Every now and then, someone shares something on the forum that makes us stop scrolling and say: “Wait… how did you make that?!” This was very much the case when Ksenia (aka Xute) posted her washi tape postcards some years ago!
Washi tape is one of those stationery supplies that many of us happily collect, but then sometimes struggle to actually use beyond borders, corners or little bits of decoration. Ksenia’s idea is a brilliant way to put those rolls to work: instead of drawing with pencils or paints, she uses torn pieces of tape almost like a paint brush, layering colours and textures until they become a picture. Just look at these!
The results are stunning, and Ksenia kindly gave us permission to share her process here. Maybe it will inspire you to try something similar with the tapes you already have at home!
The washi tapes from which the handmade postcards above were made are from the set on the left below — it has twenty Van Gogh-themed narrow washi. I like having sets of Van Gogh tapes like the one on the right too.
But the glue on these washi tapes is not that good: while for wider tapes I either use stick glue or stickers on top for the edges, for narrow ones it just doesn’t work in my regular decoration.
Even though it looks like it’s hard to do, it’s not at all! I just mark very general lines for the picture, and then fill it with colour of washi which fits somewhat, ripping them approximately with fingers. The Van Gogh colours do the rest of the work!
Of course with Van Gogh tapes nicest would be recreation of his own paintings which I did for the ones shown above. For next try I decided to use the motive of Wassily Kandinsky “Winter landscape” painting as a reference. In his early works he was inspired by French impressionists.
Ready to get started?
1 step — 2H pencil outlines, the houses are already covered by thin single colour tape.
2 step — Beginning of filling — I usually do the small areas first.
3 step — Filling the big areas — since Van Gogh colours are more summer-spring the winter scene will need some tinkering.
4 step — the “tails” of washi tapes cut, I used correction fluid for snow roofs and Sakura calligraphic pen of 2.0 mm for trees, windows and shadows.
5 step — Ready! Now time for laminator or a zip bag — I cut the window for the stamp on the backside, so it gets cancelled, but the card itself protected by plastic bag.
Isn’t that wonderful? We love how this technique turns tape into texture and into a beautiful picture too! It’s also a nice reminder that handmade postcards don’t need to be perfect or complicated — sometimes a few simple lines, a handful of colours, and a bit of patience are enough to make something special. Also, Ksenia says that these pictures take quite a bit of tape to make… so they’re great for removing the guilt of buying so many washi tapes! 😂
A big thank you to Ksenia for letting us share her tutorial and photos. And if you give this technique a try, we’d love to see what you make on the washi tape discussions topic! 😍
138 comments so far
Wonderful! Thank you!
Wow! This is amazing! I love seeing how creative people are! :)
what an amazing idea! :)
Gorgeous! Thank you for sharing, now people can‘t make me feel bad for having so much washi tape😂
This is amazing, thanks for sharing. I would like to try this just dont know when or will it end up the same design 😅
Wow! amazing!
So talented, even if you say it is easy :-).
Incredible, Ksenia - and so inspiring!!! Thank you, Postcrossing, for highlighting this beautiful art and fun method!
Beautiful. 🤩
So pretty and talented.
So creative😍
You are an amazing artist!
Great idea!
I can't believe it! I read the title and thought, "What.... How?" You've knocked my socks off! Congratulations!
Beautiful! 🥰
So nice thanks you👍🏻🥰
Commendable job!!!!
Such a beautiful and creative idea! I love how all those tiny pieces of washi tape come together to create something so unique. Truly inspiring! ✨
What a great idea - fun - beautiful - unique - Thanks for sharing!
I am a proud owner of one of Xute's gorgeous washi tape cards. Thank you, Ksenia!
I am truly impressed! What a wonderful work! If you ever draw my address… 😉😁
This is very cool! I love it!
Pretty, creative and love the art style of it!
Wow! Amazingly creative. Thank you for sharing this on the blog.
How fun! Thanks for sharing the in progress pictures! Very helpful. ❤️
That is amazing art! You take simple materials and create a true marvel!
Great !!! 😍
Wow 🥺❤️
This is remarkable 💜
Amazing! This is very creative.
It's lovely! It's still a collage, but using washi tape gives it a really cool texture and dimension!! Its a good idea!!
Absolutely amazing! Your talent and creativity is impressive.
Beautiful, and so creative! What an amazing idea, I will have to try some time😀
Wow! These are great!
Love it!
Have never seen this done before. Such a creative idea! 💕
Fantastically creative! I love washi tape, and never thought of this!
This is so creative! Thank you for sharing!
I absolutely love this idea. I think I am going to try this technique. Thank you for sharing!
Many thanks for sharing the “how to” of your art.
Absolutely beautiful. Thank you❣️
Wow, these are beautiful!
Fun! Will consider this in the future!
It's so cool!
Wow, that is very creative!
Amazing! What a great idea! <3 My students (https://www.postcrossing.com/user/ISOBPostcrossingClub) use them for making greeting cards :) They make all kind of shapes out of washi tapes, like hearts and flowers :) And even letters! Like "Happy Birthday" :) I will make sure to show them your inspiration!
Wow, this is stunning! I don't think I have quite enough Washi tape to do this - and I'm sure it wouldn't come out this nicely - but it's something to aspire to! Thank you for sharing
What a great idea... most be very lucky with that talent.
