Washi tape is a versatile decorative tape commonly used for crafting, decorating, organizing, and personalizing items.
Originating in Japan, washi tape is a type of adhesive tape made from traditional Japanese paper (washi). It is known for being easy to tear by hand, slightly transparent, and repositionable without leaving sticky residue. It comes in countless colors, patterns, and widths.
Creative Uses for Washi Tape
Washi tape's ease of use and aesthetic appeal make it popular for a wide range of applications.
Crafting & Card Making
Washi tape is a staple in card making, scrapbooking, and various craft projects. Its flexibility allows for creative applications:
- Layering and Texturizing: As demonstrated in crafting guides, washi tape is often used for layering. This can involve overlapping strips slightly to build up color or pattern on a surface like a card. Adding texture is another technique, sometimes achieved by ruffling the edges of the applied tape to give the edge a little texture.
- Creating borders or frames on cards or scrapbook pages.
- Adding decorative strips to handmade embellishments.
- Securing small items or photos in journals or albums.
Decorating
Easily add pops of color and pattern to everyday objects or home decor:
- Personalizing items: Decorate phone cases, laptops, chargers, pens, or notebooks.
- Temporary Wall Decor: Create stripes, patterns, or even temporary wall art without damaging paint.
- Furniture Facelifts: Add decorative edges to shelves, drawers, or tabletops.
- Decorate photo frames or mirrors.
Organizing & Labeling
Washi tape is excellent for adding visual cues or labels:
- Cable Management: Color-code charging cables or cords.
- Planner & Calendar Use: Mark important dates, deadlines, or events in planners or on calendars.
- Labeling Containers: Add decorative labels to storage boxes, jars, or folders.
Gift Wrapping & Packaging
Elevate your gift presentation with simple washi tape accents:
- Seal envelopes or gift bags decoratively.
- Add decorative stripes or patterns to plain wrapping paper.
- Attach gift tags or embellishments.
- Create custom flags or banners for packaging.
Journaling & Planning
Add flair and structure to your journals, diaries, or planners:
- Create decorative page dividers or borders.
- Highlight important notes or sections.
- Add a decorative touch to journal entries.
- Make simple tabs for easy navigation.
Tips for Applying Washi Tape
Using washi tape is straightforward, but here are a few tips:
- Ensure surfaces are clean and dry for best adhesion.
- Tear by hand for a soft, natural edge, or use scissors for a clean cut.
- Washi tape is generally low-tack and repositionable, but adhesion can vary by brand and surface.
- When layering, overlap slightly as shown in crafting examples.
- To add texture, experiment with techniques like ruffling the edges.
Using washi tape is limited only by your imagination! It's a fun, easy, and low-commitment way to add color, pattern, and texture to countless projects and items.
