Saturday, September 13, 2014

You Oughta Know About This Masking Tape Trick

Today I am linking up with Jasmine at Buzzing with Mrs. McClain for her You Oughta Know Blog Hop. 



Masking tape is a hot commodity. 

The good kind. 

"Good" to me is the kind that will stick on the painted cinder block walls in my classroom and in the hallway. All year...for the most part. 

And...it won't take off the wall paint when I take a project off of the wall. 

Our local office supply store started carrying only Painters Tape that LOOKS like regular masking tape. Why in the world?

Maybe people want that these days. 
Not us teachers. No way! 

That type of tape could send us through the roof... 


  • if we have to retape or restick the hallway items every morning when we walk into the school. 
  • or if our number line has sections of ten that fall off regularly. (Especially if it has rained and the humidity is on the high side INSIDE the school.)


Yes, I could use my hot glue gun, but sometimes it is more convenient to get out that tape and just start sticking. 

So, I have a purchasing tip and a sticking tip for you. 

I recommend the Scotch brand tape with the yellow label inside the roll that is labeled, "For Home and Office."



My sticking tip is one that I got from another teacher whom I happened to be walking by as she was applying tape to her projects to display. Unroll about a foot (or less) of masking tape and stick the long edge to the item to be taped. Then roll the tape long ways like a hotdog and stick the other long edge under to complete the roll. This type of tape roll holds beautifully (with the right tape).



Note: Do not be fooled. Below is a photo of a "good" roll of tape. Just because it was squashed and was the very last roll on the shelf at the second Target that I visited during the Back to School Frenzy, doesn't mean that I didn't snatch it right up and claim a victory. Never mind that the price is a bit steep. However, you get what you pay for sometimes. 


Let me know if you give it a try. We could start a movement around the world in an effort to help things stick to walls better. It couldn't hurt. 

Also, let me know if you have known this trick forever because some brilliant soul thought to tell you while you were getting your education degree.  Talk about paying it forward...

Here are a couple of my free and paid items that I like to stick to the wall.


















For more tips and tricks, hop over to the other bloggers who have linked up to share their wisdom with the world. (Is that too dramatic?)


Now that you have read my blog post, hop over to any one of these other great bloggers!

    Have a fabulous day!
    Carrie





    8 comments:

    1. You know, I have never really thought too much about masking tape, but I am definitely going to give your strategy a try! Thank you for sharing!
      Best wishes!
      Jen
      TeacherKarma.com

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      Replies
      1. Hi Jen!
        Great! I hope you like it! Please let me know what you think when you try it. Thank you for your comment!
        Carrie

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    2. You are hilarious, only teachers would understand this struggle for REAL. I hate walking in during the humid months and resticking everything to the wall. Does it stop me from posting my cute little kinders work? NOPE, I just waste my precious time sticking stuff to the wall. Our custodian would just laugh at me :)

      Mrs. Plemons' Kindergarten

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      Replies
      1. I KNOW!!! We need to save our patience and energy for our little buddies and not waste any more time (or emotion) on "faulty tape" issues! Thank you for your empathetic comment. We need to band together! :-) Maybe this technique will work and your custodian will be thrilled and amazed!

        Carrie

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    3. It is so embarrassing when something falls off the wall and it has dozens of balls of tape on the back because I just added more each time it previously fell. Teaching Science With Lynda

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      Replies
      1. I know what you mean! Also, the laminated posters get curled at the edges and no amount of tape balls will hold them to the wall. Here's to fewer balls of tape! Thank you for your comment!
        Carrie

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    4. I am going to have to give this a try! I've tried everything!

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    5. Hi Pam! I hope it works like a charm for you! Thank you for your comment!

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