• Home
  • About
    • Disclosure And Privacy Policy
    • PR / Media Kit
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • DIY & Crafts
  • Lifestyle
    • Parenting
    • Healthy Living
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Fitness
    • How To
    • Kids
    • Reviews
  • Toys
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Disney

I love My Kids Blog

Parenting tips, Crafts, Product Reviews and More!

  • Home
  • About
    • Disclosure And Privacy Policy
    • PR / Media Kit
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • DIY & Crafts
  • Lifestyle
    • Parenting
    • Healthy Living
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Fitness
    • How To
    • Kids
    • Reviews
  • Toys
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Disney

DIY Paper Bag Journal Craft Tutorial

06/10/2017 By Cj Leave a Comment

Share

If you have a massive amount of these brown paper bags that are used for lunches and need a fun craft idea, then you have come to the right place! I am planning a youth girl’s church camp and the director from last year said, whatever you do, PLEASE use some of the thousands of paper bags we have in storage. Every year the girls receive a journal to write in. That is when it hit me, instead of buying journals for the 100 attendees, we could knock out one of our crafts and make our journals from paper bags!

Paper bag craft journal button small

You will need 3 lunch size paper bags per journal. Although, I suppose you could add more or less depending on how many pages you want to have. You will need decorative paper (I only had construction paper), some twine or ribbon, glue, and a paper puncher.

Paper bag craft journal

How to make a paper bag journal

Step 1: Fold down the bottom of the bag. Pictured below are 3 bags. The top bag is how the paper bags come, the bottom end folded up. You can see the 2nd bag, I have taken the top of the flap and folded it down, pictured in the 3rd bag. This will make the thickness correct.

Paper bag craft journal fold the bags to make flat

Step 2: Line your bags up evenly and fold the set of 3 bags in half.

Paper bag craft journal fold in middle

Step 3: Glue those end pieces on each paper bag together. Paper bag craft journal glue together

Step 4: Now, punch holes through the set of 3 bags. I used a single hole puncher, but I bet a 3 hole punch would work really well!

Paper bag craft journal punch holes in bag

Step 5: It’s time to tie the book together! On this next step you can use whatever you’d like to tie it. I used some thing crochet yarn to do this one. You can use thin ribbon, twine, raffia, or whatever you’d like! You just thread it through the holes around the backside, and tie it off. I cut a large piece, so I threaded it through 3 times before tying it off.

Paper bag craft journal tie together

Step 6: Then open the book and press it down to make a stable “spine” of the book.

Paper bag craft journal pages

Decorate the Paper Bag Journal to make it yours!

Decorate the cover as you please. This is where you can really get creative! I think covering the cover with cute scrap booking paper would be fun to do or you can make shapes or designs. Or if you’r doing this for a cub scout day camp or craft you can use blue and gold paper! You can write on these covers with pens or pencils, paint, use markers, the possibilities are endless!

Paper bag craft journal decorate the cover

Paper bag craft journal cover

At this point you can be done with the craft and start using the journal, or you can cut white paper and cover the pages so it is easier to see. This craft can be as simple or as elegant as you’d like to make it!

Paper bag craft journal brown pages

Paper bag craft journal white pages

Paper bag craft journal written on white pages

One of my favorite aspects of this paper bag craft is the pockets. You can sneak little notes in the pockets or the kids can pick up flowers to dry or store fun little treasures. I can’t wait to instruct the girls to leave their journals on their pillows when it isn’t journal time, so I can sneak positive notes in them while they are at the lake, it will be such a fun surprise for them!

Paper bag craft journal pockets

Paper bag craft journal secret note

I can’t wait to try this paper bag craft out at camp in a couple weeks! It will help us use our massive supply of paper bags, it will eliminate the need to buy journals for each of the girls, it will take up some craft time, and it will be fun to do! We are also going to make flower pens so we have something fun and pretty to write with!

Paper bag craft journal button small

 

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Cj
Cj
Hi, I am Cj, a contributor to I Love My Kids Blog! My husband and I have been married for 13 years, we have 5 daughters and live the dream of country life! I love to sew, machine embroider, read books, bake, jump rope and volunteer at church. I am a rural route school bus driver and am actively volunteer at the local school. Being a Mom is my life-the good, the bad, the yucky, the funny–as you can see, I Love My Kids! Cj
Cj
Latest posts by Cj (see all)
  • A VIVO Mask Will Complete Your Costume! - 10/18/2019
  • 10 easy tips to make beautiful pies! - 07/09/2019
  • 10 Boredom Busters for Summer Break! - 05/28/2019

Filed Under: Art, Being Craftsy, DIY & Crafts, How To

« 5 Simple DIY Superhero Ideas to Make This Father’s Day One of a Kind
Watch P. King Duckling on Disney Junior + Giveaway »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow our blog

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on PinterestFollow Us on YouTube
Enter your email for a free daily update:

Recent Posts

  • 10 Ways to Practice Self Care During Social Isolation
  • Make Brushing Teeth Fun with BriteBrush GameBrush and Baby Shark
  • 2019 Gift Guide for Elementary Girls: 10 Fun Ideas!
  • 2019 Gift Guide for Preschoolers: 5 Fun Ideas!
  • 2019 Holiday Gift Guide for Toddler Gifts: 7 Fun Ideas
  • A VIVO Mask Will Complete Your Costume!
  • How to Make DIY Mason Jar Pen Holders for Your Desk
  • 10 easy tips to make beautiful pies!
  • X is for X food, X-ray, X Marks the Spot and Xylophone: Preschool Activities for the Letter X
  • W is for Worm, Water, Watermelon and Web: Preschool Activities for the Letter W

Copyright © 2025 · Tasteful theme by Restored 316

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2025 I Love My Kids Blog - Site Design by SerightDesigns
About | Privacy | Disclosure | Contact