DIY Craft Project: Washi Tape Wall Art
Washi tape, that Japanese invention of colorful, graphic, artful masking tape, is a big rage in the crafting world. You can use it to decorate scrapbooks, greeting cards, wrapping paper and more. For our purposes at Young America, we used it to create some one-of-a-kind wall art.
While on-location for a recent photo shoot, I created artwork with painted canvases + Washi tape. I painted the canvases in an ombre wash of shades of yellow, and then crafted stripes, starbursts and an abstract nature scene with simple Washi tape designs.
Here are some behind-the-scenes photos…
First, I prepared the paint in varying shades of yellow + white on a palette board. I used just one vibrant yellow acrylic paint + white…
…then covered the canvas with a light wash…
…and added more intense color to create a bolder finish…
Finally, I added the graphic detail with the magic of Washi tape. I ripped the edges intentionally for a playful look…
Here’s the finished result of the Washi Tape Art on the set of the Young America photo shoot…
A sweet baby nursery with pops of coral & yellow, featuring a beautiful Young America Grace Crib and hand-made Washi Tape Art.
You can re-create a similar design, or come up with your own creation. Washi tape is available online or at your local craft store. Decide on a specific color scheme that complements your walls, linens & furnishings. Then plan your design strategy. The ripped edges add to the artful look, so no cutting tools are required (unless you want nice clean lines).
Another fun and creative way to add a playful feel to a child’s bedroom is to use the tape on a colorful wall, crafting a large graphic illustration. See this inspiring example…
image via Pinterest (see more of our finds on our Young America Washi Tape Pinterest board).
…Or, think outside of the box and make something magical with Washi tape, like this fun idea for a child’s bicycle…
image via Netherlands HEMA website
We hope this post inspires you to do a little creating of your own.
Washi tape comes in countless colors and patterns. Let us know what you create…
Patti Borrelli is an interior designer, photo stylist, design blogger, and mom of two teen girls. She works with Young America on catalog photo shoots to create inspiring kids rooms and baby nurseries. She develops DIY ideas for crafting unique and personal creations, from finger-painting fun to colorful paper pom-pom displays to Washi tape art. Most recently, Patti collaborated with our Young America design team to launch a brand new look for our new showroom, set to premier at the Spring Furniture Market in High Point, NC. FMI about Patti, visit her personal blog: www.besostyle.com
DIY Craft Project: Sun Prints
If you LOVE Blue like we do, then you’ll love these bright, beautiful Sun Prints (aka: cyanotypes) for your child’s living spaces. All you need is a sunny day, a few elements of nature - handpicked from your yard or collected on a nature hike - water, and light sensitive paper. It’s a project that suits even the shortest of attention spans, your child’s or your own, with very satisfying results.
For our project, the Young America crew chose to work with plants and beach shells on sun print paper. Here’s a shot (above) of the beautiful results - each print mounted, framed and hung on a wall. We’ve also seen collages, mobiles and other hanging art with sun prints of all sizes in varying shades of blues.
6 FUN STEPS TO SUN PRINTS
Step 1 – What you need
sun print paper*
acrylic sheet
cardboard or paper towel
a tub full of cool water
fun and interesting nature objects to print
*There are many sources of sun print paper. Art and craft supply shops often carry it. You can also buy it online: Dick Blick, Blue Sunprints, Sunprints.org, Steve Spangler Science, and Fat Brain Toys or go to Amazon.com and enter “Sun Print Paper”.
Step 2 – Arrange objects on a piece of sun paper out of the reach of the sun.
For best results, arrange your objects on the paper and prepare your print indoors or under a porch where the sun cannot reach the paper. Direct sunlight causes quick exposure of the paper. Ambient light in the shade or a room with big windows will cause slow exposure of the paper.
Step 3 – Place an acrylic pressing sheet (ie: plexiglass) on top to flatten and hold your items to the paper
Use an acrylic pressing sheet when making prints of flat or almost-flat objects to help sharpen the edges between blue and white in your print. Ambient sunlight outdoors will find its way underneath the edges of your objects if they are not pressed firmly to the paper, and you will get sun prints with blended contrasts.
Step 4 – Take your sun print composition outside and place it in direct sunlight for 2-5 minutes.
The areas of the paper exposed to the sun will fade from blue to white. When you see most of the color disappear from the paper, your print has been fully exposed. If no direct sunlight is available, don’t worry – just expose your print a little longer and wait for the same fading effect. Under cloud cover, the process will take 5-20 minutes depending on the thickness of the clouds.
Step 5 – Rinse your paper in cool water. Watch the white turn into blue and the blue turn into white.
It’s magical! To get the deepest blue, leave the paper in the water for awhile: 1-5 minutes.
Step 6 – Lay your sun print flatly on paper towel or cardboard and allow it to dry.
Putting it on something absorbent will help to avoid the formation of water spots by drawing the water away from the sun print paper. By the time the water has dried you will have a vibrant blue sun print!
Children are fascinated with the magical transformation of blue to white, then white to blue. It’s an art and science project all in one! Have fun and please share your results with us on Pinterest or Facebook.
Source: youngamerica.com
DIY Craft Project: Painted Pots
Painting terra cotta pots is a fun way to turn an ordinary object into something extraordinary. Plants, pencils, paint brushes and pens - a pot painted by your child’s hand adds a little personality, organization and flare. Hand painted flower pots are great gift ideas for grandparents too. Terra cotta pots are readily available at your local garden center in various sizes and shapes.
Acrylics work best for painted pots as terra cotta is clay, a naturally absorbent material. Acrylics are glossy and bright. If you choose a water-based poster or tempera paint, then finish the whole thing with a glossy, clear polyurethane spray to make the paint vibrant and prevent it from flaking, fading or washing away. Make a whole bunch of them and, most of all, have FUN.
Here’s a good painted pot How-to from Martha Stewart on the Michael’s website too.
As seen in the Young America All Seasons Design Guide
