How to Use Washi Tape: A Calm Beginner's Guide
Washi tape is a thin, printed decorative tape for paper projects. To start, fold a short strip over a page edge as a tab, run one along the top of a page as a border, tape a ticket into your journal, seal an envelope or band a parcel. Lay it down without stretching and trim with scissors.
If you've bought a few pretty rolls and left them in a drawer, unsure what to do next, you're in good company. It's one of the most common questions in stationery communities. Washi tape is forgiving and quick, and you only need a few simple moves. Here they are, one at a time.
What is washi tape?
Washi tape is a decorative paper tape, printed with patterns, colors or lettering and sold on small rolls. The name comes from washi, a traditional Japanese paper. Today the word usually means any printed craft tape in that style.
It's made for decorating as much as for sticking: borders, tabs, labels, color-coding and small details on paper. Many people collect coordinated sets so that any two rolls look good together.
What's in a Crafii washi pack
| Spec | Every Crafii washi pack |
|---|---|
| Rolls per pack | 9 |
| Length per roll | 5 yd |
| Widths | Mixed, as shown in each pack's main photo |
| Design | Coordinated set: all nine rolls are designed to work together |
| Availability | Preorder · Estimated delivery around November 15, 2026 |
What is washi tape used for?
Mostly for paper: journals, planners, cards, envelopes, scrapbook pages and gift wrap. When people in stationery forums describe how they actually use theirs, the same handful of uses comes up again and again. These are the five we'd start with.
1. Page tabs you can find by feel
Fold a short strip over the outer edge of a page so half sits on the front and half on the back. When the book is closed, the color peeks out and you can flip straight to that page. Use one design per section (monthly pages, lists, notes) and you've built a simple color code.
2. Borders and headers
Run a strip across the top of a page to start a new week or month, or down the side to frame a list. A narrow roll makes a quiet column divider. A wide roll makes a header you can write next to.
3. Taping in keepsakes
Tickets, receipts, photos, pressed leaves, notes from friends: tape them in at two corners or across the top so they lie flat on the page. It's quicker than glue, and the tape becomes part of the design.
4. Envelopes and happy mail
Seal the flap with a short strip, band the envelope edge, or frame the message side of a postcard. Pen pals often use a slim roll to mark off the address area so it stays clear.
5. Parcels and small gifts
Wrap a single band around a plain kraft or white parcel, or cross two patterns at a corner. On simple paper, a patterned band does most of the decorating for you.
For more journal-specific ideas, see 7 Ways to Use Washi Tape in Your Journal or Planner and Washi Tape Cards and Happy Mail: 5 Easy Ideas.
How do you apply washi tape neatly?
A neat finish comes from laying the tape down gently, not from special tools.
- Pull a little more than you need. An extra half inch gives you room to trim.
- Start at one end and lay the tape down without stretching it. Stretched tape tends to pucker later.
- Smooth it from the center outward with a fingertip, a ruler edge or an old gift card, pressing evenly as you go.
- Trim the ends. Use scissors for a crisp edge, or tear by hand for a softer, handmade edge.
- Wrap any overhang neatly around the page or card edge, or trim it flush.
Before you start: papers and surfaces behave differently. Try your tape on a scrap of the same paper first, especially on anything you'd hate to mark.
How do you cut washi tape straight?
- Scissors at a right angle: lay the tape down a little long, then cut across it with sharp scissors held square to the edge.
- Trim on the page: for a flush finish, lay the strip past the page edge, then turn the page over and trim along the edge.
- Ruler and craft knife (adults): on a cutting mat, cut along a metal ruler for clean, straight strips you can then lift and place.
- Angled or flag ends: fold the strip in half lengthwise and snip a small V for a banner tail, or cut both ends on the same diagonal.
What if my washi tape won't stick?
This is one of the most common beginner questions. Tape behaves differently on different papers and surfaces, so a few simple checks usually help:
- Press it down firmly along its whole length. A light touch often isn't enough.
- Check the surface. Textured, glossy, dusty or coated surfaces can be harder for any tape. Test on a scrap of that material first.
- Add a tiny dab of glue under the ends of a strip that needs to stay put, or anchor the ends with a sticker or tag.
- Use it decoratively, not structurally. Washi tape works best as a decorative layer. For anything heavy, use glue or a stronger adhesive and add washi on top for the look.
We don't make promises about how any tape will hold or lift on a particular surface, which is why testing on a scrap first is the honest advice.
