Hi everyone! This is Karen here for my contribution to decorative tape week.
When the washi tape craze first started, I didn't really understand why these semi-transparent tapes were all that useful. I mean, they were cute, but did I really need them? I think the first pair I bought was more out of curiosity than anything else. What I didn't realize then was that these tiny, simple tapes would add an inexplicable amount of joy into my life.
What's awesome about these is that they're unlike any other scrapbooking embellishment. They are so much more versatile. They can be used in so many more practical ways than just a page. They're also non-dimensional which allows me to use them in my daily life, without worrying they will be bulky or that they will fall off. It's the fastest way to add some wonderful color in to my day-to-day life.
As soon as I realized this, I started covering my journals with these awesome tapes. I use plain Moleskine journals to hold my to-do lists, sketches, journaling, etc. I love the journals but I hate how plain the covers are. Especially cause they are black and color makes me happy. So, now, I just start putting down strips of tape.
Since the tape is semi-transparent, and the black is pretty strong, it takes two layers of the same tape for the true color to show. See how they yellow tape in the photo below is so much bolder than the one above?
I also sometimes layer different tapes on top of each other. Look at the photo below. You'll see the tape with the numbers on it has the yellow polka-dotted tape below it. This makes the numbers stand out that much more.
For the back, where the elastic is, I try not to over-worry. I cut my tape into two small sections and put one above the elastic and one below. Then I put a large piece in the middle. I need regular reminders that perfection is not a goal for me. So having this tiny imperfection at the back of my book is a great reminder.
here's the front of my journal, all covered:
and here's the full book, open:
I added a felt embellishment on the cover just to make it even happier:
And there you go! What was a plain, relatively ugly journal is now colorful and joyful and it makes me happy all day long. I look at it and I smile and feel uplifted.
All from tiny bits of happily colored tape.
Here's what I've come to realize about washi tape: it's a simple product that elevates the ordinary to extraordinary.
Hey guys. Shelly here and I'd love to share some thoughts and ideas,too.
I couldn’t agree with Karen more. She hit the nail on the head. I love that you can take something from ordinary to extraordinary with just a few strips of colorful tape. I have had this unfinished kids table that I picked up at IKEA a few years back.
It has been sitting in the basement amongst my kids’ little kitchen set up. Recently, we have decided to upgrade my daughter’s bed with a bunk bed. She is now sleeping high in the sky like the big girl she is. So, what to do with that empty space under her bunk bed?
My daughter absolutely loves to create and write. I decided to pull that unfinished table out of the basement and into her room, but we couldn’t just leave it like it was. I pulled out my decorative tapes and went to town.
It went from blah to WOW in less than two hours.
I first aligned my tapes in the order I wanted them in on the top of the table. I debated if I should go random with colors or a rainbow. My daughter chose RAINBOW! This worked out perfectly. I was able to use all of the new Decorative Tape Sets, excluding the grey and black. It was like it was meant to be.
Leaving the rolls in order, one by one, I put a strip of each across the table trimming off the outer edges with my scissors.
I did have to be careful keeping the tape close to the edge of the previous strip and move slowly and gently. A couple of times I hit a weak spot in the tape and it wanted to rip, but that was mostly because I was trying to move too fast. If I was watching it closely, I could fix it with my finger tip.
For the last strip, I simply laid it down like the other strips and trimmed the edge with my scissors. It is slightly jagged, but I am okay with that. I am sure you could just as easily cover the side edges of the table with tapes too, but I decided to just cover the very top of the table.
And just like that, it went from ordinary to extraordinary with just 19 ½ inches of 40 different decorative tapes in a rainbow of colors. My daughter couldn’t have been any happier or a better assistant choosing which pattern to go next in the line of colors.
She couldn’t wait to put her pencils and paper on her desk. I slid it up there to take a picture of it to share with all of you in its new home, and I turned around to see her goodies already in their place. So the next time you see something plain and boring, think about completely covering it with decorative tapes! Go from ordinary to extraordinary in no time.
Disclaimer… I am currently working on putting a few coats of Polyurethane found at any home repair store to protect it. I have two coats on it right now, and the decorative tapes are taking it well. No running of color and the tapes are staying in place. So far, so good! Only time will tell how it will hold up over the long haul, but I am excited to see that the Polyurethane didn’t damage the tapes. My daughter is very anxious to get her table back into her room!
