My washi tape collection grew quite a bit in 2025—mostly from two stationery shops having a major sale due to moving/closing and I had a very small collection at the time, so I figured it would be fine and surely it wouldn’t grow beyond that. Flash forward near the end of 2025 and we’re in a bit of a rabbit hole, oopsies.
I’ve been using my collection throughout the year for my journaling, so at the very least they’re not sitting in a container not being used (my collection does bring me joy and I’ve given them away at stationery swaps if they’re no longer my aesthetic), but I wanted to focus on using them more in the coming year while trying my very best not to buy anymore tapes until I use a fair amount of my collection.
So for 2026, I decided to create my own washi tape usage challenge! I’m mostly creating this post for myself to reference back on throughout the year at the risk of changing my mind throughout the year, but you’re welcome to join along with me.
The Themes
The themes are based on my collection, so you can do the same ones or you can create your own themes based on yours. I tried to keep them vague so I wouldn’t get bored with the theme and hate going through with the challenge even if I’ve curated my collection based on my aesthetic.
That being said, while there’s a theme, I’ve made it a rule for myself to not restrict myself from using other washi tapes in the layout if I so choose (I have a few general themed ones like chores and bills I highly doubt I’d use in a theme): I just need to use something in relation to the theme on the page. I can also use stickers freely.
January: All Things Blue
January originally started out with a starry theme, but I once forgot to bring some of my other starry washi tapes while working on my setup outside of home. I did have some blueberry and other blue washi, though, so January turned into a month of using any washi tapes that were primarily blue: dark blue, light blue, blue with a little of pink, etc.
Bonus: one of my closest friend’s birthdays is in January and her favorite color is blue, so you could say this theme is after her, hehe.
February: Friend Samples + Pink (except LNY, which will be red + gold)
I don’t have any Valentine’s Day themed washi tape and have no interest in getting them, so I went through my washi journal to see what other themes I could do instead, at least until I saw a few washi sample cards from friends who have been sending some of their collection.
So for February, I decided to go with using the samples I’ve gotten from my friends in the mail. Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to mean just celebrating a partner; you can celebrate the love you have for your friends, too.
If I end up running out of those (since there’s not much even for the shortest month of the year*), I’ll use any pink washi tape from my collection. There’s plenty of pink ones surprisingly, though most are cherry blossom themed. The Lunar New Year in 2026 also falls in February, so for that day I took a detour from the theme to use some red and gold washi tapes or any LNY themed tapes that I might have (or anything that could pass as that).
*One of them is probably going to read this and go “HOLD MY COLLECTION” and then send me like 20 meters of washi samples, aren’t they? 🥲
March: Plants and Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon first aired on March 7, 1992, and I’ve got a few Sailor Moon themed washi tapes, which makes March the perfect month to use them (and of course at any point during the year I feel like using them).
March is also the start of spring, so to give a little variety and attention to my assortment of plant-themed washi tape rather than letting them sit in its container, I decided to do two themes for the month. Bonus points if I use both types of washi tape in the same spread, but I didn’t want to impose too many rules on myself and ruin my enjoyment.
April: Cherry Blossoms
Technically cherry blossom season begins a little earlier than April, so if I really wanted to, I could lump the theme into March as well since I have quite a variety (I love cherry blossoms, though). I think this may be the easiest due to the amount I have – and if it’s not because I seem to have a thing for Halloween-themed washi tape, then it’s definitely the second-most.
I’m actually looking forward to setting April because of this theme, though, hehe.
May: Newspaper/Parchment
Ahahaha good luck to me… I only have 3 that fit this.
The original plan of this self-imposed challenge was to use 1-2 washi tape throughout the entire month, but I feel like I’d get bored of that really quickly and hate myself for it even if I’d use up a roll or two (or close enough). Plus, I wouldn’t get to use my collection as much as I want to, so here we are with vague themes.
For May, though, I did want to focus on specific washi tapes rather than a particular theme, but the nice part about this theme is I could pair these with just about any of the other themes and they’ll work together pretty well. We’ll see how this goes, though! I think this may be my most challenging theme for this year, but maybe not because of the versatility.
