by Jennifer Barrett -Sculptor/Educator/Professional Tinkerer
This is the third installment of my Washi Your World series. Here, I will explain how to Washi your Journal. For those just joining us, washi tape is a decorative tape that originated in Japan. It has the look and feel of masking tape with beautiful colors and prints. You can apply it to almost any surface, and it does not leave a residue once removed.
Inspiration:
Back to school is my inspiration for this project.
Whether homeschooling or traditionally sending your kids to school, mixed feelings abound with the ending of summer and the beginning of a new school year. I will share an idea to personalize notebooks, folders, and journals using a washi tape set. If you have younger than school-age kids, you can print out pictures and create a family scrapbook or album. Washi tape is the perfect solution for novice album/scrapbook makers because you can create a clean, sophisticated layout with beautiful decorative elements.
Everyday Art Lesson:
Materials Focus: Washi Your Journal
Mess Factor: Less mess.
Ages: Can be modified for ages 0-18 years
Objectives: Kids will choose different patterns and colors to spice up their school gear. Younger kids can design scrapbook pages or album covers with colorful, patterned tape.
Babies, toddlers, and younger kids: Intro to Scrapbooking
• Washi Tape
• Photo Album or Scrapbook
• Paper: make a scrapbook or photo album if you don’t have one
Start a scrapbook or photo album with your little ones. Build on it over time! If you don’t have a photo album or scrapbook, start with plain paper and a cardboard cover. See the Pinterest link below for easy bookbinding techniques using a cereal box!
Let your kids pick out their favorite pictures, and print them from your phone or use actual photographs. For a unified look, limit your palette by choosing only 1-3 patterns or colors per page total. Let your little ones decorate the background page by taping the background with just one or two patterns or colors. Then, and use a contrasting tape color to create borders around your pictures, overlapping the background designed by your little one.
Older Kids: Washi Your Journal
Suggested Materials:
• Washi tape
• Plain masking tape and a sharpie to create washi tape
• Scissors
• Journals
• Plain notebooks
• Folders
Older kids can brighten up note taking and washi their journals. By adding a personalized touch to their school notebooks and folders, excitement will build around showing off their creativity. Hopefully this will also translate into kids wanting to pick up their personalized notebooks to do more schoolwork and studying!
Kids can sketch out a notebook or journal cover by choosing 3 or 4 patterns of washi tape. They can decide on the direction of the tape and the placement of the patterns before they start so that they achieve their desired outcomes. If the tape ever begins to peel, use a little bit of glue stick on the back to secure it. If the journal cover is so amazing that you want to make it more archival, carefully paint a layer of Mod Podge or watered down white glue over the surface. Also, email us a picture of your finished piece so we can feature it on our website!
No washi tape? No problem. Masking tape can be used as a substitute with Sharpie patterns drawn on top. Some masking tapes are stickier than others, so just test surfaces if you ever wish to remove it.
(TIP: Always check for the ASTM d-4236 standard and ACMI AP seal, which should be on all art materials given to children. Materials are like ingredients. Many things can be substituted for what you have on hand.)
In case you missed it:
Washi Your World
Everyday Art - Washi Your World (Part 2)
Jennifer Barrett is the Arts Liaison, Data Specialist, and Performing Arts Coordinator at a public junior high school in Brooklyn. She has taught visual arts there since 2002. During this time, she has guided countless students through the rigorous audition process of portfolio development, with many gaining acceptance into some of NYC’s most prestigious art schools. She founded Creative Space Arts in 2014 to offer a different kind of all-ages art studio, always changing and inspired by the immersive environment of galleries and other creative spaces. In the spring of 2016, she launched Sip 'n Sculpt to bring a fun and relaxing creative outlet to neighborhood bars and restaurants. Answering to student and customer demand for accessible and affordable art materials, she founded Sticky Fingers Art Supply Co. in March of 2017 to promote high quality art supplies for a steal of a price.
Her writing is published in Home Educators Resource Directory and the #besomebody. blog. Jennifer’s paper creds include: B.F.A. in Drawing, M.Ed., S.B.L Certification.
