What to Do with Washi, Part 1

Thank you all so much for your enthusiasm regarding the new One-Layer Simplicity Challenge blog! Lots of you are subscribing, and we really hope that having it in one place makes it easier for people to participate and have fun! I also want to thank Ardyth for all her wonderful work getting the blog up and running and looking so delightfully CAS, and for covering comments and answering questions yesterday when I could not.

And now, for some wishy-washi fun!

Several years ago, when the washi trend kicked off, I saw some cards that Julie Ebersole made with it and rushed right out to buy me some of that goodness.

Problem was, I wasn't Julie. Most of what I made with washi ended up in the recycle bin and my frustration level shot up into the ether and made me go postal and resulted in mixed metaphors. Whenever that happens, I remember what my husband said long ago when I whined about stamping: "I thought hobbies were supposed to be fun."

So I got rid of all but one roll of the diabolical crap stuff and stamped happily ever after.

But we grow as creative beings, right? I mean, if I could grow to love the color orange, anything is possible. In the past six months, I've seen a lot of gorgeous work with washi, much of it delightfully clean and simple, so I decided to try again.

To quote Julie, now I "likey" me some washi.

If you're feeling like I did the first time around (frustrated), perhaps this series of posts will help you make nice with the sticky stuff.

I bought all but the hearts and graph rolls at Office Depot from a big display of Scotch brand tapes. (I've also seen the big display at Target.) The hearts roll was at Michael's, and the graph tape was the keeper roll from my doomed order years ago.

When choosing rolls, try to remember the following...

Coordination. Buy stuff that works together, preferably three coordinating rolls, but two will nicely do for CAS designs. That green graph roll and the hearts still need friends for maximum versatility, but all the others have buddies. The hot pink border works great with the neon green, the two blues go together, the striped tape is a spectrum from salmon pink to red that partners with the floral tape.

For my first cards, I wanted to cut squares of the tape, so I attached strips to a large scrap of card stock and cut them into strips. This makes working with washi so much easier.

I used a quilting ruler and exacto knife to cut a bunch of sturdy squares.

And then I made these two cards using my favorite CAS layout.

I also made a couple of cards for Operation Write Home using a different design. The graph tape works particularly well in this layout, doesn't it?

Finally, I made a couple more cards to use up most of the squares I'd cut.

If washi tape is intimidating you, give this technique of backing it with card stock a try. It makes working with the tape a breezy piece of cake.

Hmm. I guess I mix metaphors when I'm happy, too.

What are your feelings about washi tape? Do you like it, hate it, fear it, want it?

Supplies
stamps: Various sentiments from Papertrey and Hero Arts
ink: Memento
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: assorted washi tape, dimensionals, quilting ruler, exacto knife, tweezers