Make Your Own Washi Tape Wall Decals
Last Updated on March 3, 2022
I am not going to lie. I am SUPER proud of my washi tape wall decal project. As far as I can tell, this is an original idea. YAY ME! Now, I totally confess that the idea of making letters our of washi tape is nothing new–it's all over Pinterest {and whoever the idea originated with is a creative genius}. BUT, I decided to take it one step further to create washi tape wall decals! Gasp! I know, it's exciting. Now, read on for the tutorial so you can tackle this awesome project yourself! This post contains some affiliate links. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
How to Make Your Own Washi Tape Wall Decals
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Materials needed:
- Printed letter templates {print your own letters in any font and size you want–I used Arial font, size 600 for most of my letters}
- Washi tape. I purchased most of mine at Michael's, but Amazon has some fabulous options, like these: Wrapables Set of 6 Japanese Washi Masking Tape Collection
- Parchment paper
- Scissors
- A utility or crafting knife
- A crafting mat or cutting board
Steps
1) Start by printing out your letter template(s) onto standard printer paper. I printed only the letters I needed. For my chosen wall quote {A DREAM IS A WISH YOUR HEART MAKES} I needed the following letters: A, E, I, K, M, O, R, S, U, W. Bear in mind that I used a heart shape in favor of spelling out “heart” and used existing 3D letters I had for the word “dream.”
2) Next, cut out your letter templates. Note that some letters will be duplicated. Instead of printing them off and cutting them out twice, you can use the same template to create multiple washi tape letters–yay for saving time! Notice that I only pre-cut out the outer shape. I did not pre-cut out the inner portions because I felt that leaving them in place would make the paper more stable when using the cut out as a guide for step 4.
3) Once your templates are cut out, place a piece of parchment paper on top of your first letter. Begin sticking strips of washi tape onto the parchment paper so that each strip extends slightly beyond the edge of your letter. Be sure also to overlap each piece of tape on top of the prior piece of tape. This will ensure that the letter stays together when you are ready to peel it off the parchment paper and put it on the wall.
4) Now, flip the parchment paper over and put it on top of your mat or cutting board, so that the washi tape strips are facing down. Place your letter template on top of it. Use your utility knife or crafting knife to cut out your washi tape letter, using the template as your guide. You can use a binder clip to clip them together while you cut to prevent slippage. Note, I used a utility knife because that's all I had on hand. I HIGHLY recommend a nice, sharp crafting knife if you have one {I need to get one}.
For the heart, I folded a piece of paper in half and free-handed a heart shape on one-half of the paper. Then I cut it out with the paper folded in half to ensure that it was totally symmetrical. Then I followed the same steps as above for placing the tape and cutting out the finished shape.
Let me tell you, this project was EASY, but it was time-consuming and messy. Here is a photo of my dining room table where I completed this project at the end of the day. Total disaster area.
5) Now you are ready to plan your wall placement. With the parchment paper still in place, I used a strip of scotch tape on each letter to place them on the wall. I played around with them until I was happy with the placement.
6) When you are ready to adhere your letters directly on your wall, carefully peel the parchment paper off starting at the top and continuing as you adhere it to the wall. Sorry folks, I forgot to take photos of this step {and frankly, did not have enough hands to photograph while sticking them on the wall}. QUICK TIP: If you have a laser level, use it for this step to keep all of the letters nice and even!
Final thoughts: I was not sure the washi tape would stick well enough, but it turns out that it does! This was one of the very first projects I tackled in the girls' room after the walls were painted, so as of today, the washi tape wall letters have been hanging for about 6 weeks. So far, so good! The heart shape decal started curling a tiny bit on one corner {I blame the fact that I moved it several times after placing it on the wall}, so I used a tiny bit of rubber cement to adhere it back to the wall and that worked like a charm. All of the letters are firmly in place with no peeling or curling. Note also that if you do misplace something and have to peel it off and reposition it, IT DOES NOT DAMAGE YOUR WALLS OR PAINT AT ALL! How awesome is that?!
This is an EASY project that anyone can do! And the possibilities are endless. You could use this method to put your child's name on their bedroom wall or to decorate certain walls of your home for holidays. What do you think, will you give it a shot? If you do, please share photos with me!
