source: garland /candles / collage – unknown / tree / flowers – unknown / cards / house
Washi tape is transforming our world one piece of sticky tape at a time, at least that’s what Pinterest has lead me to believe. So, when my son asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I said “Washi tape.”
God bless the poor men in my life, because my husband and son went out on a washi expedition. I guess the washi ain’t so popular in my neck of the woods. Either that or my men don’t have the crafty gene. They don’t have the shopping gene either, so you can imagine their problems.
I sent them to Target, because I’ve learned that when I ask for something, I need to be very specific. I give them flyers and coupons and discount cards when I can, but this time they only had my words. They held my Christmas hopes in their empty hands.
“Target doesn’t have washi tape.” they said. “We even asked for help. There’s no washi tape for sale in Target.”
FYI: I went to Target and located washi tape within the first ninety-seconds of entering the store, but I have the shopping gene.
So, the boys headed to Hobby Lobby. Surely they would have washi tape, masking tape, and duct tape too.
This time they asked for help right away. They didn’t walk the aisles three times and they didn’t buy any duct tape. They got help and I was proud of them; however, the associate never heard of washi tape.
Let’s take a moment.
You work at Hobby Lobby and you’ve never heard of washi tape?
I think there’s a law against that and a six hour pre-hire training class.
My guys didn’t give up.
They should play Santa next year, because they are that good. Their persistence paid off and I have two brand new roles of lovely washi tape.
Then I got them and didn’t know what to do with them, because apparently I lack the craft gene too.
So, I did what any level-headed woman would do, I turned to my beloved Pinterest.
I taped up an entire canvas with the intention of mounting something to the center, and my tape won’t stay on. It began peeling by the very next morning after my project was complete. Now my canvas look like it has a pair of tacky mini-blinds covering it. You can see through the slats.
I’m telling you, this tape just isn’t sticking. Or, at least, it’s not staying stuck.
What in the world? People are building houses and making blankets out of this stuff, but I can’t even get my tape to stick to a tiny canvas.
But, that’s all besides the point. I promised you ideas and inspiration and I intend to keep my word. Head on over to my washi tape pinsperation board and load up on ideas.
They may or may not work. Please don’t hold me accountable. The washi doesn’t like me.
I’m kinda bugged with the lack of sticking of my washi tape as well. I got a bunch for reorganizing files so I knew what stuff to keep and what I can shred blah blah… yeah labels and washi were off, I also decorated packages with washi tape, by the time I was at the post office most of it was stuck to the bag I used to put my packages in.
I found some at Smiths with the Valentine’s! Unfortunately that too did not stick 🙁 I feel like pinterest has lied to me.
a friend had decorated a notebook to put bible verses in, for Christmas one year…. and when it started peeling, I just covered it in glow in the dark paint. Perfect!
Okay, so I never heard of washi tape either (I don’t get out much) but I used decorative tapes all the time from Michaels, JoAnn, etc. to make cards. And I put some on a wooden towel holder once. Does that count? It stuck, but I did go over it many times with a straight edge to make sure it would stick. Washi tape, huh? What it’s called probably depends how close one is to an urban area. 🙂
I just made washi tape clothespins and added push pins to the back (and some with magnets too for the fridge) so I can clip stuff up on our bulletin board without putting holes in it. So cute! Fun inspiration Tricia!
Seriously! I thought I was the only one who couldn’t get her tape to stick. You make me feel normal. Thank you for that.
Also, my crafty partner in crime said she went to Michael’s and asked for washi tape, and the sales girl looked at her like she had three heads. We were both really perplexed by this. But now I’m thinking maybe it’s only us blogger/pinterest/instagram fanatics who call it that? Maybe the rest of the world just calls it “decorative tape”? I don’t know. But also don’t ask the fine folks at Michael’s for pipe cleaners. You will feel old. This fancy new generation of crafty peeps calls them “chenille sticks”. Learned that the hard way, with lots of awkward hand miming.
Happy Friday!
Oh, that’s funny. I have found it at Target, Michaels, and even at office supply stores. I don’t know if it’s all called washi tape, but it is the look I want. You’ve rounded up some cute ideas!
Something I have realized is that all washi tapes are not created equal. Some have really great adhesive on the back and others start peeling off almost immediately. What I do when that happens is stick a little bit of double sided tape under each end of the strip of washi… .That’s usually pretty effective at keeping it from peeling.
Thank you, Ashley G! That is a great idea. I LOVE my washi tape, but it seems to peel off everything I’ve ever tried, regardless of the brand. I’ve tried glue dots at the ends, but they show through the tape as a bump. I will definitely try the thinner double-sided tape!!
That looks so fun!