Hello! It's Jana Eubank. I hope you are enjoying all the great
ideas for using decorative tape here on the My Mind's Eye Blog this
week. I feel inspired to pull out my tape stash and get tearing! Today, I
wanted to share a few everyday uses for decorative
tape that you may not have thought of before. There really are so many
uses for the tapes, which makes them a versatile supply to have in your
stash! I especially like the splash of fun color they give everyday
items around my house. Take a look!
DRESS UP MECHANICAL PENCILS
At the beginning of the school year, I bought each of my kids a
large pack of mechanical pencils. The barrel of the pencils are white
... which makes them the perfect canvas for some decorative tape fun.
Check out the pencils now!
Before: Plain Jane Pencils
After: Happy, Colorful Pencils! Yay!
ADD COLORFUL LABELS TO YOUR STORAGE CONTAINERS
I love using containers to organize my scrapbook supplies. But as
my stash grows and changes, I often switch around the contents to adapt
to my different needs. I needed a way quick and easy way to label my
containers that wouldn't take a lot of time or
be too permanent. Decorative tape to the rescue! The low tack adhesive
on the tapes make them ideal for this purpose. Here is what you will
need: your favorite My Mind's Eye decorative tapes, a piece of
cardstock, a computer & printer, and a permanent marker.
First, type the words that you would like on your labels in a
clear, easy-to-read font. Print the words onto a sheet of cardstock.
Apply decorative tape over the words, centering the words top to bottom. This is easy to do because of the tape's semi-transparent quality. Use a black permanent marker to trace the words onto the decorative tape.
Finally, peel the tape off the paper and apply to your storage containers. Voilaaaa! Easy and FAST! ... and CUTE to boot!
USE DECORATIVE TAPE TO REINFORCE 3-HOLE PUNCHED PAPERS
Recently, I created a study binder to use at church. I created a
divider for each monthly topic using cardstock and my Silhouette
Electronic Cutting Machine. The dividers are functional, but I know that
over time the holes on each divider will begin to
wear down and possibly tear. I needed a way to reinforce the holes, so I
again pulled out my decorative tapes.
I ran a length of tape down both sides of the punched holes and
then used my craft knife to carefully trim the excess from the holes. I
love the fun punch of pattern the tapes add to my study book! Do I dare
say that the tape makes it more fun to study? :)
DECORATIVE TAPE STORAGE
While I love my decorative tapes, I needed a good way to store
them. Previously, they were all tossed in a box together, but I had to
dig through the box and I couldn't easily find the colors or patterns I
needed. Here is a great way to store all of your
decorative tapes using an upcycled cardboard, aluminum foil or wax paper
container.
First, cut a wood dowel a little larger than the width of your
container. Next, use white gesso to paint the box and the dowel. Using a
punched circle as a template (find a size that is slightly larger than
your dowel), trace the circle onto each end of
the box. Use a craft knife to cut out the holes.
If desired, use patterned paper to line the inside of the box.
Decorate the outside of your box. I used decorative tapes and a label
that would indicate the colors inside the box.
Next, add your rolls of tape to the box, and insert the dowel
through the center of the box, threading the tapes on the dowel as you
go. The box stays closed with the help of a Sticky Back Velcro dot.
I love my box! My tapes are now stored neatly in my desk drawer by
color and the serrated edge of the box makes using the tapes a breeze!
Thanks for letting me share these ideas with you today! I hope you found some useful ways to use decorative tapes.
Enjoy the rest of your week!