I am thrilled that this post was featured on the following wonderful blogs:
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Do you have an update? Are the letters and heart still sticking/not curling after all this time?
In the past three months we have started having some curling, but I think it is prompted by my girls picking it!!! It held solid for about three years!
Great idea! So simple and cute! I begged a friend to bring me back the real stuff from Japan, but when I finish with that, I am going straight to trying this! :) Thank you!
Thanks so much Monica! Have fun with it!
This seems like a great idea for a college dorm room where you can rarely put holes in the wall. I have not worked with washi tape before and will look into this project more for my son’s dorm room where he has a lot of blank walls.
Thanks, April! Washi tape is fabulous and so, so versatile!
I saw this over at 3 little greenwoods and thought I would stop by to see your tutorial. What a great idea. I love Washi tape, it’s so versatile, I just need to get me some more! I’m trying to think where in our house I can try this out now! Love love lovity love this idea!
Hi Julie! Thanks so much for popping over. This is such a fun project! I hope you tackle it yourself. If you do, I would LOVE to see how your project turns out!
Great IDEA! I have not gotten into the Washi tape craze…I’m still “STUCK”<—-(yes i meant to do that) on the duct tape phase.
This is a definite PIN!
LOL, Melissa! Thanks so much. I have not gone through a duct tape phase…yet! Thank you for stopping by and for the pin!
That turned out awesome! I never would have thought to do that! Pinning to the Monday Funday board! Thanks for linking it up!
Thank you, Katie! I appreciate you stopping by and for pinning my washi tape wall decals!
Such a cute idea! I saw this from MRL Catch as Catch can and had to come over and pin it and say how cute it is!
Hi Stephanie! So glad you stopped by. Thank you for your sweet comment. Enjoy your weekend!
Great share!!! Thank you soooo much a must try :)
Hi Mari! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comment. You definitely should give this a try. It’s SO fun! I would love to see how your project turns out. Let me know!
This is awesome! I will be using this idea for something….just have to figure out the perfect spot!! :) Thanks!
So glad you like it, Jamie! I would love to see what spot you pick and how your project turns out :)
Oh Girl! This is a great project!Love it! Featuring you tomorrow at WIW. Have a great night!
Thanks so much for the feature, Aniko! I really, really appreciate it!
What a great idea! I am featuring you Thursday on Made in a Day! Thanks for linking up with me!
Kim
Oh THANK YOU, Kim! You made my night!
Wowww, looks realy great, and nice blog by the way :)
Thank you so much! So glad you stopped by. I hope you’ll be back!
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!! Everything about that room is amazing and that wall decal is so smart Pinning!!!
XOXO
Cami
Great project !!
I would love you to come and share @ Craft, Create & Inspire linky party !!!
Look forward to seeing you there :)
http://livel0vecreate.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/craft-create-inspire-linky-party_11.html
Claire x
Wow Tasha…This idea is sure a hit! I think it is Awesome too! I’m going to try it in blue and green for my boys. I’m featuring it in the morning on OneKriegerChick from the Hit Me With Your Best Shot Link Party. Thanks for linking up and hope to see you again this Tuesday at 7!
Happy Day!
~Ariean http://onekriegerchick.com/
Thank you so much, Ariean! I really appreciate the feature! Going to grab my featured button :) And I plan to see you every Tuesday. So excited about your party!
Great idea. It amazes me how many things can be done with washi tape. It really makes it easier (and cheaper) to redecorate every few months.
It really is the most versatile material I have found {other than paint, of course}! And it’s so, so fun to mix all the patterns and colors!
I love this! We rent so something like this would be perfect for us! (Love that quote by the way!)
Hi Stephanie! Oh yes, washi tape wall decals are a fabulous option for renters. My girls LOVE Cinderella, so I had to use some quote from that movie. I love it, too :) Thanks so much for stopping by!
So cute! I love the idea of using parchment paper to create a kind of sticker! Great job!
Hi Hilary! Thanks so much. It is so fun and the possibilities are endless!
I LOVE this Tasha! Your color and pattern choices are so perfect!
