isamu noguchi & washi tape – outgoing mail…
Sometimes, I’m a little late to the table for things. Maybe it’s the latest trend towards the color orange (always hard for me to embrace) or perhaps a general proclivity towards Ugg boots (sorry – I’ll never get it…) About some things, I’m left in the dark. By the time it hits the sale aisle at Target, I’m discovering “it” for the first time.
does heaven look like this?…
And so: I had been hearing the talk for months – maybe even the last year or so. I shrugged my shoulders with a “what’s the big deal?” glance in the general direction of soon-to-be-mentioned-object (the next sentence, I swear), but felt that ultimately, the oft-mentioned-by-my-friends item was too “scrap-tastic”, too “crafty”, too fussy.
I should have listened to my friends. (sorry ’bout that guys…)
…or maybe more like this!
Within the last two weeks, my relationship with washi tape has changed (shopping with friend Secret Agent 001 was crucial). Once upon a time, I was non-plussed; now, I find myself cruising Etsy in the wee hours of the morning looking for the best tape suppliers. As of late I’ve been using this wunderkind of tape non-stop, to jazz up envelopes, postcards, and outgoing mail. One of the thrills for me is that — unlike paints or inks — I don’t have to wait for anything to dry! Simply stick-n-move on! Presto: there’s pattern! Texture! Color!
Each roll of snappy polka dots or neon stripes sends me into fits.
what I like to call a “washi-lope”; plaid tape by MT of Japan, circular numbers by Cavellini & Co. …
Now that I’ve developed this new habit, how to store it? An easy fix, dear readers! :
top: vinyl pencil case (yes, those are rabbits!). bottom: metal pencil tin.
Pencil tins and soft cases from your local dollar store do just the trick. Round cylindrical pencil cases are the perfect size for rolls of tape, believe it or not. If soft storage isn’t your thing, head over to Cathe Holden’s “Just Something I Made” blog, where she ingeniously turns an old cigar box into a tape organizer/dispenser.
Next up (on Monday): some of my favorite tips, tricks, and things to make with washi tape – and a RLD video to boot! But for now, I leave you to propose and suggest some of your favorite online resources for this mail art miracle – where do you shop for your washi?
I’ll start off:
MT brand wide washi tape with postage stamp design
IMO, the BEST etsey store for washi (buy four rolls, get one free! AND OMG they have airmail stripe washi!!!)
Kelly Kilmer has a pretty groovy write up on the differences between tapes, as well as some of her fave shopping spots
Here comes the weekend — make & send, postal people, make & SEND!
–JH
Well, Miss JH–you didn’t like washi tape (before)? I never knew that. And I recall giving you a roll some time ago in a certain cafe on Clement Street. Well, I see you are a convert now. Great post. My newest favorite place for buying washi tape is http://www.lepapercafe.com or Etsy.com/shop/LePaperCraft
I got got (ahem) 12 rolls and the woman running the shop (Anissa) has a terrific selection. Lots of designs I hadn’t seen before — so check it out. She has the air mail tape too.
Can’t wait to see your next post with tips, Miss RED.
Miss P. –
Well, I wouldn’t say “didn’t like”…more like “what’s all the hub-bub?” But it goes without saying that the special alphabetical roll that you gave me for my birthday this year has been greatly admired and zealously held onto (by myself) — I haven’t been able to come up with a project that’s worthy enough of it! (yet. but soon.)
–JH
PS: Le Paper Cafe on Etsy? I’m on it! Thanks for the share…
Be still my heart!!!! I’m puttin’ in an order asap! Thanks Miss Jennie!!!
OOPS! I just realized I put the wrong name on the ETSY washi tape — it is
Etsy.com/shop/LePaperCafe (I should have remembered it is cafe not craft since I like cappuccino so much!).
Unchain my HEART (and my wallet)!
Miss Maureen — who knew that it would be something as simple as tape? Fancy TAPE? Sigh…
–JH
well it’s about time!! haha. i love browsing through etsy and finding tape that way. ordering from cutetape is always dependable. i need to stock up on some more airmail tapes.
Miss Annie — Agreed. I saw that airmail striped tape and just about DIED from happiness…
–JH
I’m just so sad for you that you’re only now discovering the joys of washi! It’s fab to toss a couple rolls into a mail art kit; they’re useful for sticking things down when it’s impractical to bust out a glue stick. Not that I *haven’t* glued things while on a bus before.
Miss Melissa — I think that if I were sitting next to you on public transit of some sort and you busted out a gluestick and went to town, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself — I would march over from wherever I was standing (or sitting), offer you a postage stamp and then start pestering you with questions (especially about washi, since you are a Level 5 washi-lope creator!)
–JH
Yes- new art supplies make me breathless and giddy too! Funny, I felt the same way about the washi tape hype, until I found the coolest paper supply store in San Luis Obispo, CA where I bought my first set (patterned with paperclips/typewriters and vintage mail sentiments- all in the cutest metal tin). *sigh* I love it, and now will have to go check out the fun resources you mentioned! Great post!
Miss Erin — I know that EXACT set that you’re talking about! Made by Cavellini, they can be found at the Paper Source website here. I picked mine up at The Ink Pad in NYC and am not to the point where I can actually -use- each roll yet, but they sit on my work desk, where I lovingly look at them (and dream of all the postcards that “pointing finger” tape will adorn one day…)
–JH
I just have to ask…where is that Washi Tape Heaven store in your photos?
Carroll–I am so glad you asked because I had the exact same question!
Miss Pamela and Miss Caroll — I surreptitiously snapped the above “shopping” photos at Maido in Westfield Center, located in downtown SF. When you walk into the store they have a small wall of washi to the left (which is one of the first things you’ll see, once you get past that table of airmail envelopes/airmail paper/airmail themed items which they have put there to render me immobile). In my travels, I have found that the selection downtown is much better than the selection at the JTown Maido.
–JH
Here’s an idea — I store mine in empty wax paper or foil boxes. Here’s a photo on flickr: http://flic.kr/p/ctvovY You have to slit the cardboard tube & then roll it a little tighter to make it smaller for the tapes to slide on. Tape it with some washi to hold in place (we have plenty of THAT!) And voila! You’ve got a holder with a cutter already in place that holds about 15 rolls. It takes about 5 min to make.
Miss Sally — I have to confess, this idea stopped me in my tracks yesterday when I saw it flash across the screen. YOU are a GENIUS. Plain and simple. Thanks so much for sharing this idea with RLD readers — it’s golden!
–JH
Thank you Jennie..I got into washi tape when a friend sent me a note decorated with it on the envelope…so much fun that I now have a small group. I also bought some online.. FUN!
Miss Dot — so much fun!!! Who knew? (well, all of you guys did!!!) And now there’s a whole new item to shop for…I think I hear my wallet cringing a teeny tiny bit.
–JH
I like Kawaii Goodies on Etsy.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/kawaiigoodies
They have washi tape and rubber stamps – my two favorites!
Miss C. –
Washi tape AND rubber stamps in the same browser!?! Be still my beating heart…
–JH
My sister in law sent me a ton of tape a few years ago and I’ve been addicted ever since. Now that it’s become so popular, I’m using it more. Who knew that sticking tape on things (mail, my datebook, my notebook, my cat…) could be so fun!
P.s. I love the word “scrap-tastic”…
Miss K. — I love the idea of a washi-fied feline, although I’m not sure my cat would stick around long enough to see the end result!
–JH
PS: glad you like “scrap-tastic”!