Just Paint It: 15 Minute Kitchen Update with Washi Tape

I’ve always claimed that paint is the fastest, and cheapest way to transform a space. Until two days ago, that is. That’s when I discovered . . . cue the angels . . .

Washi Tape

Oh, I’ve heard of washi tape for quite a while. One of my friends even started a washi tape blog with tons of crafts and decorating ideas. Cute stuff! Only problem was I couldn’t find washi tape in any store around here. Sure, I could’ve ordered it online, I guess, but I didn’t really ‘get’ why everyone was so enamored with the stuff.

And then I saw this display at Walmart. Walmart, of all places! Check out the price – 97 cents! (Are you following me on Instagram? If you’re on Instagram, find me. Sometimes I post pics other than the grandson, like this fabulous deal.) So I bought a few rolls. Only four, which I thought demonstrated the utmost restraint. One turquoise/blue, one red, and a couple in black. At the time I didn’t have any particular project in mind.

Then, when I came home from shopping I saw this, this blank catch-all shelf in my kitchen. This space that held nothing in particular, but everything that didn’t have a home. Kinda like the ‘junk drawer’ without the drawer. It was driving me nuts.

I’d vaguely decided upon a palette of white or ivory with turquoise and red accents for the downstairs. Kind of a nod towards vintage/mid century. Since the kitchen is completely white including cabinets and the floor, it needed some color. And here I was, armed with a roll of red and a roll of turquoise washi tape. Surely I had something I could tape up and cram in this space, right?

My first thought were these little glass jars I picked up at the Dollar Store, again, with no clue what I’d use them for. They’re not huge, only 22 ounces, but they have a cute shape and I knew I’d find a place for them some day.

I’ve been on a bit of a glass jar kick lately. I’ve had these humongous glass jars – the ones on the left – for years. They’re left over from our family resort at Echo Lake. We used to buy restaurant size mayonnaise and over the years Mom used these jars for various pantry items.

Now they’re mine! {evil laugh}

But they’re going in her kitchen, hahaha. What goes around, comes around. Even mayo jars. I also picked up some large mason jars for her pantry too. I’ll get to those and how I’m decorating them a little later on.

Back to my little dollar store jars . . .

As luck would have it the lids were the perfect size for the washi tape I just bought. Decorating fate, I tell ya!

I can’t tell you how tickled I was with these three lids, simply bordered with washi tape. Just the pop of color I was looking for, in like 5 minutes.

But I knew these three little jars weren’t enough to fill those shelves so I hunted around for something more.

Dollar store baskets to the rescue!

I had bought a ton of these guys last year and used them to hold my craft paints. They’re made out of some sort of nylon and are fairly sturdy but now my craft paints are in plastic bins. So these guys were just hanging out, waiting to be dressed up with tape.

What am I going to put in the baskets and jars? Who knows? I’m just pleased with the bright colorful space now. If I start to throw my keys, tape measure or whatever here, I just plop them into one of the baskets. Easy to find and still pretty.

That’s a win/win in my book. What also is a win/win is the cost: $2 for two rolls of washi tape, $3 for the jars, and I already had the baskets (but they were $1 a piece too). Grand total: $5! And less than 15 minutes! My kind of ‘craft’ update!

If you like 15 minute crafts too, be sure to check out more Craft Lightning projects this week at The Country Chic Cottage and 30 Minute Crafts. Adorable stuff!