Some questions for people that use washi tape

[Bluelady]

How good is washi tape at sticking to paper? Do you think that it will remain sticky for years to come? If not, what other binding material would you recommend instead? The type of paper that I have in mind are regular printer paper and sketch pad paper.

Spoiler: The reason for these questions

I’ve always wanted to create an art journal. There are some sketches that I drew during past TBT events that I wanted to include in it. They were drawn in a different sketchbook. However, I didn’t want to staple them onto the current sketchbook.

I already staple paper clippings onto my written journal and am over this method. The staples look ugly and add bulk, which makes it more difficult to close my journal.

 

[CrankyCupcake]

Not an expert on washi tape but I've used them on different surfaces and for different craft projects. I don't think washi tape will be sticky for years. From my own experience, it dries out and pretty much loses stickiness after a while. (I do live in a hot and humid place.) I think of washi tape as pretty masking tape. It's easy to use because it's easy to tear and easily removable. I can also write on it. But, because it has a low tack adhesive, it isn't going to be sticky for a long time.

 

[Bluelady]

Not an expert on washi tape but I've used them on different surfaces and for different craft projects. I don't think washi tape will be sticky for years. From my own experience, it dries out and pretty much loses stickiness after a while. (I do live in a hot and humid place.) I think of washi tape as pretty masking tape. It's easy to use because it's easy to tear and easily removable. I can also write on it. But, because it has a low tack adhesive, it isn't going to be sticky for a long time.

Ah, darn. That’s a shame. Washi tape looks so pretty. I guess that I should stick to regular tape or something. Thanks for answering my question.

 

[TurnipBell20]

I agree with CrankyCupcake. I kept some projects that I made with washi tape a few years ago, but the tape didn’t stick for that long.

 

[rosetti]

Imo it completely depends on the washi tape and surface it’s stuck to, approx 12 years ago I stuck some around my light switch as a border as well as to my chest of drawers to decorate it. It’s still there, no peeling at all, however these surfaces are smooth and I never really need to touch the tape. The one I used was also a good ‘stick’ (????lmao idk how to describe it but you know what I mean)

Vs, I stuck some to the outside of my sketchbook recently in 3 different places, it didn’t last long the area which I normally touch/use to open the sketchbook (bottom of cover) - it’s also on the edge so easily caught on stuff. This tape was also not as sticky as the one I just mentioned.

I’ve also used washi tape to create borders for paintings / sticking it to paper and peeling it off to make an edge, some tapes have ripped the paper off, some don’t even last and have peeled before I finished the painting!

Basically, it just completely depends on the surface it’s being stuck to, how sticky the tape is, and how much wear and tear it’s going to get. I think some tapes will work fine for what you’re wanting : )
If for whatever reason they start to peel or unstick, my favourite glue to use is UHU (not the pritt-stick kind, the tube one). Who knew washi tape could be such a discussion lol

 

[daringred_]

i'm gonna echo rosetti and say it depends on the tape's quality, what you're sticking it to, and how often it's likely to be touched/knocked. i have washi tape in some of my old journals that's still stuck fast two or so years later, and they're in just regular cheap notebooks. same goes for all the washi tape in my current journal, which has been stuck for months. there's also a small card on my wall that's been stuck there with a small strip of washi tape for 2-3 years and has never once fallen off despite being in a place where something occasionally catches it. if it's in a book, which will be closed most of the time, you're probably fine for a long time. if it's stuck somewhere that you're likely to accidentally flick or catch the ends frequently, there's a good chance it's going to peel away. all depends.

 

[amemome]

Also not a washi tape expert but I've noticed that my washi tapes behave more like the sticky part of a post-it note or like blue painter's tape (versus like a masking tape). They start to peel at the edges a bit if I don't really smush the adhesive to the paper. I also think washi tape doesn't stick as well to more slippery or textured papers. I agree with people saying it depends on the washi tape quality. Some of my tape has never been sticky enough from the get-go which is kinda frustrating.

 

[jadetine]

I know this is ages later, but my friend is an avid scrapbook maker and uses scrapbook adhesives to adhere things permanently to paper bases. Just food for thought.
For artbook preservation of things on printer paper, though, I have sketches from the early 2000s holding up in plastic sleeves / sheet protectors.

 

[Bluelady]

I know this is ages later, but my friend is an avid scrapbook maker and uses scrapbook adhesives to adhere things permanently to paper bases. Just food for thought.
For artbook preservation of things on printer paper, though, I have sketches from the early 2000s holding up in plastic sleeves / sheet protectors.

Oooo. I didn’t know that scrapbook adhesive was a thing. Thanks! I can use that as the first layer and the washi tape as a second layer/ pretty border.