Feel free to email any questions or comments to info@creativespacearts.com, or visit my website at stickyfingersartsupply.com. I aim to create an open exchange of ideas and best practices.
References:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/556053885228866628/
http://www.washiyourworld.com/
http://www.stickyfingersartsupply.com/
This is the third installment of my Washi Your World series. Here, I will explain how to Washi your Journal. For those just joining us, washi tape is a decorative tape that originated in Japan. It has the look and feel of masking tape with beautiful colors and prints. You can apply it to almost any surface, and it does not leave a residue once removed.
Inspiration:
Back to school is my inspiration for this project.
Whether homeschooling or traditionally sending your kids to school, mixed feelings abound with the ending of summer and the beginning of a new school year. I will share an idea to personalize notebooks, folders, and journals using a washi tape set. If you have younger than school-age kids, you can print out pictures and create a family scrapbook or album. Washi tape is the perfect solution for novice album/scrapbook makers because you can create a clean, sophisticated layout with beautiful decorative elements.
Everyday Art Lesson:
Materials Focus: Washi Your Journal
Mess Factor: Less mess.
Ages: Can be modified for ages 0-18 years
Objectives: Kids will choose different patterns and colors to spice up their school gear. Younger kids can design scrapbook pages or album covers with colorful, patterned tape.
Babies, toddlers, and younger kids: Intro to Scrapbooking
• Washi Tape
• Photo Album or Scrapbook
• Paper: make a scrapbook or photo album if you don’t have one
Start a scrapbook or photo album with your little ones. Build on it over time! If you don’t have a photo album or scrapbook, start with plain paper and a cardboard cover. See the Pinterest link below for easy bookbinding techniques using a cereal box!
Older Kids: Washi Your Journal
Suggested Materials:
• Washi tape
• Plain masking tape and a sharpie to create washi tape
• Scissors
• Journals
• Plain notebooks
• Folders
Older kids can brighten up note taking and washi their journals. By adding a personalized touch to their school notebooks and folders, excitement will build around showing off their creativity. Hopefully this will also translate into kids wanting to pick up their personalized notebooks to do more schoolwork and studying!
Kids can sketch out a notebook or journal cover by choosing 3 or 4 patterns of washi tape. They can decide on the direction of the tape and the placement of the patterns before they start so that they achieve their desired outcomes. If the tape ever begins to peel, use a little bit of glue stick on the back to secure it. If the journal cover is so amazing that you want to make it more archival, carefully paint a layer of Mod Podge or watered down white glue over the surface. Also, email us a picture of your finished piece so we can feature it on our website!
No washi tape? No problem. Masking tape can be used as a substitute with Sharpie patterns drawn on top. Some masking tapes are stickier than others, so just test surfaces if you ever wish to remove it.
(TIP: Always check for the ASTM d-4236 standard and ACMI AP seal, which should be on all art materials given to children. Materials are like ingredients. Many things can be substituted for what you have on hand.)
In case you missed it:
Washi Your World
Everyday Art - Washi Your World (Part 2)
Jennifer Barrett is the Arts Liaison, Data Specialist, and Performing Arts Coordinator at a public junior high school in Brooklyn. She has taught visual arts there since 2002. During this time, she has guided countless students through the rigorous audition process of portfolio development, with many gaining acceptance into some of NYC’s most prestigious art schools. She founded Creative Space Arts in 2014 to offer a different kind of all-ages art studio, always changing and inspired by the immersive environment of galleries and other creative spaces. In the spring of 2016, she launched Sip 'n Sculpt to bring a fun and relaxing creative outlet to neighborhood bars and restaurants. Answering to student and customer demand for accessible and affordable art materials, she founded Sticky Fingers Art Supply Co. in March of 2017 to promote high quality art supplies for a steal of a price.
Her writing is published in Home Educators Resource Directory and the #besomebody. blog. Jennifer’s paper creds include: B.F.A. in Drawing, M.Ed., S.B.L Certification.
Feel free to email any questions or comments to info@creativespacearts.com, or visit my website at stickyfingersartsupply.com. I aim to create an open exchange of ideas and best practices.
References:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/556053885228866628/
http://www.washiyourworld.com/
http://www.stickyfingersartsupply.com/