Hi Amy! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet comment. I am LOVING washi tape right now. So many beautiful options out there! Have a great weekend.
Yeah! This looks like a great way to use up some of my Washi tape… Now to get a craft room where I can decorate the walls. :)
Chris, you really must try it! And it would be the perfect project to adorn the walls of a craft room :)
LOVE! What a creative use for Washi tape. I’d love for you to share this at my weekly link party. Hope to see you there! http://www.thelifeofjenniferdawn.com/2014/01/a-little-bird-told-me-link-party-73.html
Thank you, Jennifer! I will check out your link party. Thanks for letting me know about it!
This is such an amazing and absolutely adorable idea! Washi tape is so much fun — kind of addictive!
Hi Carol. Thank you so much. Yes, I agree that washi tape is addictive. There are just SO many patterns and possibilities. I love it!
Oh my goodness, that is adorable! I found your post on Smart School House at the Whimsy Wednesday party. Pinned and on my to do list!
Hi Steffany! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet comment. Heading to check out your blog now!
I have to feature this… as a person who is renting and you don’t want to hang a lot of things cause of holes, damage .. etc … use tape! GENUIS!
Thank you so much! I saw that you added my link to your blog. I am so flattered and am so glad you like the idea. And it is a wonderful option for rental spaces since it peels off so easily and without damage {based on my experience, at least}!
So cute and original! I love this.
Thank you, Bre!
Holy bologna! These are adorable! I have a washi tape obsession, but unfortunately, I’ve never even owned any. :/
Liz
Awww, thank you, Liz! So glad you like them! I did not buy my first washi tape until tackling this project. After working with it, I am officially in love with it!
Holy cow this idea is so totally amazing!! I have to do this in my kids rooms!
Hi Susan! So glad you like this idea. It really is so, so much fun to pick out patterns and colors and see them all come together in these wall decals. I would love to see how your project turns out when you are done. Please send photos!
This is such a great idea, Tasha. Thank you so much for joining this week’s Project Inspire{d}. Pinning!
I love this idea! I keep purchasing different sized templates from stores and such… I love my printer! Frankly I can’t believe I didn’t think of printing the letters like this myself lol. So simple! Thank you so much for sharing this project! I found your blog through one of those places you link and I’m glad I did!
Jeanine, Canada
Yep, you can just print your own, Jeanine! So glad you found my blog and took the time to stop by and check it out. If you tackle this project, please send me photos of how it turns out. I genuinely love seeing other people’s spin on things.
Great idea! so cute, thanks for sharing all the how to details! http://www.handmadeintheheartland.com/
Hi Angela! It’s my pleasure to share ideas. Honestly, I still can’t quite get over the fact that people enjoy reading about them! Thanks for stopping by!
This is beautiful! I love the colors you picked :) Thanks for the step by step directions.
So glad you like it Lauren. It really is SUCH a fun project. If you give it a try, I would love to see how yours turns out!
What a cool idea! I really love the tape patterns too.
Thanks so much, Megan! I appreciate you stopping by and taking the time to comment!
This is a wonderful idea! Love the way it turned out. The patterns you chose work together so nicely.
Hi Glenna–thanks so much for stopping by again! I am thrilled with the way this project turned out. I am glad others like it, also! Have a wonderful weekend!
What a great idea! I will have to make some of these for my room. They are perfect for dorm rooms and I love that I can just buy washi tape to match my room already!
Thanks!
Jaclyn
teacupsandcake.blogspot.ca
Hello again! Trust me, this is SUCH a fun project. I would love to see how yours turns out. Send me a photo when you are done!
So awesome!!! What a great idea! Thanks so much for linking up to the Wowza weekend link party!
Thanks, Mindi! It’s my pleasure to link up to your wonderful party. This week I linked up the girls’ princess room. I am sure next week you will see this washi tape project :) Have a fabulous weekend!
This is adorable! I’m in love with Washi tape and I’m always looking for new ways to use it.
Thanks so much, Katie! I am sure I will be linking this up at your party next week :)
Such a cute idea Tasha- I love all the color and pattern!!
Thanks, Krista! Washi tape is a new obsession with mine. The colors and patterns are endless. I just love it!