Washi Tape Small Storage

Back when I was setting up my craft space under the stairs, I picked up some small plastic storage bins from the $1 bins at Target. These are perfect for storing my pre-made twist roses, ruffled ribbon flowers, and other small embellishments that I use on my wreaths. But they're boring. Today I decided to jazz them up with some washi tape. It was quick and easy and now they're super cute! Check it out:

Before -- boring old black

After #1

After #2

{Linked on The DIY Dreamer, And Sew We Craft, Musings From a Stay At Home Mom, Fluster Buster, Our Three Peas, Ashley's Dandelion Wishes, We Like To Learn As We Go, Trendy Treehouse, Sugar and Dots, My Girlish Whims, Ginger Snap Crafts}

Back To School

Today, my son started kindergarten. He was so excited to go that he didn't want to wait until it was time, instead threatening to just walk by himself. On the way to school, he announced to everyone he saw, "It's my first day of kindergartent!"

In an effort to get ourselves organized before he started school, I set up a homework station for him in his bedroom. Check it out:

I started with these galvanized tins from Pick Your Plum. They were perfect for this project because they are just wide enough to hold paper, but not so deep that things will get lost inside.

First, I taped off a strip across the middle and applied letter stickers. I painted over the letters with craft paint, then peeled the stickers and tape off. Then I lined the edges with chalkboard washi tape.

They were so easy to make and I love how they turned out! Now I just have to figure out a way to keep 2 year old Violet from stealing all the pencils and biting off the erasers.

{Linked on Flamingo Toes, Three Mango Seeds, Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom, Back to the Basics, The Foley Fam, Under the Table and Dreaming, Sumo's Sweet Stuff}

Washi Tape Bookmarks

This was a super easy and super fast project that anyone can do! I made several different designs, just trying different things and different paper/tape combos. Here's a quick how-to:

Cut

Cut a piece of card stock 2x6 inches out of the color of your choice.

Tape

Create your washi tape design. I tried taping vertically (on the burgandy scallopped one), diagonally (on the green and copper one), horizontally (on the notched one), and both vertically & horizontally (on the chalkboard one).

Punch

Once your taping is complete, punch a hole in the center of one end. Thread a ribbon through and tie off as you like.

Trim

Trim corners and edges to add more interest if you like. Of course, you don't have to. My favorite of the ones I made is the one I didn't trim at all.

Please link up your washi tape projects in the comments because I would love to see your ideas as well!

{Linked on Tatertots & Jello, Be Different...Act Normal, One Artsy Mama, Truly Lovely, Happy and Blessed Home, The Stitchin' Mommy, The Wondering Brain, A Little Claireification, Sincerely Paula, Carrie This Home}

Washi Tape Blog Planner

My blog is just about 4 months old now. It took me a little while to get into a good blogging rhythm and one major help was this:

I got the idea from Jessica over at Lovely Little Things. This blog planner has been a life saver! Or maybe just a blog saver. Each week has its own spread dedicated to it. I use this to compile my inspiration for each week, as well as to track my social media stats. I track blog views, bloglovin' followers, facebook likes, twitter followers, Pinterest followers, and Google+ followers. It has been extremely helpful (and enlightening) to see these numbers climb each week and helps me focus my goals for the following week.

I also try to choose a fellow blogger to encourage. This has been fun and has led me to discover new blogs and other new bloggers. I make an effort to read their blog at least once during the week and leave a well-thought-out comment. I also try to pin something from their blog.

The rest of my weekly spread is dedicated to scheduling blog posts and checking things off my to-do list. I don't always adhere to the schedule, but it helps me have direction and variety in my posts.

Of course, a notebook needs a cute cover. My notebook is one that I found on clearance at Target. I paid less than $2 for it, but it was a little too flowery for me. So I covered it with washi tape. It was a quick and easy project that gets a lot of use.

How do you keep track of your blogging schedule?

{Linked on The Princess & Her Cowboys, New Nostalgia, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Hope Studios, Funky Polkadot Giraffe, Adventures of a DIY Mom, Today's Creative Blog, VMG206, Ladybug Blessings, Him & Her, Nap-time Creations, Fluster Buster, The DIY Dreamer, And Sew We Craft, Dandelion Wishes, Gingersnap Crafts, Endlessly Inspired}

Washi Tape - Trial & Error

Last month, I finally jumped on the Washi Tape train by trying to improve the look of an ugly free notebook (check that out here). I wasn't completely satisfied with how that turned out, but I knew I wanted to try washi tape again.

This time around, I found a great wooden picture frame on clearance at Joann. I got some awesome washi tapes from The Creative Stash on Etsy. I decided to try covering the boring brown frame with something a little more interesting. Here is how I did it:

First, gather your supplies. I used a ruler, a pencil, and three different kinds of washi tape.

Next, plan your pattern. I wanted diagonal stripes, so I first place my ruler diagonally from one corner to the opposite. I drew a line there with the pencil. Then, I made all my other lines parallel to the first one. My washi tape is 15mm wide, but I left my spaces at 1 inch because I wanted a bit of the original frame to show through as part of my pattern.

Third, start placing your washi tape along your lines. I started with my burgundy tape, placing a strip on the right-hand side of each line. Then I lined up my periwinkle floral tape next to that, leaving the very middle space open for my copper strip.

Last, I sealed the entire taped frame with Mod Podge. This did not change the look of the tape at all, but helped it remain stuck to the frame. You don't have to seal it, but I found that my tape would eventually start peeling on the ends without a thin coat of Mod Podge.

And now I need to figure out what to put in my sweet new frame. I love the way it turned out and I feel much better about my second try at washi tape crafting than I did the first time around.

{Linked on Lil Mrs Tori, Kathe With An E, New Nostalgia, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Hope Studios, Hickory Trail, Adventures of a DIY Mom}

My First Try - Washi Tape

I have been seeing so many great washi tape crafts lately, so this week, I finally decided to try it for myself. I found a couple of rolls at Target and Hobby Lobby and decided to try beautifying an ugly notebook that I got for free. Here's how it turned out:

I have an unexplainable love of notebooks, so I have quite a collection. This is one that I got for free from my eye doctor. I like using it because it is spiral bound, but it is really ugly. I think the washi tape helped, at least a bit. Nothing can help that sunglass-shaped cutout.

What I learned about using washi tape:

• Washi tape is just colorful and cute masking tape. It is easily torn and not very sticky. That is great if you want to be able to reposition it. It's not so great if you're looking for something permanent.
• Washi tape is fun, fast, and easy. I have big plans to do a washi tape frame as soon as I can get my hands on some different patterns.
• Washi tape is a bit pricey. I am now scouring the internet in search of the best deal so I can grow my washi tape collection. If you have any recommendations of where to buy it, please leave a comment and let me know!

{Linked on The Wondering Brain, Flamingo Toes, Be Different...Act Normal, This Gal Cooks, DIY Home Sweet Home, Uncommon Designs, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Keeping It Simple, Craft-o-Maniac}