{"id":11433,"date":"2020-08-17T19:50:38","date_gmt":"2020-08-17T23:50:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moonblossom.net\/blog\/?p=11433"},"modified":"2026-01-16T12:15:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T17:15:15","slug":"diy-kokeshi-dolls-featuring-the-washi-tape-shop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moonblossom.net\/blog\/2020\/08\/diy-kokeshi-dolls-featuring-the-washi-tape-shop\/","title":{"rendered":"DIY Kokeshi Dolls featuring The Washi Tape Shop"},"content":{"rendered":"

Washi tape comes in so many beautiful and versatile designs, and is an important part of any Japanophile crafter’s arsenal. While most often used for journaling, scrapbooking, and wrapping gifts, there are so many other ways you can feature the gorgeous designs of traditional washi tape.<\/p>\n

Today I’ve teamed up with The Washi Tape Shop<\/a> to bring you a quick, affordable, and fun DIY project. If you’re stuck inside the house (aren’t we all nowadays?) this is a great way to spend an afternoon, and is easy and safe for kids to do as well! Many of the designs available at the Washi Tape Shop are clearly influenced by traditional Japanese textiles and patterns, so I figured what better way to feature them than to make your own kokeshi dolls?\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Keep reading for detailed instructions!<\/p>\n

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You will need<\/h4>\n

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    \n
  1. Wooden peg dolls<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Assortment of beautiful washi tape<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Pencil<\/li>\n
  4. Black acrylic paint<\/li>\n
  5. Brushes of various sizes<\/li>\n
  6. Scissors<\/li>\n
  7. White acrylic paint (optional)<\/li>\n
  8. Coloured paint pens (optional)<\/li>\n
  9. Stickers, rhinestones, other decor (optional)<\/li>\n
  10. Large wood or plastic beads (optional)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    For the large dolls you will also need<\/h4>\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Non-tapered sofa legs, like the Morabo model from Ikea<\/a><\/li>\n
    2. 3″ diameter styrofoam balls<\/a><\/li>\n
    3. White acrylic paint<\/li>\n
    4. Foam brush<\/li>\n
    5. Craft glue<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      For the smaller one-piece dolls, I find it easiest to start with painting the head. This way if you slip up and get paint on the body it will be covered later, rather than getting paint on the pretty tape. Lightly sketch out your face in pencil and then carefully go over it with black acrylic paint. Avoid the temptation to use markers here; they’ll bleed into the wood. I made that mistake so you don’t have to.<\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

      You can look at traditional kokeshi for inspiration or go wild and create faces that look like yourself, friends and family, or your favourite characters from anime, movies, or video games. There’s no rules here, just have fun! You can also add beads or smaller wooden balls to make cute buns and hairstyles. The ones I used were black so I didn’t need to, but you can easily paint them to match the doll’s hair colour.<\/p>\n\n\t\t