Before I get to the home-made washi tape, I wanted to share the improvements I've made to my new 'Journal on the Go' (see original post here for more details about how and why I made it). Since taking Joanne Sharpe's great Letter Love 101 online class, I just couldn't stand looking at those plain pockets. They just begged for some lettering on them! I also added a belt loop to hold my new home-made washi tape! Keep reading I'll tell you all about how to make it. |
| Mouse over photo to see the 'before' image. |
This is dedicated to my new cyber friend, Heather, who lives in South Africa and can't get her hands on washi tape (no local shops carry it and none of the online vendors will ship to South Africa). I've heard about this idea in a few places, and today it was time to try it. It was easy, fast and really inexpensive. I started with some double sided tape that I got at the Dollar Store and some tissue paper that I had saved because it was still 'like new' Yes, I can be a bit of a pack rat but it's environmentally friendly!
I pulled out my ink pads and stamps and just started stamping on the tissue paper. I love black on white to contrast all the other colours I use in my journalling, but you could use coloured ink pads if you prefer. I personally like StazOn but use whatever you prefer.
These five stamps are especially great for this. They're the clear ones that you stick on the acrylic block and I simply lined all five up side by side to make the printing really fast.
The next step is to turn the tissue paper over and put the two-sided tape on the back, smoothing it out as you go (sorry, I forgot to take a photo at this stage). I don't worry about a few wrinkles because I actually like the added texture and interest.
You're now ready to cut the tape out. Just cut along the edge of the tape. This is a great activity to do while 'listening to TV' (I hardly ever actually watch TV anymore. LOL).
If tissue paper is good, why not old dictionary pages? I get old books at a wonderful recycling depot called Wastewise which recycles all sorts of things for incredible prices. I can get old hard cover books (also great for altered books - learn more here) for 50 cents!
One thing led to another and I pulled out this 'love' paper which is actually the inside of an envelope that I took apart (Thanks Diane. The birthday card you sent me last month is still bringing me Joy!). I know you can get some beautiful printed tissue papers so you could make some washi tape with those too. I'd love to hear your ideas for what else we could use to make our own unique, inexpensive washi tape. 
Here's my new stash of washi paper. You'll notice some coloured pieces. Those are some bits of old book pages that were used when I was making background papers. Nothing goes to waste!
Here's the washi 'stash' all neatly organized. I rolled them, secured them with little binder clips (another Dollar Store find) and put them on a large binder ring. This is why I had to add the belt loop to my Journal on the Go! The shorter pieces were just tucked into one of the pockets.
It's been a very busy couple of days. In addition to the above mentioned pursuits, I also made some more beautiful background papers. If you want to know more about the process, check my previous post here.
OU! LOVE IT! And your idea of preprinted tissue paper is PERFECT! Have you seen the Tim Holtz tissue paper? And its ON SALE HERE: http://blitsy.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/28388/
ReplyDeleteGood timing - I love Tim Holtz products. They have such a wonderful vintage look to them. I wish it weren't so expensive to ship it to Canada :o( However, I'll have to keep my eye open for old sheet music! Thanks for visiting Nancy.
DeleteLots of good stuff here! Your on-the-go jeans journal is inspired! And I love your storage technique for those washi papers. Great backgrounds, too! We seem to have a lot of similar creative interests!
ReplyDeleteThanks Andria! Yes, I think we'd have a lot of fun creating together. I have a group of friends who get together for creative 'play dates' and I'm sure you'd fit right in!
Deletei have been lurking for awhile. I just love your style!!!
ReplyDeleteLisa, I'm so glad you've been 'lurking' and even happier that you've come out of the shadows and left a comment. Thanks for the compliment and thanks for dropping by.
DeleteLove where you took the whole faux washi tape with the old book pages. I'll have to share your blog with my sister (also a leftie) who lives in Thunder Bay. Re: Tim Holtz and shipping costs, I live just outside of Calgary, we have a store out here called ScrapBooker's Paradise that carries most of Tim's line and orders over $50 are usually shipped free of charge. Ivey/Roguefossil
ReplyDeleteThanks. Once I started, ideas just kept coming. There's so much you can do with old discarded books and sheet music and I love the extra layer of text in my work.
DeleteGreat ideas, Linda. I love the lettering on the journal to go and the belt loop for washi tape is clever. As for the washi tape tut, a great big thank you. My mind is spinning with the possibilities.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bonnie. I'm glad you found the tutorial helpful. Have fun creating.
DeleteThis is so sweet of you , Linda Thanks for the dedication, good to be able to share. I must tell you that I have found a way to make the decorative duct tape. After making a strip of "washi "tape with the preprinted tissue paper I then stuck that strip onto a strip of plain white duct tape, which we are able to get here and WHALA some pretty patterned duct tape. I had better get down to some lettering now or else!!! I love the jeans idea for a journal cover, will have to work on that one some time. Thanks once again and have a wonderful creative and blessed day
ReplyDeleteLots of love
Heather from South Africa
What a great idea for the duct tape. Why not also use your marker to draw on the white duct tape to create the zebra stripes, polka dots, checkered tapes, ... Now I'm going to have to do some of that too! Thanks for dropping by and leaving a message. I love to hear your great ideas.
DeleteLinda- This is all so very brilliant! thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletemaureen
http://maureenmeanswell.blogspot.com/
Glad you like the idea. It's so much more affordable and I like that you can have your own unique washi this way.
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