I made my own washi tape using tissue paper and Sin City Stamps.
I used Scotch Positionable Mounting Adhesive for some of my tape, and masking tape for some. The mounting adhesive gave the tape a translucent look; the masking tape made it opaque. I’m showing you both methods.
First, I cut a piece of tissue paper. This is just regular giftwrap tissue paper. If your tissue paper is wrinkled and you want it to be smooth, you can iron it! Use the lowest setting on your iron and no steam. It’s easier to stamp on the tissue after the adhesive is applied, so next I cut a piece of the mounting adhesive and applied it to the tissue paper. I trimmed the edges of the tissue paper. The mounting adhesive is a roll of adhesive applied to a removable paper backing. It comes with a squeegee tool you can use to smooth out your paper and make sure the adhesive sticks to it.
Next I stamped on the tissue paper. I chose the honeycomb stamp from the Art Journaling with Terri Sproul plate from Sin City Stamps. I love the detail and quality of Sin City Stamps! And if you buy this plate, you get 16 stamps for $20. You can get the stamps unmounted or cling mounted. I like them unmounted. I just use double sided tape to adhere my stamp to an acrylic block.
I used chalk ink, which spread out after stamping. If you are stamping on tissue paper and you want a crisp image, I recommend you try StazOn ink.
After the ink dried, I gave the tissue a thin coat of matte finish Mod Podge. This strengthens the
tissue so it won’t rip when you separate it from the backing. When the Mod Podge dried, I cut strips of my washi tape with my paper cutter and applied them to my project!
The mounting adhesive is kind of expensive, so I also made some washi tape with masking tape. This time I stamped my tissue first. I tore a piece of masking tape from the roll and applied it to nonstick craft sheet (it did stick well enough for me to work with it). Then I coated it with matte finish Mod Podge.
Then I laid my tissue paper down on the tape.
When it dried, I used a straight edge to tear the tissue to match the tape. It didn’t tear smoothly,
but I liked the rough edge. If you don’t, you can trim it with scissors.
Here are the two different types of homemade washi tape, applied to a page in my art journal.
Here they are on the finished page:
You can also make this tape with regular paper or fabric. Here’s a piece made with the typewriter stamp from the Sin City Stamps Dressforms Plate.
I hope you will try making your own washi tape! As always, please let me know if you have any
questions.
By the way, if you've been thinking about an art journal but are having trouble getting started, why don't you join us on Tuesday nights? Terri Sproul offers a free, live, online class every Tuesday night. Right now she is doing a series on art journals. Each week she demonstrates different techniques for class members to try in their own journals. Then everyone is invited (but not obligated) to share their results on the All Things Terri Sproul Facebook Page. It's a fun, encouraging group and Terri is a great teacher!
Starshine Wishes,
Karen
