Carolyn J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
How to Make Washi Tape Pens for Journaling
If you journal like I do, you may have a lot of special pens and journal tools you like to use. I like pens that write smoothly and look nice too. I recently ordered some heart shaped pens for Valentine’s Day that were pretty on their own, but I decided to turn them from ordinary into extraordinary with the help of a little decorative tape. Read on to learn how to make washi tape covered pens for journaling and more!
Washi tape covered pens
Journaling as a Kid
I’ve journaled my whole life. My grandparents gave me a fabric covered floral and blue “diary” when I first learned how to write to encourage me to do it more as practice. I used that diary or journal to document a lot. I wrote about going to the zoo, wrote a lot of people’s phone numbers and about boys I liked. I still have that journal today.
It’s fun to look at sometimes and wonder about my tiny brain learning so much and wanting to write it down. I was encouraged to do this by my grandma and I’m thankful to her for this encouragement. Little did she know how much writing was going to help me.
The pens alone are cute, but the tape makes them even better!
Journaling to Save My Brain
I continued to journal into adulthood and still practice it today. I really went through a lot of things growing up and writing helped me get out many feelings. I wrote my true feelings about so much when I didn’t feel like I had anyone to talk to about so many feelings I was having. It helped me make sense of a lot and work through my emotions in a healthy way.
I used colors that the recipient would love
I stopped writing for a while when parental figures violated my privacy (I had my notebook journal hidden under my bed but the person said I had it laying on the desk….I would not have left it there and I know they lied to me which unfortunately happened a lot) and read through it. They told me THAT I wrote lies and shamed me.
They also went through my entire room (I was visiting another parent figure for the weekend) and that really was violating, especially when I didn’t give them any reason to do so. I made good grades, had many friends, participated in many extracurricular activities so I really don’t know what they were looking for. Perhaps it was my journal that they wanted to read and I suppose they got mad when they found out that I was onto them…people do that sometimes when faced with the truth.
My favorite journal and a pen I made
Journaling to Save My Life
Writing or talking about our feelings is not only healing but normal. I abandoned writing at that time, but only for a short while. I only got better at hiding my journals. I wrote through much of the pain and abuse I endured living in that home and I credit writing for saving my life. I kept writing on and off each time I felt alone or when I felt like I was not going to be able to continue on in the world and know it really helped. I had therapists, but writing down my feelings was a quick and easy way to release feelings when you can’t run to the therapist.
I love the pink floral washi tape
Burning Like a Phoenix
In my 30’s I read through many of my old journals and decided it was time to move on. Reading them was very painful and they had served their purpose, so I let them go. I burned almost all my journals and other items that linked me to my abusive past. My husband and I did it together, at the end of one year, in a healing celebration in our backyard and it felt good. Just like the legendary phoenix, I felt I burned the past and rose back up into a new way of life.
Why You Should Journal + My Favorite Journals
I still journal today. I don’t do it every day, but have several journals going. I ordered a leather journal with natural paper pages that is beautiful. See it here on Amazon. Sometimes I write in my journals, and sometimes I draw. Sometimes I add color, washi tape, highlight things and more. I write prayers, feelings, hopes and dreams. I’ve even journaled about food when I was tracking my diet to form healthier eating habits.
There’s no wrong or right way to journal. I encourage anyone to journal as I know how much it helps me. Here’s a great article from Psychology Today that talks about even more benefits for journaling. Here are some other journals I have used and love:
Here’s a cute wax seal card tutorial via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden that you could use your washi tape pens for (like I did) to write a message to a loved one:
The Project Tutorial + Discount
Now for the project! If you order anything from Temu, use my code afe55197 for 30% off or use my link here. Here’s what you need:
Pens of your choice (I like these heart pens from Temu or Amazon has some too)
Washi tape (I found Mr. Pen washi tape was best due to it’s sticky level, but the shimmery Harry Potter tape I ordered from Amazon was fun too)
Note: If you don’t have washi tape, colorful tape of any kind will probably work for this project. I’ve made cute duct tape covered pens too and they looked great too! Washi tape is simply made from tree fibers so it’s lightweight and you could even cover an entire journal with it!
The washi tape pen project supplies
See my 1-minute video tutorial for this project below or via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
How-To:
Start by wrapping the washi tape of your choice around the bottom of the pen. I left the cap on to make sure I didn’t wrap that area, as I was afraid I couldn’t get the cap back on. I wrapped it around once and cut it off. Washi tape tears really easy, so you could just tear it.
The tape can be cut or torn
Next I started wrapping the washi tape at a diagonal, going up the pen.
I used Honey Dukes washi tape for a kid that just visited a Harry Potter theme park
When I got to the heart, I cut the tape off and started wrapping it around the heart, pushing the tape roll in and out of the heart shape as I wrapped.
Weaving the tape around the heart
I cut the tape off when I reached the last section of the heart.
Finishing off the project
I noticed some of the ends of the tape popping up a bit (we currently live in a humid climate, and humidity could have been the problem) so I wrapped a complimentary piece of washi tape around the ends.
Wrapping extra tape on the ends
I put a little glue on the ends of the tape and smeared it a bit with my fingers.
Adding glue to keep the tape in place
I let the glue dry overnight and noticed the tape was staying secured. Then the pens were ready to use!
If you loved this project, we think you’ll like this one too: How to Take a Sand or Snow Heart Photo
Carolyn J. Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.