I honestly didn't think I'd get so hooked on the whole washi tape bible trend until I actually tried it for myself last summer. I've always loved the idea of Bible journaling, but I'm definitely not an artist. My drawing skills are basically stuck at a third-grade level, so the thought of painting beautiful landscapes or intricate calligraphy on thin parchment was pretty intimidating. That's where washi tape came in and totally saved the day. It's such a low-pressure way to add some color and personality to your study time without needing a degree in fine arts.
If you've never used it before, washi tape is basically just decorative masking tape made from Japanese rice paper. It's thin, it's usually a bit translucent, and the best part is that it's low-tack. That means if you stick it down crooked—which I do constantly—you can usually peel it up and move it without ripping those delicate Bible pages. It has completely changed how I interact with my scripture, making the whole experience feel a lot more personal and, honestly, just more fun.
Why I started my washi tape bible journey
At first, I felt a little guilty about "decorating" a Bible. I wondered if it was distracting or if I was focusing too much on the aesthetics rather than the Word. But I quickly realized that spending time making the pages look beautiful actually made me want to open the book more often. It turned my quiet time into a creative outlet.
Instead of just skimming through a chapter, I found myself slowing down. I'd pick a color or a pattern that matched the "vibe" of a verse, and suddenly I was meditating on those words for twenty minutes while I trimmed the edges of the tape. It's become a form of worship for me. Plus, it makes it so much easier to find specific passages later on when the edges of the pages are color-coded and bright.
Picking the right tape for thin pages
Not all tape is created equal, especially when you're dealing with the "onion skin" paper most Bibles are printed on. If you go too heavy or use a tape with really aggressive adhesive, you're going to have a bad time. I usually look for brands that feel light and papery. If it feels like plastic or heavy duct tape, put it back.
I've found that the 15mm width is the standard, but for a washi tape bible, the "skinny" tapes are actually my favorite. They're about 5mm wide and they fit perfectly between lines of text or in those tiny margins. Also, keep an eye out for transparency. Some washi is very opaque, which is great for borders, but if you want to tape over a verse to highlight it, you'll need the more see-through variety. I always do a little "test stick" on the very last page of the Bible (the ones that are usually blank) just to see how the adhesive reacts with the paper before I commit to the middle of the Gospel of John.
Easy ways to decorate your margins
The most common way to use washi tape in your bible is probably the margin border. It's the easiest entry point for beginners. You just run a strip of tape vertically down the outside edge of the page. It instantly frames the text and gives the whole layout a finished look.
But don't feel like you have to just stick to the edges. I like to use small scraps of tape to "anchor" my handwritten notes. If I write a thought in the margin, I'll put a little horizontal piece of tape above and below it. It makes the note pop and looks a lot more organized than just a wall of messy handwriting. Another cool trick is layering. Put down a wider, solid-colored tape first, then layer a thinner, patterned tape right over the middle of it. It adds depth and makes it look like you put way more effort into it than you actually did.
Creating custom tabs for easy navigation
One of the most practical things you can do with a washi tape bible is make your own tabs. Commercial Bible tabs are fine, but they can be bulky and, let's be honest, kind of boring. To make your own, just cut a short strip of tape, fold it over the edge of the page so it sticks to both sides, and let it hang off the edge a bit.
I use different patterns for different sections. For example, all my Old Testament history books might have a floral pattern, while the Psalms get a blue watercolor look. It makes flipping to a specific book so much faster. Just a pro tip: if the tape feels too flimsy to stand up as a tab, you can fold it over a small piece of cardstock first, then tape that to the page. It gives it a bit more "heft" so the tabs don't get crushed when you close the book.
The magic of "tipping in" extra notes
This was a total game-changer for me. "Tipping in" is just a fancy way of saying you're adding an extra page into your Bible. Sometimes I have a lot more to say than the margins will allow, or I find a beautiful printed prayer or a photo that I want to keep with a specific passage.
You take your piece of paper, line it up with the gutter (the inside spine) of the page, and use a strip of washi tape to create a hinge. It allows you to flip the extra page back and forth so you can still read the text underneath. Since washi is so thin, it doesn't add a ton of bulk to the spine, and it looks like a deliberate part of the design. I've started doing this with my church bulletin notes too—I just tip them right into the passage the pastor was preaching on.
Managing bulk and preventing "Bible bloat"
We need to talk about "Bible bloat" for a second. It's a real thing. If you put tape on every single page, your Bible is eventually going to double in thickness and it won't close properly. I learned this the hard way with my first journaling Bible. It ended up looking like a giant accordion.
To avoid this, try to spread out your decorations. If you've heavily taped the right side of a page, maybe leave the left side a bit simpler. Also, try to avoid overlapping too many layers in the same spot across multiple pages. If you always put your tabs in the exact same vertical position, that one spot is going to get really thick. Stagger them down the side of the book to distribute the weight. It keeps the spine healthy and ensures your Bible will actually fit back on the shelf when you're done.
Using color coding to study deeper
If you want to move beyond just decorating, you can use your washi tape bible as a serious study tool. I started a system where specific colors represent different themes. For me, green tape is for anything related to growth or fruitfulness, gold is for the promises of God, and red is for verses about sacrifice or the blood of Christ.
When I'm reading and I hit a verse that fits one of those themes, I'll put a small "flag" of that color tape next to it. After a few months of doing this, I can flip through my Bible and instantly see patterns. It's like a visual map of my spiritual journey. It makes topical studies so much easier because the work is already half-done. Plus, it's a lot more interesting to look at than just standard yellow highlighter marks.
Final thoughts on staying creative
The most important thing to remember is that there are no rules. Your washi tape bible doesn't have to look like the perfectly curated photos you see on Pinterest. Mine has crooked edges, places where the tape peeled a little, and sections that are way too busy. But it's mine. It reflects my messy, beautiful, complicated relationship with faith.
If you're nervous about starting, just pick up one roll of tape and a pair of scissors. Start with your favorite verse—the one you know by heart. Put a little border around it and see how it feels. You might find, like I did, that a little bit of tape and some color can make the ancient words feel brand new again. Don't worry about being perfect; just focus on being present in the pages. Happy taping!