Washi talkin' about?

Just a quickie post today, to share a fun/crazy/simple idea I tried several weeks ago.

I was drooling on looking at my washi tape collection while pulling some supplies for a page, when it occurred to me that the washi patterns are every bit as fun as those patterned nail polish strips I adore. 

So I decided to try a washi mani...because, why not?

All you need is a roll of fun washi tape, some scissors, an orange stick, and a nail file.

First, I cut a strip and stuck it to my fingernail.

Then I trimmed off the excess at the tip with my scissors, used the orange stick to burnish it to my nail and carefully score through the tape around my cuticle, and filed off the excess tape around the tip. It didn't really take any longer to do than the nail polish strips I usually use.

I finished with a top coat to seal it. 

The tape did lift a bit here and there, especially since I have my hands in water a lot. But was easy enough to just press back down. I imagine if I started with a base coat and applied the tape while it was still wet, they would have had more staying power.

After three days, I was ready for a change, and easily peeled them off. (Not sure if that would've been as easy if I had cemented them on with a base coat). There was ZERO chipping, because it's tape, but more lifting as time (and multiple hand washings, dish washings, crafty shenanigans, etc.) went on. I'm not giving up my Sally Hansen Salon Effects any time soon, but this is a really inexpensive and fun alternative.

Just one more use for that washi tape you're hoarding!