June: Fruit
June was originally going to be blueberries since I’m really favoring one of my blueberry washi tapes, but what I favor now doesn’t mean I’ll favor it in, well… June 2026, which is about 7 months from when I came up with the idea of doing this challenge for myself.
Similar to February, I don’t have many summer-themed tapes in my collection, so I searched through my washi journal and looked to see what could be a potential theme. I have quite a few strawberry and blueberry-themed washi, and summer is the peak season for both fruits here, so it works out perfectly! I went a little more vague since I also have a generic fruity washi tape (though that one has a few vegetables) that I didn’t want to leave out from being used.
July: Books
Since I don’t have much summer-themed washi (doesn’t mean I won’t use them when I’m thinking of going to the beach, though), July leaves room for other themes that I have more of in my collection. I have some book-themed washi tape, so I figured it would fit in with July. Plus, it’s also the height of the Summer Reading Challenge here, so it all works out.
August: Cozy
I did a bit of a cozy theme for my November layouts in 2025, but for 2026 I wanted to do a different theme for November. I did want to do a cozy theme, though, and August was the only open month available.
September, Birthday Month: Whatever my little heart desires
September is my birthday month, and like my September layouts for 2025, I just wanted to do a free month of whatever washi tape I wanted to use. It can be from one of the other themes I’ve already done or will do (why not use a Halloween washi tape a month early 🤪) the rest of the year, but either way, the collection is my oyster.
I’m thinking of possibly doing something fun and matching it up with my washi of the day thing that I have going on with my monthly pages, though. Whatever washi is chosen for the day (as determined by random number generator), I’d use it for the day’s layout. I prefer making my layouts ahead of time, though, so I don’t have to stress too much over it, so I’ve yet to decide how I want to go about it. I’ll likely come up with something as we get closer to September that allows me to do both.
October: Halloween (priority) + Autumn
For someone who doesn’t celebrate Halloween, I sure have a lot of Halloween washi tapes. (They’re so cute, though, I love them.) 🙈
I also didn’t want my autumn washi tapes sidelined, so I decided to list a double theme so I don’t forget about them. But my Halloween themed ones are definitely the priority for October. This doesn’t stop me from using them in the rest of the year if I so choose, though…
November: Purple + Stars
November is the birthday month of one of my favorite people: Clo. And if you know Clo, you know she absolutely loves purple (she would paint the world purple if she could) and adores the moon and stars.
So for November, I wanted to use starry washi tapes and purple ones. I also think it complements pretty well with my December theme. Plus, I can use my glittery space themed washi from TCMC that I’ve been obsessed with lately.
December – Christmas + Winter
December’s theme was chosen by one of my friends since I didn’t know what kind of theme I wanted, and I figured it would be fun to have one of them choose. It fits pretty well with January’s theme, though: it’s kind of like a full circle of the year (and I have plenty of blue/winter themed washi to keep me company).
Final Thoughts
I’m pretty excited about creating my layouts for 2026 in my daily journaling. I’ve finished January recently, so I’m holding off on February for now (or trying to), but I’m expecting to be busy throughout a good part of next year. I’ll probably jump ahead soon and just do more later on and not worry about creating them later, though that means I’ll have to figure something out for the journaling meetups I go to monthly.
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I don’t use washi tapes, but that’s such a good idea. And so cool ☺️
*passes more washi samples over* I mean I’m planning on bulk buying some washi tape cards so I can frequent mailboxes more often with some pretty washi tapes – so you may very well end up with some from me that fit your later themes in the year hehe. Although you already know you basically have access to my collection at will – what’s mine is technically yours just in smaller quantities 🤣 For may you could always allow stamp style washi’s to be part of it? I feel like they go well with the newspaper/parchment theme. Aaaah the November theme tho 🥺 you’re one of my fav ppl too and I absolutely would paint the world in shades of purple and lilac if I could. Oooo that purple space galaxy TCMC washi is one of my favs too – love pulling it out for a little pick me up in my spreads. It gives me so much joy. Ah I loved reading this post so much and can’t wait to see how the challenge goes for you!
I just knew you were going to be one of those coming in and sending more washi samples, LOLOLOL. I think I do plan on some of the stamp style washi to be included — I’m not sure yet! Future Hannah problem, though. Maybe I’ll make it a whole theme into next year for a month…