Hey there, can you introduce yourself?

Hi, I'm Marisa, a Canadian craft designer, author, blogger and shop girl. I currently live in a small lakeside town in Ontario where I write, craft and run a sweet online shop.

Tell us a bit about the book?

Washi Style is a treasury of more than 100 ideas for making the most of your washi tape collection. From pretty paper crafts to housewares to jewelry to kids crafts, there's really something for everyone! My goal with the book was to encourage washi tape lovers as well as those new to washi tape to think beyond the strip - to draw pictures, make shapes and create beautiful useful objects for daily life.

What was the inspiration behind it?

I actually was approached to write a totally different papercraft book but suggested a washi tape craft book instead. At the time there were no washi tape books available. I've been blogging about washi tape since 2010, so I really wanted to take my knowledge and ideas and turn them into a book.

Which is your favourite project?

It's hard to pick just one - I love so many! Three of my favourites are the washi tape flowers, wooden clock and layer cake cards. I think they are a good reflection of the kind of crafty adventures you can have with washi tape.

What is your craft space like?

Messy! I work from home and what should be our living room has become my office / stock room / studio. It's not the best system but it works.

Have you always been creative?

Yes, I've definitely always had lots of ideas and a need to make things. I think creativity is a muscle, the more you use it, the stronger it gets.

When did you first start crafting?

My mother is a nursery school teacher, so I grew up in a house bursting at the seams with glitter and construction paper and homemade playdough. I've been making something for as long as I can remember. In high school, I started sewing - I crafted my way through a purse phase and a teddy bear phase (and a bedazzled undies phase - ouch!). In university, I took up knitting. I still dabble in all sorts of crafty goodness, though I tend to be best known for my papercraft projects.

Who are your crafty heroes?

That's a hard one - there are so many artists and crafters doing interesting things at the moment so I'll just pick three that come to mind. I think Tiffanie Turner is doing really interesting work with paper at the intersection of art and craft, Beci Orpin is inspiring as an artist and craft book author, and Ros Lee's handcrafted brand Polkaros never fails to make me smile.

Where do you find inspiration?

Any and everywhere. Pinterest, Instagram, books, blogs, daily life.

What's next for you?

This year, I'm doing a 365 Daily Drawing Project that I'm loving and am in the midst of writing my next papercraft book.