Washi tape is awesome, but it can be surprisingly expensive. With this little hack, you can turn just one roll of cheap masking tape into many colorful washi tapes!

Masking tape is something I love for many purposes anyways, so I normally have it at home already. What I like about this method is that the end result feels pretty similar to real washi tape. You can tear it just like the store-bought version!

Another benefit of course is that you can customize the tapes completely - which makes them great for gift wrapping for example.

There are many ways to make washi tape - but this method doesn't require sticker paper, a printer or double-sided tape.

Supplies

masking tape
paper
plastic tape (like clear tape)
scissors
watercolors, acrylic paints, markers, pencils, stamps, etc.

Step 1: Preparation (Update)

As a base for the washi tape we will use masking tape, which has very similar properties.

First, we need something to stick the masking tape to so we can personalize it.

I tried baking paper at first, but tape doesn't like to stick to it very much.

When I wrote this tutorial, I used a plastic sheet protector for folders as a base for the washi tape. It worked for a while, but after a few weeks it was really hard to peel off the tape.

So do this instead:

Stick some plastic tape onto paper and try to avoid folds. Wider packing tape is good, because it gives you a bigger area for the masking tape to stick to. The color of the tape doesn't matter.

Other options: A thicker sheet of plastic, like acetate. Or something laminated.

Stick a few pieces of washi tape to the paper and it's ready to be customized!

Step 2: Watercolors & Acrylic Paint

I believe pretty much any kinds of paints will work on the masking tape!

Using watercolors is one option that I tried. They will give the tape a matte effect. The only downside of course is that the colors won't be waterproof.

If you would like more durable colors on your tape, I would recommend acrylic paint. I realised that using a thick layer of acrylic paints will create a streaky effect, so I watered them down a bit for a smoother result. They are shiny compared to watercolors.

Any watery paints will make the masking tape warp a bit. It's not really a problem, but it can affect the look of the tape a bit. If you want to avoid that, try to use as little water as possible.

Step 3: Optional: Shiny Details

I used metallic acrylic paints (with a little water) for shiny details that make the washi tapes 10 times better. A simple but fun effect is splattering paint across the tape. For another design, I simply drew random lines across the tape.

Step 4: Markers & Pencils

Colored pencils (picture 1) are another way to add some color. They're good for backgrounds because the colors come out more pale on the washi tape. They also worked great on top of paint for more depth and color.
When it comes to markers, I recommend permanent markers like Sharpies (picture 2). They don't smudge and are nice and opaque.
Normal water-based markers / fineliners can work too (picture 4), but they have to dry for a long time (like overnight). In some cases, they never seem to dry (if the surface is too plasticky and non-absorbent). What worked for me: Drawing directly on the masking tape or on a base of watercolors they dried overnight, but on acrylic paint they still smudged after days.
One thing I didn't try is stamps, but they would be great for this project, depending on the ink or paint you use.

Step 5: Trimming the Tape

Then all that's left to do is to trim the tape! Be sure to leave a bit of plastic at the end of the strips (picture 2), otherwise it's quite hard to peel off the tape. (I learned that the hard way :p )

Step 6: Using and Storing It

Now your DIY washi tape is ready to be used! Tear it or cut it, use it in journals, for gift wrapping, art etc.

As you can imagine, this project isn't meant for mass producing big amounts of washi tape. But it's great for making small amounts of super personalized tape that can be used for very specific occasions. And often we just need a small amount of tape anyway!

I mainly rolled up the tape for good pictures - I just used paperclips to hold them together. But you can just store them in their flat state in a folder.

I had fun making art that can be used for future projects - maybe you'll give it a go too!