I’ve been making cards for my family for a long time, ever since I was a kid, really. I bought a pack of deep red card stock one year, and I’ve been slowly making my way through it for years. When I discovered washi tape, it was a game-changer. The history of washi paper, the ancestor from which the tape derives, goes back centuries in Japanese culture. An incredibly practical and versatile invention, the durable paper has been used for all sorts of things — from those sliding screens you see in Japanese traditional homes and films to origami, lamps, prints, and books. Marie Kondo, organization and decluttering expert, suggests using it as an all-purpose label or decorative tape to help with staying organized. I have a little drawer full of different colours and patterns. Not only do I use them to decorate greeting cards, but I’ve also used washi to make a photo collage on my wall of family pictures, to decorate journal entries, and as a substitute for scotch or masking tape when I might want to remove the tape later. That’s one of the main benefits of washi, apart from the beautiful designs. You can often stick it down and remove it without damaging whatever surface you put it on. Washi tape affords so many papercrafting possibilities, but also just artistic potential in general. We have several books in our collection with ideas for how to use it and other papercrafting supplies and tools. I thought I would take the opportunity to show you the ones I find the most intriguing. I’ll also share pictures and links to craft projects that inspire me creatively in the hopes that you see something that nourishes a creative spark in you. It’s so easy to make your own cards or start learning calligraphy or create your own art piece using washi paper and/or washi tape. Whether you’re more of a scrapbooker, bullet journaller, or neither, it’s so easy to create art when you have beautiful paper, pens, or tape around. I’ve included a picture of the Mother’s Day card I made this year above. No washi tape this time, but I still think it turned out okay. The topmost layer is a transparent cut-out from a card a relative gave me back in the day. The two layers underneath are scrapbooking paper from Michaels — one gives the appearance of lace and the bottom is a glittery, peach-pink colour. It was cheaper than buying a card, so I encourage you to try your own someday!