What is washi tape used for?

You’ve probably seen the little illustrated rolls while visiting my instagram page or the shop, and maybe you wondered what those were about : they’re washi tapes. It’s like a regular tape, but it’s pretty. Washi tape is not super adhesive, but it can be repositioned a number of times without damaging the surfaces on which it is. It’s decorative, repositionable, and multipurpose. It is easy to tear by hand and will not leave residue. Washi tape comes in a wide variety of sizes, colors and patterns, like the ones produced by The Washi Station, our partner, featuring exclusive designs by independent artists.

Washi Tapes Origin Story

Washi tapes originates in Japan, the name washi literally means Japanese Paper. It’s originally made out of a certain tree bark, but nowadays industrially made washi tape uses bamboo or hemp which are mass produced.

Washi Tape Uses

One might ask : why pretty tapes ? Aren’t we good with the regular clear tapes that we use everyday ? Yes we are but listen : cute tape is important. Here is a list of uses for your adorable washi tape :

• Journaling and scrapbooking
  • Decorate journal pages, planners, bullet journals.
  • Make up your own coded categories with washi tapes of different colors and illustrations
  • Tape in photos, tickets, ephemera and make them look like they’re in a cute little illustrated frame with washi tape
  • Create borders, dividers and sections with pretty washi tape
  • Add colors and patterns and even texture with washi tape
  • Cover mistakes and mishaps
• Snail Mail Art
  • Create borders
  • Embellish letters and postcards
  • Seal envelopes
• Gift Wrapping
  • add a special little touch to your gifts, use plain paper and decorate with washi and stickers
• Paper crafts
  • Bookbinding
  • Custom labels
• Artist tool
  • Tape watercolor paper to the desk so that it doesn’t warp
  • Create clean edges on your watercolors
  • Wrapping flaked brushes or sticky pens and nib holders
• Organizing and Decorating around the home
  • Label storage in a cutesy way with different washi tape
  • Add flair to cardboard storage boxes
  • Temporary decor : hang photos and lightweight posters, postcards to the walls
  • Decorate for parties or birthdays
  • Create temporary décor
• Practical uses
  • Reinforce hole-punched paper and book covers
  • Seal envelopes
  • Hand notes on the fridge, desk, wall
  • Page marker or book tabs in journals, magazine or books

Do you have other uses for Washi Tape ? Please comment on this insta post!

Why Washi Tape ?

This wide versatility of uses makes washi tape one of the best and indispensable little addition to your stationery collection. It’s endless uses and also it will look extremely cute on your desk. It’s aesthetic, of course, but it’s also easy to use, tear, reposition and it doesn’t even need scissors or tools to use. It’s removable, there will be no residue nor damage to the surface, however it’s sure not made to hold forever on every surface. My wrapped brushes have been holding on for years, as well as cardboard box décor and hanged postcards. For heavy posters and larger stuff it will not do.

That’s all ! So if you ever asked yourself WHY washi tape, that’s is all you needed to know and more 🙂

PS : Washi tape has a cool variation : WASHI STICKERS ! They are rolls of little stickers and it’s adorable.