Crafting Recycled Paper Bag Journals
Got a stack of paper shopping bags that you are feeling very guilty about?
Instead of giving into the guilt and tossing it into the recycling bin, why not transform them into paper journals and give them a second life? Recycled paper bag journals are a fantastic way to embrace sustainable art-making while experimenting with creative construction and simple bookbinding techniques.
Why Create a Recycled Paper Bag Journal?
Reusing paper shopping bags for journal-making is a wonderful way to give new life to materials that would otherwise be discarded. It’s an eco-friendly alternative to store-bought journals and allows you to infuse personal meaning into your creation. Plus, working with recycled materials gives you a whole different creative experience as you are engaging with unique items that will offer lots of surprises and an opportunity to embrace imperfection and work with it through the creative process.
Materials You'll Need to construct the journal
Gathering supplies for this project is easy, as many can be found around the house:
Paper shopping bags (various sizes and colours work beautifully!)
Scissors or a craft knife
Glue stick or double-sided tape
How to make a simple paper bag journal
There are so many different ways to create paper bag journals and will depend on the type of bag you are using.
In this blog I’m going to share a very simple way to make one that doesn’t require complex cutting and measuring or binding techniques. Follow along with the video below to make your own paper bag journal:
I’ve made a journal, now what?!
Here some other ideas and inspirations for using your journal:
Sketchbook: The textured paper adds character to drawings and doodles.
Mixed media journal: Layer paints, pastels, and inks for an expressive art journal.
Collage journal: Use it as a space to experiment with layering papers, fabric, and ephemera.
Daily reflections: Write journal entries, poetry, or affirmations.
Gratitude journal: Fill it with small moments of joy and appreciation.
Travel journal: Document experiences, paste in tickets, and jot down memories.
Tips for Working with Recycled Paper Journals
Since recycled paper bags have a unique texture and absorbency, here are some tips for making the most of them:
Use gesso: Prepping pages with gesso can create a more workable surface for painting and drawing.
Embrace the marks: Instead of covering up creases, folds, and logos, work with them as part of your design.
Experiment with layering: Paper bags make great backgrounds for collage, washi tape, and found materials.
Try dry media: Pencils, pastels, and crayons work beautifully on the raw paper texture.
Use different adhesives: Matte medium, glue sticks, and washi tape can help secure elements without making pages too stiff.
Make interactive elements: Add hidden pockets, flaps, and pop-up elements for a dynamic journal experience.
Embrace the Imperfections
And the freedom that comes with using a recycled materials. One of the joys of using recycled materials is embracing the unique qualities they bring—creases, textures, and even logos can become part of the aesthetic. Treat the pages like your own personal play ground to experiment with art materials. If you’ve ever had the experience of purchasing a gorgeous journal from a store and then not using it, you are not alone. One of the joys of a handmade journal is it’s a low risk environment to experiment in. It’s not precious, it’s got minimal pages and so it’s very approachable in terms of interacting with.
Need some inspiration?
In this guided art making video I take you through some creative experiments to get over resistance to using your journal. Make a cup of tea, grab your art supplies, paper bag journal and join me over on YouTube.
Materials for Art-Making
Oil pastels
Permanent marker
Watercolor paint
Paintbrush
Jar of water
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Hello, I'm Mary-Helen, a transpersonal art therapist and artist passionate about helping people reclaim joy through creativity. Through workshops, art therapy, and hands-on projects like this, I invite you to explore self-expression, mindfulness, and the beauty of sustainable art-making.
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