Did you know that this week was the official Washi Tape
Awareness Week? Okay, maybe I just made
that up, but why not? Shouldn't we all
be aware of the awesome things we can do with washi tape? This week while watching all the new products
companies were giving while at CHA, I noticed that everyone seems to be adding
more washi tape products to the lines.
Just like rhinestone, decorative brads, twine, and chipboard embellishments
have become part of many of our favorite lines, now more and more companies
will be releasing coordinating washi tape with their lines.
Check out this bike covered in washi tape
that My Mind's Eye had at CHA this past week! So cool...
So what's up with all the washi? Washi tape is like a masking tape made from
paper, only prettier, and comes in many different patterns. There are many different kinds of washi
products at Scrappin' Happily Ever After, including great patterns from Tim
Holtz, Smash, Queen and Company, and both tape and sheets of washi from We R
Memory Keepers. Ivy says she has also
ordered some new washi, including the new collections from My Minds Eye. Here is one collection below, but they are going to have many different color families. You don't have to pick which pattern you want, because all of them come in one pack!
I have liked the idea of washi tape since I first saw
it. I started buying it, but did not
really know what to do with it. I would
put pieces here and there to embellish a page, but I thought, "I know I
can do more!" So off I went to
S.H.E.A. to get some washi tape and some of the very awesome 12X12 sheets of
washi paper that Ivy carries. The washi
paper is made from the same material, only it is huge. It is like a giant sticker sheet that you can
cut, tear, or even use in your favorite die cutting machine!
So I challenged myself to use washi tape a bit differently
than I had in the past, and think of some new ways that we could try to use
this very versatile product.
First, I thought of the great way that Dedra showed us how
to use washi tape to make a hinge in our mini albums. Take two pieces of paper and put a piece of
washi on the outside as a partial binding, then open up your two sheets, and
make a "+" sign with the washi on the inside. Presto...an instant hinge!
Then I thought, washi is so great at embellishing a page
with all the little colorful strips, what if I tried to make a background out
of washi? So I took a plain piece of
white cardstock and started layering on pieces of washi in many different
patterns and colors. I was a little
worried at first, but the more I added, the better it started to look. This will make a great background for a
photo. I envision finishing off this
page by spritzing on some Mister Huey mist in grays and yellow to add some
texture to the white space, then adding a photo, creating some nice big chunky
letters for a title, and layering on some finishing touch kind of
embellishments.
Do you have stuff in your crafting supplies that you don't
really like? Perhaps you got a kit of
product, or you have some items left over that you don't know how to use. I had these big chipboard tags and shapes
that were not really my style. They came
in a big kit that I got as a gift, but I knew I would never use them.
Ugly embellishments + washi tape = something
you can actually use!
You can also use washi on smaller pieces of paper, then run
it through your die cutting machine to cut out shapes. You can then use the shapes or use the
negative space in your projects!
I was able to use some chalk ink on the Tim Holtz newspaper
looking washi tag above, which gave it a nice look.
Then I thought...can I stamp on it?
I tried some Adirondack ink, but that would not set because of the
texture. A quick call to Ivy and she
said...use the Archival or Staz On ink.
Voila! I got some great stamped
images on the washi paper!
Even More Ideas....
- Write on it!
You
can write on it with a pen, so you can use strips or pieces as backgrounds for
journaling or fun photo captions.
Outside of crafting you can use it like you would post it flgas and make
your calendar very pretty with all the washi tape options.
- Use it to wrap gifts with plain kraft paper, and instead
of ribbon use the washi tape as your color.
Put a piece as a "seal" for cards you send in the mail.
- Decorate with it. Find
some old books and cover them in washi tape to make a cute stack of colorful
books on a shelf. You can make some
super cute office supplies by covering pencils and binder clips with washi
tape. Use it as your labels on file
folders, or as a way to create squares on a white board or chalk board.
The possibilities are endless. If you need more ideas, go to Pinterest and
type in "washi." It is amazing
what people come up with! So in
observance of the official Washi Tape Awareness Week, get on over to S.H.E.A., get yourself some washi tape and paper, and go out there and get
crazy with the washi! What would you do
with some washi tape right now?
Anyone want to washi their car? - Joanna
Here is more from Ivy: “This is just a little snapshot of what we do at
our "not project life" classes. We stamp, make our own
transparencies, paint, sew on pages, and more (but on a smaller scale than a
full page). The really nice thing we have started noticing is that we (the actual scrapbooker) make it into this
album! I know right?! In addition to that more moments that are still important
make it into a book even if it isn't worthy of a 12x12 page. It is nice to
record special mini moments. It's more cool than any of us imagined initially!
We have a GREAT group #1, but would love to start a group #2!”
Call or come in to sign up and get
your consignor number beginning Tuesday, Sept. 10! This is a great time to go through your stash
and purge the things you know you won’t use.
You know, those pads of paper you had to buy, used a few sheets, and
will never use again; the 42 sets of holiday paper you have that keep
collecting dust, because you always want the new holiday paper that comes out
each year; the Cricut cartridges you don’t use; the Copic markers you bought
because you were sure you were going to tap into your graphic artist and use
all the time; the duplicate items; the storage solutions you have purchased,
used, and replaced; and so on and so forth.
Big things, little things, they are all welcome at the yard sale. Call Ivy if you have any questions on items
you want to bring in and/or how to bundle smaller items. 
Keep an eye on the calendar. More things
will be added soon for the Fall season.
We are heading into the holiday season, so we are sure to see some great
classes and projects coming up. Already
on the calendar are the following:
- Write on it! You
can write on it with a pen, so you can use strips or pieces as backgrounds for
journaling or fun photo captions.
Outside of crafting you can use it like you would post it flgas and make
your calendar very pretty with all the washi tape options. 
