Thursday, January 2, 2014

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

32 comments:

  1. I absolutely LOVE washi-tape. The addiction to this wonderfull product kicked in to me in... 2012 I think. I use it as a little add in a card, but most of the time I create CAS-cards with it. It is hard for me to explain in English how much I adore washi tape, so if you want to see something of my addiction... you could take a look at my blog if you like. For a selection of only washi-card, you can click on the label 'tape' at the left side of my blog. You have made some nice cards with it, fun way to use the washi. Don't be scared to mix up different colours of it. In the beginning I thought using coordinate colours was a must, but in my grow as a human being (hihi) I found out matching totally different colours is as much fun. But, for washi starters it is true to buy some tape that fits together. Just play with the tape, it is really nice you can pull off a stroke and replace it in a better way. Oh wow, long post! Funny detail: I'm in the middle of a washi-session at the moment. My motto: keep calm, washi on! Hihi.

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  2. Oh, a small confession in how big my addiction is: I've collected 170 washi-tapes. Our little secret, ok?

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  3. Hi Susan - love your tutorial. This is such a neat way of using Washi on cards. Thank you for sharing.

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  4. Great post! I too have a love-hate thing with washi tape. I think it will now be a love-love relationship :)

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  5. Your 3 squares of something have long been my favorite...something I learned from you. However, I am wondering how it would fit in the one layer challenge. If you adhere it to card stock to cut squares, it would not qualify; but if you just cut squares of washi and adhered them to the card, it would qualify as one layer with embellishments? Do I have that right?

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    1. No, these cards would NOT qualify for the one-layer challenge. I think that adhering the washi tape directly to the card base would be okay for a one-layer challenge, though.

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  6. Who'd have thought? Washi squares. You rock! I still have not 'bought into' the Washi thing. Don't have any yet, but after seeing your post today, I am sorely tempted! Thanks for the inspiration - each card is perfect!

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  7. That's a great way to cope with the stickiness of washi! All the cards are great but my favorite is the "Thank you ever so much"- card: the layout looks very funky and something different -also the washi you used in this card is my favorite from all the rolls!

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  8. Your cards are so fabulous (as always!). I love and hate Washi tape at the same time. I have such cute patterns, but am slightly intimidated by it. This post gives me hope... I CAN use it and not say unlady-like things!! Thank you, Susan!

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  9. Your cards are so fabulous (as always!). I love and hate Washi tape at the same time. I have such cute patterns, but am slightly intimidated by it. This post gives me hope... I CAN use it and not say unlady-like things!! Thank you, Susan!

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  10. These are fabulous (as usual), Susan. I love your designs. I hope you are feeling better and continue to improve! Happy (and healthy) 2014 to you.

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  11. I might have an embarrassingly large collection of washi tape. I LOVE what you've done with it here. I might even have to CASE you. :)

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  12. I was only thinking this evening how useful washi is - I did a class for a group of 16 year old girls who used it to embellish their mini books, and it was great as it was so forgiving for borders and embellishing. And once they'd finished the project I caught them plastering their favourite washi all over their smart phones! It looked great too!

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  13. I was late to the washi bandwagon. I first bought Tim Holtz tissue tape, but didn't use it for months and months. Now I have about 8 rolls, including some from Target and Michaels. I pretty much just lay it down on a card. But recently I covered some cardstock and punched some bows out of it - really cute. I like your washi squares. I'm looking forward to part two :)

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  14. I love Washi! And I really like how you turned it into patterned paper and used it in a fun way!

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  15. I still don't like to see washi tape just put on a card. It looks like a first grader did it. I do, however, love your take. Your cards are beautiful and the technique you describe sounds so easy. Thanks for sharing.

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  16. I still don't like to see washi tape just put on a card. It looks like a first grader did it. I do, however, love your take. Your cards are beautiful and the technique you describe sounds so easy. Thanks for sharing.

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  17. I have a 'few' rolls of washi tape and I think I have only used some once. Thank you for this great idea. My tape may come out of their original packaging now.

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  18. I like what you did with the washi tape squares. Thanks for sharing.

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  19. Love all of your washi cards! I'm one of the few who doesn't have any washi tape and am hoping not to break down and buy any as I already have more ribbon and dp than I'll ever use and I don't need anything else to store!! So I look at your cards and think that, instead of using washi tape, they would be a brilliant way to use up some dp!!

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    1. You're absolutely right, Susan. Every card I've made with washi (and will post in the next few days) can be made with DP...sometimes more easily.

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  20. I don't have much washi (maybe 12 rolls?), in my mind, it's not all that different than DP. I mostly use it when I want its semi-transparency. I have found that in addition to having coordinating patterns, it is also helpful to have different widths. Just my 2 cents. Happy New Year!

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  21. Wonderful cards - really speak to me - will have to give this a try when I can grab a moment to create!
    Mary-Jane

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  22. I knew you would persevere!! EXCELLENT use of the washi tape!!

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  23. You have inspired me to make more cards with washi tapes! Your cards are fabulous. Love the simplicity! Thank you :)

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  24. Wow, Susan! I love your examples of what to do with this tape… they are better than anything I have seen so far using washi tape…. soooooo …. now I need to go buy something else… thanks for the ideas!

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  25. I like the cut out squares with washi. Then again I like punched out squares of designer paper so this isn't much different. I don't think I trust myself with a knife for cutting though.. so I'll just admire this technique and keep my fingers.

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  26. Great variety of cards using washi tape. I have a few rolls and now I know what I am going to do with them. Love the different styles of cards - gives us many ideas of how easy it is to use them. Thanks and I totally love that they are CAS.

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment!