How to DIY Rainbow Washi Tape with Colorful Dual Brush Pens

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I have a confession to make. I am TOTALLY addicted to Washi Tape (can I get an Amen?). But, it can be expensive, so I did a bunch of hands-on research and developed how to DIY Rainbow Washi Tape with my favorite, and most colorful Tombow Dual Brush Pens. The secret is a specific type of tape that I found at the drug store. Scroll down for the full tutorial and create some rainbow goodness with me today!

Create DIY Rainbow Washi Tape with a Simple Drugstore Supply

This post, How to DIY Rainbow Washi Tape with Colorful Dual Brush Pens, contains affiliate links. Using links to these sites means I will earn a percentage of the purchase at no extra cost to you.

Here's what you need to make your own Colorful Washi Tape:

• Tombow Dual Brush Pens – in a rainbow of colors
• MONOTWIN Permanent Marker from Tombow
• Tombow Xtreme Permanent Adhesive
• Nexcare Gentle Paper Medical Tape by 3M
• Non-Stick Craft Sheet from Ranger
• Craft Knife
• Scissors
• Bone Folder
• Hardcover Blank Journal or Sketchbook
• Americana Acrylic by DecoArt – Titanium White
• Paintbrush

Here's how to create your own DIY Washi Tape:

STEP ONE

I experimented with a bunch of different types of tape before I found the one that worked perfectly.  Nexcare Gentle Paper medical tape by 3M was the winner!  Start by applying strips to a non-stick craft sheet, and then trim the ends with a craft knife or scissors. 

STEP TWO

Create a color palette sample with a variety of Dual Brush Pens, making sure to record the number at the bottom of each swatch with the MONOTWIN Permanent Marker. Notice that the colors are a bit muted, so select the brighter, bolder colors of Dual Brush Pens for our DIY Rainbow Washi Tape project.

STEP THREE

I chose a selection of my favorite rainbow-inspired Dual Brush Pen colors to create my DIY Washi Tape.  Color the red, yellow, blue, and violet strips in solid with the side of the brush tip.  Create a dot pattern on the orange strip with pink, an arrow inspired pattern on the green strip with three shades, and a wave pattern on the indigo strip with a lighter and darker tone. 

STEP FOUR

This paper-based medical tape is a bit rough, so I used the broad tip of the MONOTWIN Permanent Marker to create the patterns on my DIY Rainbow Washi Tape.  Circles, chevron, swirls, and flowers, just to name a few, but the possibilities are truly endless. Create custom Washi tape to use on all your favorite projects!

STEP FIVE

I covered a plain journal with my Japanese inspired DIY Rainbow Washi Tape.  Paint the journal cover with white acrylic paint, so that the colors really POP!  Measure the center of the height of the journal and make a mark on the spine.  Starting with green, carefully peel each strip of DIY Rainbow Washi Tape from the non-stick craft sheet, attach to the spine, then smooth across the front and back covers gently with a bone folder.  Fold over and secure to the inside of the front and back covers. 

Trim the red and violet strips with a craft knife and wrap around the top and bottom edges of the journal covers.  Apply Tombow Xtreme Permanent Adhesive to the first page of the journal, then attach it to the inside cover, smooth with a bone folder.  Repeat with the last page and inside back cover to transform the plain journal into a rainbow journal. 

How to Make Japanese Inspired DIY Rainbow Washi Tape:

Washi tape has to be one of the most iconic craft supplies that we have received from Japan.  Here is how it all started…Washi Tape, or Japanese masking tape, first originated in Japan by the business Kamoi Kakoshi Co., Ltd. under the name MT or masking tape. In 2006 Kamoi received an email from a group of creative women who developed a bookmaking use of their industrial masking tape. Kamoi received a package from the group which contained colorful, beautifully designed pages all created with masking tape! After a big art exhibition in Tokyo and plenty of media coverage, they took the plunge and began to work on producing the Washi Tape rolls for use in creative design projects!  Kamoi not only created numerous colors but also designs that were cute and trendy.  WOW!  An ordinary group of crafty women started the Washi Tape trend – very impressive! 

I hope that you have been inspired by my DIY Rainbow Washi Tape and journal cover project. Use it as a jumping-off point to showcase YOUR creativity. 

Tombow Dual Brush Pens are extremely versatile. Check out my Floral Globe Watercolor with FREE Printable project or my How to Tie Dye Coffee Filters and create some fun gift wrapping!

Thanks for stopping by!