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Everything you need to know about this colourful crafting supply Packing Tape
If you're a regular in stationery or crafting shops, chances are you've encountered washi tape before. These mini rolls of tape in rainbow colours and beautiful patterns have become a staple supply in many paper crafters' stashes over the past few years and saw an even bigger surge in popularity when bullet journaling became a big trend.
If you're looking to add a pop of colour and personality to your crafting projects, washi tape is definitely your new best friend. There is so much you can do with it and there are designs to suit literally every occasion and theme.
But what exactly is washi tape, and how do you use it? Don't worry; we've got you covered with our handy crafter's guide to washi tape.
We'll tell you all you need to know about this fab crafting supply, including how to use it and where to buy it, plus some fun inspiration ideas to get you started on your first project.
Washi tape is a decorative adhesive tape that originated in Japan. It's made of thin paper which gives it a lovely, semi-translucent quality. It’s incredibly easy to tear and has a low tack adhesive meaning it’s easy to reposition without damaging the surface it’s been applied to or leaving a sticky residue.
One of the best things about washi tape is its incredible versatility. Crafters around the world have fallen head over heels for this stuff because it can be used in so many different ways.
From jazzing up gift wrap and adding flair to scrapbook pages to creating feature walls in your home and adding decorative accents to furniture, there is a whole world of creative possibilities. Plus, with its growing popularity, there are now endless colours, patterns, and designs to choose from – it's easy to see how people get obsessed with collecting it!
Washi tape is great for creating fancy borders around pages when you are scrapbooking or journalling. You can also use it to mark important pages so that they are easy to find by running a length of tape down the edge of the page or folding a length of washi tape in half and using it as a little page tab.
It's also a pretty way to attach photos or other loose paper embellishments to a page if you don't want to stick them down permanently with double-sided tape or put them in contact with glue.
If you need to label something quickly but don't want to deal with the hassle of peeling or soaking off a sticker at a later date, washi tape is the perfect solution. It's also a very easy way to label cables – simply tear off a length of tape, place the cable in the middle of the tape and then bring both ends of the tape together to make a tab that can then be written on.
Want to add a bit of colour to a plain wall in your house but don't want anything too permanent or hard to cover up? Do it with washi tape! You can try making large geometric patterns, faux moulding or photo frames and even mini murals.
Use patterned washi tape to add a unique finish to projects such as resin coasters. Instagram crafter @klay_nyc shared how they used blue-hued washi tape to add a clever peekaboo style section to their geode-inspired coasters.
Create simple but effective Christmas cards with festive coloured washi tape just like @hobbyhoppers shared on Instagram. This is a great card craft for kids to get involved with!
Washi tape is a great renter-friendly way to add a bit more character to your home. Why not take a leaf out of Instagram user @lucyhamiltonathome's book and jazz up a door with some colourful washi tape stripes?
Clever Instagram user @miss.meissa shared exactly how she creates beautiful washi tape banners for using in her bullet journal.
With so many variations of washi tape available to buy, you really are spoilt for choice; here's a collection of some of our favourite designs we've found that are available to buy online today.
Do you love crafting? Share your creations with us by tagging @primamag in your pictures on Instagram!
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