Scrapbook washi tape for tabs, borders and photo mats
Use washi tape in a scrapbook to mark a date, edge or photo group. Test the tape on spare material and use copies of precious photographs before attaching tape to them.
A roll of washi tape adds a strip of pattern without cutting paper. Try one pattern first; add another only if the page needs it.
Put the tape under a photo row or along a section edge. A small tab can mark a chapter without covering the page.
Try this in your own scrapbook
Arrange your photos on the pages of a digital scrapbook in your browser.
Test the roll on spare paper
Try the tape on the same paper you plan to use. Check whether it lifts, curls or tears the surface when removed.
Do not assume a removable label guarantees safe removal from an old photo. Use a copy or keep the tape on the surrounding mat.
Keep stripes facing the same way
Run striped tape in the same direction across a photo group. Check the direction before cutting each strip.
Use cut ends for a straight boundary or torn ends around a loose group. Keep the ends consistent within that group.
Keep dates and handwriting uncovered
Leave tape off faces, handwriting and printed dates. Keep the full ticket number visible if it is a detail you want to retain.
For a digital arrangement, use a strip shape or your own photograph of tape. Check permissions before using a downloaded graphic.
Steps
A dated tab
Fold a short strip around the outer edge of a divider sheet. Put the date on the page beside it.
A photo row
Run one strip below three photographs from the same event. Leave a small plain gap between the tape and the pictures.
A ticket mat
Mount a ticket copy on plain paper. Put tape on the mat's corners without covering the ticket's printed details.
A chapter edge
Repeat a vertical tape strip on the first page of each chapter. Keep ordinary pages free of the strip so the chapter openings stand out.
Questions
Can washi tape hold a photo on its own?
Try the tape on your page material first. If it lifts, use a separate way to hold the photo and leave the tape as decoration.
Should I tape an old family photograph?
Keep tape off a unique original. Put the photograph in removable holders or use a copy for any arrangement that places tape over the image.
How many patterns should one page use?
Begin with one patterned roll and one plain colour if needed. Add another pattern only when it helps distinguish a separate group.