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Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Homemade Paper Tape ala WOYWW

[If you're looking for this week's Shopping Our Stash challenge, please scroll the the previous post. Thanks!]

As most of my long-time three (maybe four) readers know by now, I love pretty paper. I'm also not allowed to take myself to The Paper Source because I see the walls of pretty paper parent sheets and I become weak in the knees. Case in point: two summers ago I went to The Paper Source to buy 5x7 envelopes and came away with only 4 parent sheets, which was serious restraint on my part.

For the uninitiated, a parent sheet is a large sheet of paper in the neighborhood of 24x30" commonly used to cover books or to make into booklets. A few people I know used them to cover their wedding scrapbooks. When you go into a store like The Paper Source, you are confronted with walls of these pretty papers hung over rails. I am drawn to them like a moth to a flame. I did the math, and I can get about 25 4x5.25" pieces out of one parent sheet. That's a LOT of pretty paper. These mostly live rolled up on a shelf of my closet, forgotten and unloved.

But last night I read Mel's post on 100+ Crafty Ideas for washi and paper tape, and when I came up for air, I had a clue! I would take some of my parent sheets of Japanese papers and make my own paper tape, and I did!!!!

But tonight when I went into The Captain's Quarters to use the stuff I'd made, I was confronted with the reality that is my craft desk, so I decided it was time for another reveal for WOYWW. Taking one for the team, here is my desk as of 6 pm EDT in the USofA:

See that card in the front? Yeah, I'm down to 3x9, which is smaller than my usual 6x6" space. In the center of the desk are the cards I've made over the past few weeks that need to be stamped and bagged for sale. Once I do that, there's plenty of room to work. And yes, the bandana is still on the lamp base -- wanna make something of it?!

Way over on the left of the desk are these strips of pretty paper:

I took 1/2" Sookwang tape and stuck it in strips to the back of several pieces of the papers, then I trimmed the paper to the edges of the tape, giving me all those strips. Here are the cards I made in a few minutes, just playing around:

 This one uses two of my favorite papers -- the two on the right:

I bought them to go with the then-new Poppy Parade card stock. <3 I cut the ends of these instead of tearing them.

This next one is more red than poppy, but I thought it was striking:

 The black and red tapes here are real tape. I tore the ends of these tapes, to be different.

This one, besides being out of focus, uses some really pretty aqua paper with gold woven into it:

The ends here were cut, too, because those gold lines are like mulberry paper and cannot be torn easily. I mounted the strips on a piece of cut-crooked SU Brushed Gold that I tore at the bottom.

So I think there is potential here for me to actually use some of this pretty paper. I also have some 8.5x11" sheets of fabric paper I might cut into strips. Hmm, definite possibilities.

So if you're curious about making your own paper tape, check out Mel's post. She has links to a ton of ideas for making, using and storing your tapes. Have fun! And if you stop by The Paper Source, don't say I didn't warn you.

Thanks for stopping by!

24 comments:

  1. Very pretty cards! Love your home made tape!

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  2. Thanks for the great idea, I just found a stash of Japanese paper I had no idea what it was earmarked for
    Bridget WOYWW mystery number

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  3. Cool idea! I love that first one esp. with the flag ends!

    You always remind me to go visit Mel...duh!

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  4. that is the perfect use for those papers...we made some at a crop with stamped tissue, but it was too delicate for my liking...your idea is perfect!

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  5. I have linked you Leslie - number 40! Sorry about the linky thing...no idea about why.
    Love your tape ideas, generous of you to share Mel, will away and visit soon. Realy glad the bandana is still there...gives me hope for my own habits!

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  6. Love the cards made with those paper strips, very pretty. Have a lovely day. Helen, 3

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  7. Now I have started collecting Washi tape you come up with a brilliant idea to save me money...lol!! well done you...loving the cards, and, yes, I'm still alive and kicking - well I think so :-)

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  8. Fabulous cards, what a great idea to make your own tape.

    Happy WOYWW

    Zoe #12

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  9. Hi Leslie thanks for sharing the wash tape link I am going to shrink you and follow the link later - hope it doesn't hurt too much! Have fun creating more of those fab cards - they don't use much of the wonderful tape! WOYWW Hugs from Helen 14

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  10. Great idea for Washi paper scraps and very pretty cards. I completely understand about the paper problem, I suffer from the same thing. But I end up buying papers that I cannot make coordinate and no one around here has any good Echo Park, Doodlebug, or other paper pads I want. Boo. I did find some faux Washi tape at Tarjay, though.

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  11. Very cool! I've seen on pinterest about making your own washi tape but hadn't thought much about it. Your cards look great and I'll go check out Mel's post.

    I think I would be like you - drawn to those big pieces of paper! Yum. Oh, but I don't have the storage.... hee hee

    Happy WOYWW
    Hugs,
    Kay #124

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  12. I think what you have done is marvelous...and I am like you...I LOVE pretty paper...especially vintage looking.:)

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  13. Ouuuuuu! It's all too gorgeous for words. And since you used the real washi paper, it looks so authentic. Your cards are FAB with it.

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  14. Wow! This is indeed very pretty. Nice page indeed.

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  15. Hey, I think the bandanna on the lamp base is an excellent idea, used to keep dust off? right? at least that's where I'm going with it, lol waving hi from the hills of North Carolina :)

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  16. too cute! I am gonna have to make paper tape ala faux washi!

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  17. I never thought this would be possible. Great idea indeed.

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  18. That is such a cool idea! I love pretty paper too and the thought of it gathering dust is killing me.
    Happy WOYWW

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  19. You've been busy with all that tape! Take care & enjoy snooping, am going for the better late than never approach this week! Zo xx 56

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  20. Gorgeous paper strips!!! :)
    Mary Jo #120

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  21. Love the tapes you've made and the cards - I am very much a paper lover too - Hazel WOYWW #82 x

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  22. Just grabbing some time to catch up on my stampy friend...love the cards you did and the washi you made!! WOW! I am in full cleanout mode here with my new office and studio clean up! I think I am finally seeing the end of it! I'll be back to blogging soon!!
    Miss you..when are you coming to visit?????

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  23. what a great idea! your examples look wonderful! I enjoyed visiting your crafting space! Valerie #26

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  24. Really lovely cards and your tape creating is unique thank you for sharing.

    Have a great crafting week
    Eliza #65
    www.queenartoypia.blogspot.com.au

    Please use this link when replying or the stamping Ground blog link.

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I'd love to hear what you really think! :-)

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