It’s amazing what big business art and craft supplies has become. I’m guessing billions of dollars each year are spent on all kinds of creative endeavors. And while I do see the need for things like paints , certain adhesives and some specialty tools, I think most crafters spend way too much money on items they don’t really need or could make themselves. After all, if we are supposed to be creative, why do we have to buy the same stuff as everyone else?

In an effort to be more original and save money I decided to make my own washi tapes to use in my junk journals and mixed media pieces. Here is a quick run down off the process I used.

 

Tape strips of masking tape to a non-stick craft mat (yes, that is a necessary item!).

 

Randomly spread paints over the tape strips. I used a brayer (yes, that is also a necessary art tool!).

 

Make sure all your tape is covered with paint.

 

Stamp, paint, draw, ink and anything else you want all over the painted strips. The paint circles on top were made by dipping various lids and tape roll centers in the paint.

 

Here are my finished designs. I just couldn’t leave well enough alone and splattered some India ink on the top strips.

Once the strips are finished and dry, transfer them onto the shiny side of a piece of waxed paper. This allows the tape to be stored without losing it’s stickiness. I cut the waxed paper into strips after attaching the masking tape.

 

And here is how I store them. All I have to do is peel the tape off the wax paper and they are ready to use in my projects.

So this is my first hand-made “artsy” art supply. Now you can make washi tape  as unique as your projects!