From Sweet to "WHAT THE??"

Have you heard of the online Australian Scrapbooking Magazine, the Scrapbooker Journal? It is a bi-monthly digital scrapbook created by a wonderful Australian named Louise Turner, hosts on Facebook, and it's a pleasure to read and draw inspiration from. Lou put out a call on the Facebook Page this month asking for contributors, so, of course, I put my hand up. We were asked to create with Washi Tape. Of all things, I haven't touched my washi stash for oh so long, so it was a great opportunity to dig through it and see what I had.  

While I was rifling through my stash, I started to wonder where and when Washi Tape came from, so I did a tiny bit of research. Washi tape was born in Japan in the mid-2000s — but its roots go much deeper. “Washi” literally means Japanese paper, made from traditional plant fibres like mulberry, bamboo, and hemp. Beautiful, delicate, yet surprisingly strong,  just like a good embellishment should be. In 2006, a group of Japanese artists approached an industrial tape company, Kamoi Kakoshi, asking for masking tape in pretty colours and patterns. The company said yes and the first decorative washi tape line, MT (Masking Tape), launched. Crafters in Japan went nuts. Word spread. The West discovered it. And the rest? Scrapbooking history.

 So for my layout, which you can see in The Scrapbookers Journal I pulled a few Washi Tapes and then had to work out how I was going to use them; I ended up using it four different ways; as a feather (step by steps below), as a fringed tab for a hidden journalling card, decoration on the journalling card and as part of my background banner effect. 

I had a few photos of Bronte and Paige printed off where they are playing with our Rainbow Lorikeet Scarlet, so I thought that I would pull a few bright Washi Tapes to go along with Scarlet's bright feathers. At first, I was thinking of doing a background of Washi Tape strips, but the idea of making feathers popped into my head and I went with that. Below my finished layout I will write out how I made the Washi Tape feathers. 

I was still stuck on the idea of strips, so I cut out strips of coloured paper to match the red, green and blue of Scarlet's feather, but they were a bit overpowering altogether, so I added a strip of woodgrain Washi Tape. Still going with the feather theme, I used my four-way punch and turned the bottom of the strips into a "v" banner shape, then I inked the edges and tucked a few strips behind the photos. 

I also used the Washi Tape to give the journaling card a bit of decoration, it is a quick and easy way to add interest and embellish the card. 

As I knew I was going to be hiding the journalling, I wanted to create a tab where I could pull the journalling card out from it's hiding spot, but I also wanted to keep in trend with my feather theme.... so I used a sharp pair of scissors to cut along the Washi Tape at the top of the card and gave it a feathered look. 

Last but not least was the journaling. 

In the photo below, you can see where I tucked it, to hide it..... but also be part of the design with the fringed Washi Tape popping out. 

Are you still with me? Just a few more photos of close-ups of feathers and how they look on my layout, and then you can read about how I made them. 

For some reason I decided to place some of my title words onto the feathers to help anchor them to the page. I wouldn't normally place my titles across such an embellishment, as it would distract from the design, but for this busy layout, it worked. 

My last feather cluster is off to the left side of the layout, and a small word sticker helps to tie it all together. 

Washi Tape Feather 

 1. Cut a piece of string to the length you want your feather to be. This will form the feather’s spine.

2. Tear or cut three equal strips of washi tape, a bit shorter than your string. Lay one strip sticky side up on your table or mat. Place the string straight down the centre of the sticky tape. This is the spine of the feather.

3. Stick the second strip on top, sticky side down, lining it up as best you can to sandwich the string inside, half of the sticky side of the washi will not be stuck to anything yet. 

4. Repeat on the other side.

5. Flip the washi over and fold the hanging side of the washi to line up with the edge of the centre strip of washi. 

6. Cut the tape into a feather shape – rounded ends, and a pointed top.

7. Snip small angled cuts along both sides to mimic feather barbs, stopping short of the centre string.

8. Gently bend or fluff the edges to give it some shape and texture.

5 reasons why I use Washi Tape on my creations.

1. It’s pretty. Let’s be real — that’s reason enough.

2. It’s repositionable. I can move it around without wrecking my page. Magical.

3. It’s lightweight and flat. Great for adding decorative work that won't bulk up my albums.

4. The patterns are endless. From florals to flamingos, stripes to snarky quotes, there’s a washi for every mood.

5. It’s a low-commitment embellishment. If I am not sure what my layout needs? I try a strip of washi. If it works — yay! If not, I peel it off and pretend it never happened.

Washi tape has gone from a humble roll of sticky paper to an essential scrapbooking supply. Whether you're layering it, framing photos, or creating paper feathers, washi’s here to stay. 

Hugs.