How to Make Personalized DIY Washi Tape with Leftover Napkin Layers

If you love art and collage journaling but don’t always have the space or energy to pull out your paints, markers, and pens, I have a fun project for you.

Let me show you how to make DIY personalized washi tape using something you might already have in your art supplies. You know that left over, thin, plain layer underneath the pretty decorative paper napkin that we often discard when using the top layer with matte medium? Instead of throwing it away, let’s turn it into something useful! With a little watercolor paint, some handwriting, a few favorite markers, and double-sided tape, you can create your own personalized washi tape to use in your art / collage journals or other creative projects.

Start with the leftover white napkin layering

When using decorative napkins in our art journals, we typically separate the pretty top layer from the plain white layer underneath. The printed layer is wonderful for adding imagery and patterns to a collage, but those leftover white layers are just as useful. Because the paper is thin and lightweight (like tissue paper), it works beautifully for making delicate, handmade washi tape. I love this project because you can personalize your washi, experiment with color, handwriting, scribbles, doodles, and marks.

Add paint, handwriting, and marks

Start by laying out your napkin layer on a protected surface. You can add any paint you’d like, such as gouache, watercolor, inks, spray paint, or even acrylic. Just know that the type of paint you add will change the texture and thickness. You can paint abstract blends, or gets as detailed as you like. Once you’ve added your paint, set it aside to dry completely before creating your washi.

Paint is not the only thing you can use to make designs. I tried Sharpies, Tombow markers, and Posca Acrylic Markers. But experiment and play with different types to see what works for you. I used a thin tipped Sharpie for the handwriting, one it kept from bleeding out and also from tearing the napkin.

The larger tipped markers and the amount of moisture coming from the tip can tear the napkin so be light with your pressure and don’t stay in one play too long.

You can add marks, lines, drawings, doodles, dots, scribbles and handwriting. I used a napkin for just handwriting and then I played with different doodles and marks, then when I went to create my washi I tore them into smaller pieces (see the video).

One thing I do love about working this way is that the designs don’t have to be perfect or carefully planned out. You’re only able to apply the thickness of your tape. For example, I’m using a 1” double-sided tape so I only get to see an inch of the design at a time. It changes the perspective of it once it’s in that format, so just play on your napkin with the design.

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Turning your decorative napkins into DIY washi tape

Once you decorated napkin layers are completely dry, the next step is selecting the thickness of the double sided tape you want to use. There are so many out there, I’m using a 1-inch tape that comes with a protective backing on it. I get mine from Amazon, but I’ve tested many, including regular double sided tape and as long as you use a piece of wax paper you can use that to create your washi. See this video for the different types I’ve tested.

Unroll the length of double-sided tape you need and carefully apply the tape, smooth it down gently so the thin paper doesn’t wrinkle or tear. Trim away the excess napkin around the edges. I like to tear the extra napkin off and continue above along the tape to make longer pieces, but once your length of tape is done, cut away from the roll and then either leave your edges raw from the tear or use a pair of scissors to clean up the edges.

Why make your own washi tape

One of the reasons I enjoy this technique so much is that it lets me add my own painting, handwriting and expressive marks to a collage spread without having to do all the work directly in my journal. One it’s not permanent, if I don’t like it. Two, it personalizes the page with my own marks and three because it means I don’t have to bring paints, markers, etc with me on the go or when I’m in bed, I can still add my personal touches to my spreads.

When I’m creating in bed or taking my mini journal with me on the go, setting up paints and spreading out pens and markers isn’t always practical. Sometimes I just want to grab my little creative kit, open my journal, and start making something without a lot of preparation. Having handmade washi tape ready to use makes that possible.

I can add a strip of watercolor, a bit of my handwriting, or a few playful marks to a page without needing to bring along all the supplies I would normally need to make them.

Store-bought washi is wonderful, but when you make your own creating something that reflects your own colors, thoughts, and creative style. Even a tiny strip of tape can become a meaningful part of a collage page when you’ve made it yourself.

And let’s not forget that we’re giving those leftover napkin layers a second life! I love finding ways to use the supplies I already have and turning something that might otherwise be discarded into a useful part of my creative practice.