Journal Say Haul: Five PET and Craft Tapes Plus Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors Worth a Look

Introduction

Journal Say has quietly built a catalog that covers nearly everything a journal spread needs, and this latest pick-up is a focused one: five tape rolls in styles that genuinely speak to us, plus one long-awaited paint set. Here is what each item does well, what to check before buying, and who each one is best suited for.

Journal Say Craft Paper Roll Tape

This is not washi tape in the traditional sense. It is a roll of craft paper with an adhesive backing, and it has become a repeat purchase here for good reason. Journal Say offers it in several designs: a script version that suits vintage themes beautifully, a dot grid version that helps keep lines straight in bullet journals, and this plain version for anyone who simply wants blank craft paper in their spreads.

You can roll out whatever length you need, then tear it by hand or cut it with scissors. The backing paper keeps the roll from sticking to itself, which makes it easy to live with. Once pasted into a journal, it accepts writing and doodling well and works nicely as a layering piece.

Journal Say Everyday Girl PET Tape

This roll features everyday girl illustrations in a sketchy, dainty art style, and unlike an earlier release in the same art style that came on a textured, almost wired sticker paper, these are printed on smooth, clear PET. The designs are kiss cut, which makes lifting each sticker off the roll and placing it on the page effortless.

If you enjoyed the earlier release, this is the same charm with a smoother finish, and it is a pleasant upgrade for layering and detail work.

Journal Say Cafe Gold Foil PET Tape

Sticking with the same illustrated style, this cafe-themed roll adds one standout detail: gold foil accents, which the everyday girl roll does not have. The artwork is adorable and the kiss-cut format carries over, so picking stickers off the roll remains simple.

One small quirk worth noting: a printed phrase on the roll appears to be cut off mid-sentence. It is a minor cosmetic oddity, and the gold foil more than makes up for it as a finishing touch.

Journal Say Animal PET Tape

The animal version keeps the same PET material and kiss-cut format but leans into adorable animal scenes. The art is slightly less realistic than the previous two rolls, which gives it a softer, more playful character. One design is a single scene broken into four separate stickers, so you can layer them together or space them out across a spread.

It also comes in a generous length for the price, and catching it on sale with a discount code makes it an even better value.

Journal Say Large Studio Ghibli-Style PET Tape

The final roll is genuinely oversized, and that was a surprise. The painterly scenery strongly evokes cozy animated film landscapes, and the detail is impressive. A practical note on sizing: the designs are wider than an A5 page, wider than a B5 page too, and roughly as long as the height of a softcover A5 notebook, if not a little longer. They are best suited to B5 or even A4 journals.

Unlike the other rolls, these stickers are not pre-cut, so you will need to cut them out yourself. The upside is that the large scale makes clean cutting easier than it would be with small, intricate designs.

Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor 36 Color Set

The most exciting item in the haul is the Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolor set in its 36 color configuration. These paints have a strong reputation, and they are best described as a hybrid between watercolors and gouache, which makes them especially interesting for journal artists who want both transparency and body.

First impressions are very positive. The pigment applies evenly with minimal shift between concentrated and watered-down areas, so gradients fade smoothly. The set includes basic metallics such as silver, gold, and a bronze copper tone, which may not suit everyone, but they are useful accents when you need them.

Overall Buying Advice

If you journal in A5 or smaller, the standard kiss-cut PET rolls are the safest picks: they layer well, even on top of craft paper, because the PET material is opaque enough to hold its own. Traditional washi tends to read as more transparent, so it will not show up as well on craft or dark paper. The craft paper roll is a near-universal recommendation for anyone who enjoys a vintage, layered look. The large scenery roll is best reserved for B5 and A4 journals, and go in knowing you will do some cutting.

Conclusion

This haul rewards a few different kinds of journalers: the layering enthusiast, the illustration lover, and the aspiring painter. The craft paper roll remains a long-term favorite, the PET rolls deliver charm with practical kiss-cut convenience, and the Gansai Tambi set looks like a strong entry point into watercolor-gouache hybrid painting for landscape and cozy-scene work.