How to Make Quick Yet Lovely Cards With Washi Tape

Do you love crafting cards but wish there were a way to do it more quickly and easily? If your answer is yes, here's the solution: washi tape! This small but mighty crafting essential has helped turn cardmaking into something that anybody can enjoy - no matter how busy their day-to-day life may be.

Botanical Rhapsody Wide Washi Tape

From adding elegant designs to the simplest of note cards to crafting impressive layered looks in minutes, washi tape makes it easy to make hassle-free cards that your friends and family will adore. In this blog post, we'll walk through all the fantastic techniques you can use washi tape for in your next card project, together with step-by-step instructions so that you can create stunning results in no time. Let's get started!

What Materials Do You Need to Make Cards With Washi Tape?

Washi tape is a colorful, paper-based craft material that is versatile and fun to use. With their fun patterns and vibrant colors, crafting with washi tape is a perfect way to jazz up any handmade card. All you need are some washi tape (of course), cardstock, essential tools like scissors and coloring mediums, and your imagination! 

Easy, Wonderful Card Designs Using Washi Tape

Did you know that washi tapes are available in gorgeous designs, such as florals, foliage, geometric patterns, paint swirls, dots, cities, and stars - almost anything? With the versatility of their style and colors, you'll never run out of ways to create. Indeed, even just a roll of washi tape can bring unlimited possibilities for wow-worthy cards when combined with techniques like stamping, die cutting, embossing, and coloring. 

Create Stunning Backgrounds in Less Than Minutes

With wide washi tape, creating stunning backgrounds in mere minutes is easy! Wide washi tapes come in rolls that can easily cover the front of a standard A2 card. Just stick a wide washi tape to your card panel to immediately add color and interest to your card front with a pre-made background! 

This method produces a quick yet beautiful card like Terri's card below. Just pair the washi tape background with a simple die-cut sentiment, and voila! You now have a gorgeous card that will surely make your loved ones' day.

Marbled Dream Wide Washi Tape

You can even play with the placement of the washi tape. Create a simple border around the edge of the card or make a dynamic pattern by placing strips of washi tape in a diagonal or herringbone pattern.

Beautiful Washi Tapes for Paper Crafting

Play Around With Easy-To-Use Gradient Colors

Sea Shore Slim Washi Tape Set

If you want to give your washi tape cards some extra oomph, why not try playing around with easy-to-use gradient colors? Gradient washi tapes feature a gradual transition of colors, creating a unique and eye-catching effect that's perfect for themed cards. For example, you can create a gradient border around the edge of the card, like Amber's design. You can also use the tapes on cardstock to die cut images and make gradient-based sceneries like sunset skies, oceans, nature, and flowers! 

Make One-Of-A-Kind Embossed and Debossed Cards

Some people ask, “can you emboss washi tapes?” The answer is YES! Not only does embossing help give texture, but by pairing it with washi tapes, you can easily add bold patterns and colors to your design. 

Start creating exquisite cards with washi tape through dry embossing and debossing techniques! Sure, it takes more materials, but the textured results with be worth it. To do this, just place some washi tape of your choice on plain cardstock, make a sandwich, and run it through your embossing machine and die cutting machine, as you usually would.

Painted Fantasy Wide Washi Tape

Nenette’s card looks like a watercolor floral card that’s debossed with the Dotted Starburst Debossing Cover Die, but the background is actually just washi tape! How cool is that?

Accent Your Stamps and Die-Cuts 

Another way that you can use washi tape in your cardmaking projects is to add them as accents to your stamped images or die-cuts. You can complement your design with color-coordinated washi tapes, or add interest to a solid-colored die-cut with a patterned tape, for example. Additionally, you can also use washi tape to create frames or borders for your focal points. 

Experiment With Die-Cuts Without Dies

Painted Seashells Washi Tape

You may wonder, "How can you make die-cuts without dies?" Well, with washi tape and good-old fussy cutting! Because washi tapes are made of thin and delicate material, you first need to stick them onto cardstock before you fussy-cut them to avoid tearing.

So, even with just cardstock and washi tape, you can easily cut out shapes and use them as beautiful focal points, accents, and embellishments for your cards. To replicate Erum's design below, try experimenting with different placements and layering to see what looks best. 

Glitter Flurries Wide Washi Tape

So, if you're looking for a quick and easy way to add a little something extra to your cards, try making die-cuts with washi tape! With so many sizes, designs, and colors available, there's sure to be the perfect match for any card. 

Save Time and Make Beautiful Crafts With Washi Tape!

Whether you're making cards for birthdays, holidays or to say thank you, this versatile, inexpensive, and easy-to-use tool will surely make your job convenient! So the next time you find yourself in a rush and looking for a speedy crafty session, we hope you use the tips in this guide to experiment with different techniques and ideas. Remember, the key is to have fun and let your creativity run wild! 

Don’t forget to drop by our All About Crafting blog if you want to learn more about your favorite paper crafting tools and materials - you might just learn a new trick to do with them!