The goal of this blog is not to produce a single artwork, but to create a humble, useful thing—artsy tape—made with intention and ready to use in your mixed-media practice. Think of it as infrastructure for creativity: functional, adaptable, and quietly expressive.
Hello!! This is Kim Hamburg, a mixed media artist known as gluepaperscissors_ on Instagram. The project I’m sharing today is one I return to again and again in my own studio practice—a simple, adaptable technique that becomes a quiet workhorse in my mixed media collages.
The stencil at the center of this project is the Fade Horizontal Stencil (L697), one of my longtime favorites. Its graduated dots move from large to small, creating a sense of rhythm and motion that feels almost like it's moving once it’s on the page. I’m drawn to dots and circles because they offer so much with so little: instant texture, visual direction, and endless flexibility with color. They can whisper or shout, depending on the palette.
In this post, I’ll show you how I make both paper tape and fabric tape using two types of medical tape. I find both of these at the dollar store, though they’re easy to locate at most drugstores. The paper tape behaves much like washi—lightweight, flexible, and easy to layer—while the fabric tape is woven, slightly sturdier, and brings a richness that instantly elevates a mixed media piece. Fabric tape adds visual weight, subtle shadow, and a tactile quality that makes a surface feel more intentional and complete, even in small doses.
Supplies
Medical paper tape
Medical fabric tape
Acrylic paint, fluid acrylics, or paint pens
Ink, acrylic ink, or spray ink
Paintbrush, sponge, or spatula
Glue stick
Parchment paper or another non-stick surface
Markers (including paint markers, if desired)
The Process
Begin with a sheet of parchment paper and apply cut pieces of both types of tape directly onto the surface. The parchment paper serves two purposes: it keeps the tape from sticking permanently, and it allows you to store the finished tape sheets for later use, peeling off strips as you need them.
Once the tape is in place, apply a base layer of paint. This can be acrylic, fluid acrylic, or even sprayed ink—whatever suits your mood or color palette. Let this layer dry thoroughly before moving on.
After the tape has dried, place the stencil on top and add a second layer of color. I often use black ink or black paint here, and I especially enjoy working with Posca markers for this step. One of the things I love most about this stencil is its versatility: you can align it so the fade runs along the length of the tape, or rotate it so a single dot size repeats from end to end. Large dots feel bold and graphic; smaller dots feel delicate and rhythmic. I use both approaches regularly.
If you’re interested in more texture, you can mix acrylic paint with modeling paste or spackling paste before applying it through the stencil. This creates raised dots and adds a tactile dimension that works beautifully in more dimensional or layered pieces.
Once everything is dry, feel free to continue adding marks, colors, or additional layers. These tapes are meant to be built upon, not treated as precious.
Using the Tape in Finished Work
I’ve included photos of three mixed media pieces to show how this tape can be used in different ways. The first is a mixed media collage on paper.
The second is a chunky 6" x 6" x 1.5" wooden panel designed to sit on a shelf or mantel, where the tape helps build structure and visual weight.
The small book is made from index cards, collaged and put together with the tape…adding color, movement, and a sense of play throughout the pages.
My hope is that you’ll try this technique and begin making your own art tape—something personal, practical, and endlessly reusable. It’s a small project with a big payoff, and once you start, you may find yourself reaching for these handmade strips again and again.
I would love to see how you interpret this month's project -- which stencil did you use? What colors inspired your work?
Tag me with your work on IG @gluepaperscissors_ or FB: @KimHamburgArt
Happy making.
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