Obsessions - Part 2

Yesterday I wrote about my one of my obsessions of late - looking at photos of tropical destinations and drooling over them.  Another of my current obsessions takes me way out in a totally different direction.

Washi tape.  Yes, I'm obsessed with washi tape.

Throughout my life I have always enjoyed sewing and crafts (yes, I'm just a crafty person, I guess), but it has only been just recently that I have discovered washi tape in the local craft stores.

If you are unfamiliar with washi tape, it originates from Japan and is typically made from natural fibers, such as bamboo or hemp, but most commonly from the bark of trees that are native to Japan - the mulberry, the mitsumata shrub, or the gampi tree.  Most washi tapes are strong and functional, yet very pretty.  I like to think of it as a very pretty, thin masking tape.  Once I discovered washi tape, the doors were thrown wide open to a whole new multitude of crafting ideas for me.

So, since it's the season for Valentines, I have been playing around with washi tape Valentine card creations.  I wasted enjoyed a good three hours the other day experimenting with this new craft item.

Let me show you some of the things I put together.  This red card was my first effort at using washi tape.  I decided that the hardest thing about it is finding the start of the tape on the roll.  Then I learned that even if I stick the tape down incorrectly, I could remove it easily without damaging the paper.  I used three different tapes, a little twine, and a dangling heart cutout.

Front of card

Back of card

Years ago, when our four children were little, we did a lot of crafting together around the kitchen table.  We surely would have had a heyday putting washi tape to use if we had had it then, as we made a lot of Valentine's Day cards for classmates over the years.

Add in a gem for a little sparkle.

And who says Valentines need to be all pink or red?

I had fun with this last one, creating two lovebirds on a wire:

So yes, I'm enjoying my obsession with washi tape.  Kinda like my new toy.  Yeah, I'm a big kid, and I don't wanna grow up any time soon.

More obsessions continuing tomorrow.  Stay tuned.