Thanks for letting us, see the process of making it.
This is just gorgeous ❤️ thank you so much for sharing. This technique should also work for the paintings of his partner Gabriele Münther. I would love to see one of her paintings with washi tape!
That's absolutely brilliant! Thank you for sharing, very inspiring 💫💚
Wow! Beautiful!
These are beautiful! And so creative!
Postcards are pleasant and warm memories that are always within reach. Something you can’t buy with any amount of money.
A postcard is a means of conveying positive emotions from one person to another.Postcards make people happier and the world kinder.
I like these a lot. So does my husband. Not sure if I could do it. Maybe if I start with something simple?
Very cool idea! :)
Wow!Awesome! I'm really impressed.
Beautiful 😍!
Just wow!
I treasure any handmade card I get...so much talent!
Thanks, good ideas!
So beautiful! I know it wouldn’t be as easy to replicate as it seems but I might give it a try!
Ohhhhh…. It is just awesome!
❤️ 🫴🏻 What an art ✨ ❤️
Amazing art-I love it!
very creative! love this idea
So much creativity and dedication!
Your technique is beautiful!
Hmm... interesting! A different type of collage art!
xoxo :) :D
Scrapbooking with washi tapes - I love it! Thanks für sharing!
So unexpected! And beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
This is awesome! I might have to try!
Creatively beautiful ...
Stunning love it, thank you for sharing
It's a very nice idea. Congratulations, you're a very artist 😁
Fascinating. And there are still people outside there who do not like washi tape :-)
Wow. So inspiring. I have tape I need to try this!
I love this! So creative.
Wow! Those are fantastic
Gorgeous though U said it is easy
W❤️W ----> absolutely love it !
I'm gonna do it ♡
Beautiful!
congratulations a unique piece is art
Spectacular!!! This is truly stunning. (I wish I had some artistic ability.)
Amazing ! It´s beatiful . Congratulations on your creativity.
Thank you for highlighting handmade postcards!!! We love artists sharing beauty to our world!!!!!
OMGoodness! So fun! I am a HUGE fan of washi tape and love this idea. This is a great way to use washi tape and share my creativity outside of my journal. Thank you for the tutorial and I will certainly be trying this!
Oh, it's beautiful, thank you for sharing! Here's to our washi!
You're an artist.
Oh, it's beautiful, thank you for sharing! You're an artist
So cool 😎 😍
Priceless! What an amazing piece of art, how lucky you would be to receive any piece like this in the mail :heart:
You really have a talent！👍🏻
Beautiful
This is so pretty! I don't know if I can do it. But thank you for sharing!
This is so pretty!! So creative!!
Really nice idea, thanks for the share
Really creative and a way to use up materials to make something beautiful!
Wow, impressive work
It’s supercool! I have seen her work before and love it!
How fun, I have that same Van Gogh themed washi tape.
Wait, that's so cool! You've officially inspired me, thanks for sharing~
This is gorgeous!! ♡
🥰 beautiful
Wow! they are eye catching and something completely different. Well done✔️
¡Excelente idea! ❤️👍😁💕👌
I decorated the whole laptop with stripes of washi - it looks very cool, actually profesional ;)
Wow, this is sooo wonderful! I want to get such a postcard from you! :-)
So lovely to see this here - congratulations Ksenia! I received my very own "Girl with a Pearl Earring" a few years ago and it is a true artwork!
Omg love 💕
What a fascinating story! Thank you for sharing Ksenia’ s story; she’s quite talented.
Such an interesting way to use washi-tape! Thank you a lot for the inspiration :D
Pretty! I adore handmade postcards or ones that have a drawing on them <3
Amazing⭐️
So creative and clever! I want to give it a try but I think I’ll start with basic rectangles.😁
That is so cool :))
Wow, What a great idea!!
Wonderfull and beautiful cards.
I never cease to be amazed by people's creativity! Wonderful!
Thank you for the tutorial and the inspiration!
Absolut stunning 😍 Thank You ☺️
So creative!
Absolutely stunning! Thank you for the insight into the process!
I love it!!
Ksenia was one of the first PostCrossers I sent to and we became friends, exchanging cards a number of times over the years, but hers were the most creative, often with a little history, but always with true artistry. I feel privileged to have been her "other mother" and have had her as my "other daughter"
I love this idea! I will try it!
You are so talented and creative.
So creative. Can’t wait to try it out!
I never thought something like that would be possible👀
Impressive!
It's really very cool!
That's something. Wow. Really great
Ohh this is such a great idea!! I have way too much washi tape. Now I know what to do
Thank you so much for sharing this. I'm so grateful for creative people who invest the time and effort in their craft and then generously share it. I will be trying this.
wonderful idea! love it 💓
I just made one of these tonight! So fun!
Love it! Fantastic.
Fantastic!
Wow, these are beautiful! 😍 I love the Van Gogh-inspired ones. Such a creative idea!
Omg !!!!! You are amazing ❤️🤩👏👏👏
Extreme creativity here! Thank you for sharing.
it looks awesome! i absolutely adore this postcards🤩
Beautiful postcards. Thanks for sharing how they were made!! 🥰
WOW!!!!
So beautiful
↑ Back to top ↑