Washi Memo Pad

More cards using the “Japanese lines” technique…

I’ve collected handmade washi cards made in Japan over the years, and I noticed that most of the cards made used what I coined the straight ‘line’ technique.  Washi in it of itself is so beautiful –  the simple, straight lines (when cutting paper) compliment the detailed, silkscreened designs.  Washi rectangles,  squares of various sizes are layered or laid out on the card, and accented with mizuhiki cords to add dimension. Here’s some tips that helped me put together my own cards….

1. Choose your favorite washi paper. One decorative, and one to use as background paper (i.e. gold, silver, patterned monotones);

2. Use cardstock that matches colors from the washi paper;

3. Accent with mizuhiki cords, peel off stickers to add dimension.

Since pictures are worth a thousand words, here’s some samples of cards I made using washi and cardstock.Basically I cut rectangles and angled or layered the washi in various ways.  The straight edge of the paper makes the card simple.  And… I made these three cards with on 8 1/2 x 11″ washi paper.  Here’s some more sample using the “Japanese lines” technique…

Basically Basically I cut rectangles and angled or layered the washi in various ways.  The straight edge of the paper makes the card simple.   More samples to follow….hope you like this new but simple technique!

Some of Sally’s samples are up on the Gallery…please check them out!  More samples to come!

Just received some sample peel off stickers in hiragana (one of the  Japanese character sets).  They say ‘arigato’ (thank you) and ‘omedeto’ (congratulations).  The stickers actually have an embossed feel to it.   I’ll be getting some in soon and will load them up onto the website. On this sample,  I used the vertical ‘arigato’ (thank you) as an accent on a card that used one of our Design panel dies….

Love, love, love these handmade cards from Japan….so simple, yet elegant….

Returned from Tokyo after attending the Japan Stationery show….it was mainly a show for office stationery products, but found and met some wonderful suppliers….  It was at the Tokyo Big Sight (nickname for Kokusai Tenjijo – Int’l Convention Center).

Tokyo Big Sight

The blossoms bloomed just in time for the SF Cherry Blossom Festival this year….so delicate and beautiful!  They had a stunning Japanese dolls…. Our Hanko paper quilting kits were inspired by this doll-making technique (kimekomi dolls)….

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More photos of washi creations at the airport…

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A whole new door is opening up for me… this world of social media is amazing.

It just seems so appropriate to start this blog with some pictures I took on my recent trip to Japan.  Believe it or not, there is a mini origami museum at the Tokyo Narita Airport, along with a shop that sold beautiful origami paper packs.  If you’re in the terminal that services United Airlines, time permitting, you can visit this mini museum before you board your flight. Appreciating all things washi, this was a pleasant surprise to me.