so much

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  41. Thank you so much everyone, you're the best!!

    @naiilartlover: It can take me 30-60 minutes, at a rough estimate. I really don’t keep up with it haha. But it really depends on what polishes I’m using for all the layers. I try to use one-coaters if I can because they dry so fast or sometimes I’ll use the mani from a day before which saves me a lot of time :)

    @Vicky@Manicure-Maniac: Thank you!! And what a nice twist on the design you made! ^^

    @marox79: Yes, I used Seche Vite after I was done. But sometimes I’ll also grab my Sally Hansen Insta-Dry, which has a thinner substance but a slightly longer drying time.

    @Sandra: D’oh! Haha, never wait! ;-)

    @Catherine: Thanks a lot! The first couple of times I experimented with tape, I completely messed up everything haha. I just didn’t wait long enough for the polish to dry and my tape left a sticky residue all the time… But then I got into the nail blogging world which introduced me to fast drying topcoat, what a miracle! I also tried other stationery tape and quickly after that was when it was starting to become fun :D

    @Polish Vixen Marisa: I’m happy to hear that ^^ Thank you!

    @CandyDoll Couture said: Very handy isn’t it? I don’t know how we would survive without! Haha

    @Fingers: You could also try this on just a few fingers as accent nail or use two colors instead of three to save some time/effort ;-)

    @s.: It works both ways haha, very clever ;-)

    @Cristina - PeeBeforePolish: That’s so cool! Very suiting indeed!

    @♥beauxs mom said: Thanks so much for your kind words, I’m happy to hear you succeeded, it looks so neat! And I really LOVE the colors you chose for the design, great job!

    @Kirshten: Practice makes perfect ;-) I really love the colors though and how you combined it with the dots! Very edgy :D

    @Deb: Ben super blij te horen dat je er wat aan hebt! :)

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  42. Love this! I've got to try it out!

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  43. So nifty!! I'm totally going to have to try this out. Thank you for the awesomely clear tutorial!

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  44. I've been looking at your tutorials, and I'm in love with that silver nail polish. What brand is it?

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  45. Thanks girls, I'm glad you like it :-)

    @Andrea: It's Millenium from China Glaze, the best silver metallic ever! ^^

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  46. @Jane: Thanks!!! I must buy it now!

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  47. Thanks so much for the tutorial! Your result is just flawless!
    I will have to try this very soon :D

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  48. @Andrea - Millenium is so Hard to Find! Let me know if you find one - I've been looking for it since forever!

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  49. ah u cannot guess, i tried so ahrd on this,and failed so much..now i m reading the post again and again as if i am studying =)

    i will re-try today, thanx for the tutorial

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  50. I used this to refresh a ruined manicure ;D
    http://gnomagno.blogspot.com/2011/08/unusual-idea-to-refresh-usual-manicure.html

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  51. Can you tell me please what's the brand of the pink polish? Dank u well !!

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  52. @Gnoma: Loved it! I left a comment on your blog :)

    @Eloïse: It's OPI Dim Sum Plum! One of my favorite pinks ever! I did a review about it a month ago:

    http://nailside.blogspot.com/2011/08/opi-dim-sum-plum.html

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  53. I love your tape manis! You are so creative!More power to your blog!

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  54. I love your nails, i just can't seem to replicate them. I either pull of the base coats or i just cant get the explosion shape right at all :/ Any suggestions? x

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  55. I'm going to attempt this one for a nail art contest--I'll make sure to let you know how it comes out!

    I love playing with tape and designs on my nail--I've only done very basic design:
    http://manicuredslayer.blogspot.com/2011/09/mani-of-week-chocolate-covered.html

    http://manicuredslayer.blogspot.com/2011/08/mani-of-week-rainbows-or-foiled-again.html

    But it is so much fun!! Thanks--you rock!!

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  56. This is so awesome! I tried it out for myself, but it definitely didn't turn out as great as yours. here's the link to the pic:
    http://polishednailblog.blogspot.com/

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  57. Love it!!! I tried it on my own with Essie Chinchilly and Sew Psyched.
    You come up with such great ideas!


    http://nailpolishrehab.tumblr.com/post/10586669639/explosion1

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  58. Awesomeness I'm going to try it NOW

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  59. I blogged this fun nail idea here: http://lettherealworldbegin.blogspot.com/2011/10/pretty-pinterest-nail-art.html

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  60. Hey, I did a nail design inspired by this on my blog http://shesthoughtful.blogspot.com/2011/10/zig-zag-manicure.html#links
    Thank you for the inspiration! :)

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  61. did this design with 2 colors for a Halloween design! Here is the link of you would like to see it. :)
    http://ashleyispolishaddicted.blogspot.com/2011/10/halloween-explosion.html

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  62. I NEED to try this!!! :D

    ~Miranda

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  63. i absolutely love it, thanks so much for the tutorial :) ill give it a try tomorrow! xx

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  64. This reminds me of a cominc book! totally fun! I tried to imitate but turned out a little different lol. Still cute tho! Thanks for this!http://whoreders.blogspot.com/2012/01/get-nailed-baby-youre-firework.html

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  65. I tried it out, but this is so difficult :-(
    When I apply the tape to the nail the shape comes never out like yours. It looks like a very crooked explosion. Yours is so straight, my explosion comes out crooked.
    It's not easy to place the tape stripes right.
    How long did you practised?