Washi tape vs masking tape: what's the difference?
| Washi tape | Masking tape | |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Decoration on paper projects | Utility: holding, labeling, masking off areas |
| Look | Printed patterns, colors, lettering | Usually plain beige or a single color |
| Typical roll | Small, often sold in coordinated sets | Larger utility rolls |
| Where you'll see it | Journals, planners, cards, gift wrap | Workshops, painting, packing |
Both are tapes, made for different jobs. For a finished look, reach for washi. For a practical hold, use a tape made for that job.
How do you choose your first washi set?
Choose by what you'll actually make, not by how many rolls you can collect. A single coordinated set is plenty to learn on.
- For planners and weekly spreads: Color Block Washi Tape — Retro & Days has day-of-the-week lettering, retro curves, stripes and label outlines in navy, teal, pink and warm orange. Preorder · Estimated delivery around November 15, 2026.
- For florals, cards and letters: Painters Summer Washi Tape — Botanical Postage pairs botanical florals and a postage design with green lines, small flowers, scallops and gold accents. Preorder · Estimated delivery around November 15, 2026.
- For reading journals: Book Lovers Washi Tape — Book Club & Floral brings together books, Book Club lettering, florals, stars and coral scallops. Preorder · Estimated delivery around November 15, 2026.
- For starry, night-sky pages: Celestial Washi Tape — Bright has moons, stars and crystals in coral, yellow, pink, lavender, blue and mint. Preorder · Estimated delivery around November 15, 2026.
- For zodiac and astrology journals: the Celestial zodiac sets, such as Celestial Washi Tape — Water Signs (Scorpio, Cancer and Pisces in blue tones). The Celestial Collection Value Pack gathers all four zodiac sets with zodiac ephemera and moon and sun diecuts, with 15% off the complete pack applied automatically in cart (cannot be combined with WELCOME10). Both are preorders · Estimated delivery around November 15, 2026.
Every pack is 9 rolls, 5 yd each, in mixed widths. Explore the sets in the Washi Tape collection. All washi packs are currently preorders, with estimated delivery around November 15, 2026.
A small tip on mixed widths: pair one wide roll with one narrow roll from the same set. Lay the wide strip first, then run the narrow one along its edge. Because the rolls in a set are designed together, the pairing tends to look deliberate.
How do you store washi tape?
Keep rolls somewhere you can see them. If you can't see a roll, you're less likely to use it. A shallow box or jar on your desk works well, kept away from heat and direct sun, and grouped by set or color so you can pick a pairing quickly. A short "working set" of a few favorites next to your journal often gets more use than a big collection in a drawer. More ideas in How to Store Washi Tape So You Actually Use It.
A five-minute first project
If you'd like one small, finished thing today:
- Open your journal or a plain notebook to a fresh spread.
- Run a wide strip across the top of the left page as a header and write the date beside it.
- Fold three short strips over the right page edge as tabs, one design each.
- Tape in one small keepsake (a ticket, a receipt, a photo) at two corners.
- Add one narrow strip under your header to finish.
That's it: a header, a tab system and a keepsake, the three things most people use washi for.
Next, try Wrap It Simply: Washi Tape Gift Wrapping Ideas, or carry these techniques into a junk journal with What Is Ephemera? A Junk Journal Guide.
Washi tape FAQ
What is washi tape used for?
Mostly for decorating paper: journal and planner pages, cards, envelopes, scrapbook layouts and gift wrap. Common uses are page tabs, borders, headers, taping in keepsakes and sealing envelopes.
Is washi tape removable or repositionable?
It depends on the tape, the surface and how long it's been in place. We don't make removability claims. If you plan to lift tape later, test it on a scrap of the same material first.
Can you write on washi tape?
Many people write on lighter or plain areas of tape for labels and dates. Pens and tapes vary, so try your pen on a spare strip first.
How many rolls are in a Crafii washi pack, and how long are they?
Every Crafii washi pack has 9 rolls, 5 yd each, in mixed widths. The exact assortment is shown in each pack's main photo. All packs are currently preorders, with estimated delivery around November 15, 2026.
Washi tape or masking tape: which should I use?
Use washi tape when you want a decorative finish on paper projects. Use masking tape or another utility tape when you need a practical hold.
Do I need special tools?
No. Scissors and your fingertip are enough. A ruler or an old gift card helps you smooth long strips, and a craft knife with a metal ruler gives clean, straight cuts.