Make Your Own Washi Tape with ASC Scraps

Because sometimes the perfect washi tape doesn’t exist in stores, so you make it yourself from your paper scrap pile and some double-sided tape. Obviously.

Washi tape is one of those art supplies that looks deceptively simple until you’re standing in front of a wall of 200 patterns trying to pick just one and realizing none of them are exactly what you need. Too bright, too geometric, too cute. Not cute enough. Wrong color family entirely.

The solution? Make your own.

At Art Supply Center, we believe in having options. We stock a massive selection of ready-made washi tape (because sometimes you just need to grab a roll and go), but we also know that sometimes the best washi tape is the one you custom-make from paper scraps, double-sided tape, and whatever stamps or patterns are rattling around in your brain.

Let’s talk about how to turn your scrap paper pile into infinitely customizable adhesive decoration.

What Is Washi Tape, Actually?

Traditional washi tape is Japanese masking tape made from natural fibers (rice paper, bamboo, hemp). It’s semi-transparent, repositionable, easy to tear, and doesn’t leave residue when you peel it off. Artists and crafters use it for everything: journaling, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, collage, sealing envelopes, decorating planners, marking pages, and general “making things look nicer” purposes.

The genius of washi tape is that it’s functional and decorative. It’s tape that doesn’t look like tape. It’s adhesive that adds beauty instead of just utility.

DIY washi tape follows the same principle, except you get to decide exactly what it looks like.

Why Make Your Own Washi Tape?

You need a specific color or pattern. Maybe you’re working on a project with a very specific color palette and nothing in stores matches. Perhaps you want a pattern that doesn’t exist commercially or you just saw a piece of decorative paper and thought “this should be tape.”

You have beautiful paper scraps you can’t bear to throw away. We see you. We are you. That drawer full of gorgeous paper odds and ends isn’t hoarding, it’s material reserves. Turning scraps into washi tape is both practical and emotionally satisfying.

You want custom widths. Commercial washi tape comes in standard widths. DIY washi tape comes in whatever width you cut it. Need something skinny for borders? Make it. Need something wide for covering entire surfaces? Make that too.

It’s cheaper than buying specialty tape. A roll of double-sided tape and some scrap paper costs way less than buying multiple rolls of fancy decorative tape. Plus, you get exactly what you want instead of settling for close-enough.

You can stamp, paint, or collage your own designs. This is where it gets really fun. You’re not limited to existing patterns. You can create entirely custom designs with stamps, stencils, markers, or paint, then turn those designs into functional tape.

What You Need to Make DIY Washi Tape

The Essential Supplies

Double-sided tape. This is your base. Get a good quality brand that’s actually sticky and doesn’t peel off immediately. We recommend Scotch or 3M double-sided tape in whatever width you want your washi to be. (You can also use wider tape and cut it down later.)

Thin paper. The key word here is thin. You want paper that’s flexible enough to conform to the tape and tear easily like real washi. Good options:

• Tissue paper
• Japanese chiyogami or yuzen paper
• Thin scrapbook paper
• Origami paper
• Decorative napkins (yes, really, the thin printed kind)
• Lightweight wrapping paper
• Book pages or vintage ephemera
• Tracing paper or vellum (for a translucent effect)

Avoid cardstock or anything too thick, it won’t tear cleanly and it’ll feel stiff and awkward to use.

Optional But Fun Supplies

Stamps and ink. Create repeating patterns on plain paper, then turn that paper into tape.

Markers, pens, or paint. Draw or paint your own designs on white or light-colored paper before taping.

Stencils. Use them with ink, paint, or markers to create geometric or patterned designs.

Collage materials. Layer thin papers, add texture with tissue, incorporate text from old books, then adhere it all to your tape base.

How to Make DIY Washi Tape (The Process)

Method 1: The Quick Version (Pre-Patterned Paper)

This is the fastest route and works beautifully if you already have decorative paper you love.

1. Cut your decorative paper into strips slightly wider than your double-sided tape. (You’ll trim it later.)
2. Apply the paper to one sticky side of the double-sided tape, smoothing it down to avoid bubbles and wrinkles. Press firmly.
3. Trim the edges so the paper is flush with the tape edges. A craft knife and ruler work great for this. Scissors also work if you’re patient.
4. Leave the backing on the other side of the tape until you’re ready to use it.

That’s it. You now have custom washi tape. Roll it back up, store it however you store regular washi, and use it like you would any other decorative tape.

Method 2: The Custom Design Version (Make the Pattern First)

This method is for when you want a pattern that doesn’t exist yet.

1. Start with plain or lightly colored thin paper. White tissue paper, tracing paper, or lightweight drawing paper all work.
2. Create your pattern. Stamp it, draw it, stencil it, paint it, collage it, whatever you want. Let it dry completely if you’re using wet media.
3. Cut your designed paper into strips and apply it to double-sided tape as described in Method 1.

Pattern ideas:

• Stamped borders (use small repeating stamps)
• Hand-drawn doodles or line work
• Geometric shapes with markers
• Watercolor washes (very light, on sturdy tissue)
• Text from old books or maps
• Tiny collaged elements

Method 3: Layered Transparency (Advanced Level)

For a more traditional washi-like translucent effect:

1. Use very thin paper like tissue paper or tracing paper
2. Apply light designs (watercolor, ink, light stamping)
3. Adhere to double-sided tape as usual

The thinness of the paper means you can see through it slightly, which gives it that authentic washi tape vibe.

Tips for Better DIY Washi Tape

Smooth out bubbles as you go. Air bubbles under the paper make the tape lumpy and weird. Use a bone folder, credit card, or your fingers to press the paper down smoothly.

Work in manageable lengths. Don’t try to do 10 feet of tape in one go. Work in 6-12 inch sections, then connect them later if needed.

Store it properly. Roll your finished washi tape onto an old washi tape core, a pencil, or a piece of cardboard to keep it from tangling or sticking to itself.

Make extras. If you’ve designed a pattern you love, make multiple strips while you’re at it. Future you will thank current you.

Test your paper first. Not all thin papers tear cleanly. Do a test strip to make sure your paper behaves like washi (tears easily, doesn’t leave chunks behind).

What to Do With Your DIY Washi Tape

Everything you’d do with regular washi tape, except now it’s exactly what you wanted:

• Seal envelopes and packages
• Decorate journal pages and planners
• Create borders and frames in collage work
• Secure mixed media layers
• Add decorative elements to handmade cards
• Mark pages in books or sketchbooks
• Wrap gifts with custom coordinating tape
• Build patterns and designs in art journals

The beauty of DIY washi is that it can match your project perfectly because you made it to match.

But Also: We Have Ready-Made Washi

Listen, we get it. Sometimes you need washi tape right now and don’t have time to craft it from scratch. That’s why we stock a massive selection of ready-made washi tape in every pattern, color, and width you can imagine.

Think of it this way: ready-made washi is for when you need it fast. DIY washi is for when you need it perfect.

Both are correct answers. We contain multitudes.

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