    Sandy

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  66. I just tried this again! I love it. Thanks for the tutorial!

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  67. Thanks for the tutorial! Absolutly LOVE this :D

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  68. Hey! I used this tutorial for some serious inspiration for some nail art of my own and posted a link back to this page --->

    http://retinaldisparity.blogspot.com/2012/03/what-have-i-been-up-to-you-ask.html

    Thanks a bunch :)

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  69. POW! I love it! I need to try this! It looks awesome! :D

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  70. It looks amazing !!! I will definitely try it :)

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  71. I've been reading your blog for quite a while but never took the time to write a few words : shame on me !!
    Thanks so much for all your tutorials, your inspiration you share.
    You're so gifted, its amazing !
    Thank you again
    A French "Nailista" completely mad about your art, because it is art.

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  72. So, firstly, i have to tell you inspire me, i'm fond of your blog, like your style. Secondly, i tried it, and thats the result:

    http://lakkfan.blogspot.com/2012/03/csillagos-bordo.html

    I hope you like it. :)

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  73. I tried this as part of the Girly Girl Challenge - the brief was Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and this mani was sooo perfect! It was also my first tape mani :)

    http://thischarmingkate.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/finally-my-last-post-for-girly-girl.html

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  74. I love this mani. I had just plain pink nails with a kind of glitter ombre that didn't work out so well, so I added the explosion look over it. I loved it! It got a little messed up, but for my first try, it wasn't so bad. Here's a picture http://instagr.am/p/J-cqQ2ys8s/

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  75. Just so you know, this tutorial has been posted on Buzzfeed without credit to you. The article is at http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/12-amazing-diy-nail-art-designs-using-scotch-tape. Your tutorials are amazing, and I hate to see someone not getting their fair due.

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  76. I second that it's not fair having your own tutorial on another website and not be linked back to. Your work is AMAZING. And sadly, it looks like the last photo has a watermark that isn't yours. =(

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  77. I love you tutorial! Gonna try all of them when I get the time!

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  78. I love you designs. =)
    I tried to do this, here is my try:

    http://nrdlch.blogspot.de/2012/08/anleitung.html

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for sharing! :-) I left you a comment on your blog. ;-)

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  79. http://marremusicandmuchmore.tumblr.com/post/28506766191
    I don't think (s)he gave credit...unless this is your account...?

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  80. wow that looks amazing i will try it sometime!! cant wait!

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  81. Thank you for this great tuturial. I didnt ever really like to paint my nails, but then I got them long, and now I find painted nails quite exciting.
    I found your blog, and already love your designs. I tried this one for christmas nails, and was surprised of how easy it was.

    You can see my version here: http://skauogco.blogspot.dk/2012/12/eksplotion-i-rdt.html

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  82. Just FYI @cute_tutorial on Instagram is using your photos with out crediting you!

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  83. I featured this design in a recent Ironman manicure (for the release of Ironman 3 this weekend!) because this is one of my favorites of your designs and it just makes me think of superheroes. I was actually inspired by the guest post manicure you did with Orly Sweet Peacock, so both your blog and hers got a backlink in my post!

    http://www.nails-by-nette.com/2013/05/02/ironman-3/

    Thanks for all the inspiration! I have been reading through all your archives and will be sad when I reach the end.

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    Replies
    1. I left you a message on your blogpost. ;-) The glow in de dark accents totally completes the mani, so so cool. ^_^ Thanks for leaving a comment!

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  84. Your tutorial made the design really looks so easy.
    I love the combination of colors you use for these nail designs.
    Thanks for sharing this tutorial ;-)

    Cheers
    Mich

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  85. Thank you for the tutorial i would love to try i found your blog by searching

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  86. Nice tutorial, i will do this at home. I was clueless as to how the different nail designs are done. Thanks again for sharing!

    Cheers and hugs
    Cathy

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  87. This is a nice tutorial. I'd love to try this on my nails. I'll just wait til it gets a little longer. ;-)

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  88. Many thanks for your wonderful tutorial. All your tutorials are so great and looked so easy to do. You inspired me for my nails to do like yours. I have linked you in my post http://gelackt.blogspot.de/
    My nails aren´t look so good as yours. I think I took the wrong tape....
    I hope you will soon post more. Unfortunately I´ve read all your articles and now I´m sad about getting to the end.

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  89. I didnt knew that adhesive tape can also be used like this... I really liked it.

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