Making Paper Bag Albums

Paper Bag Albums/Scrapbooks

An oldie but a goodie!

Easy to make, inexpensive and tons of fun!

What you'll need:

4 lunch size brown paper bags, or more depending on the size you prefer

All you embellishing goodies for the theme of your book - 

this includes anything and everything

Lay the paper bags on top of each other

reversing each one opposite of the other

and fold in half

Next punch 3-5 holes for your binding area

I like to staple the sides of the folded bottom. 

It gives it a little more stability,

cuts down on the amount of give of the folds.

But it's not necessary.

Try to remember to do this before

covering the page with your background paper.

If you don't, no worries just embellish over the staples

If you want a deeper pocket (let's face it, who doesn't?)

just trim a tiny strip off where the bottom folds up

You'll be left with two pockets,

one shallow and one deep.

The open ends of the bags make a

great place for keepsakes, notes, tags, etc.

Now the fun begins.....

You can cover the brown paper.

Use papers, fabrics or whatever.

There are NO RULES.

Do what ever your heart desires.

Cover the area that you want to cover with glue,

mod podge, etc.

Flip one bag at a time over onto the wrong side of your covering

and press down all over.

You can also measure and cut to fit or do it this way, 

cutting off the extra around the bag -

whichever is most easiest for you.

Turn it over and trim any extra

You can cover two pages at once or each page individually.

I've done it both ways and each is just as easy.
Or if you want some of the brown paper showing
just cover part or even none!

Hold the pages up to the light and

 you can see where you need to punch your holes

through the "covering" papers

You can add anything you'd like - 

layer papers, add trims, found objects...

~ Examples ~

 

beads, buttons...

make pockets/tucks, add images...

and of course, make journaling spots.

In order to bind the pages together, you can use yarn, 

string, raffia, binder rings, strips of fabrics,

anything that will be able to keep the book together.

I stuff these with lots of tags and goodies, but there is always 

room for more. I add a button to the front and back edge 

along with a good length of ribbon. The end of the ribbon on 

the back is permanently fixed to the button. 

Then  bringing the ribbon around the open end of the book

 it can be tied or wound around the button. 

 It will adjust to the volume of the book

as you add to it, while keeping the contents secure.

Examples of ones I've made in the past, 

along with a few pages, to give you ideas...

"A Vintage Garden"

Made pockets, tags, and added fun trims.

''Garden Fairies''

some stories....

even a recipe.

"Spring Is Sprung"

Lots of florals.

I started on a series of vintage 

''Cookbooks" after finding boxes of 

old newspapers, clipped recipes, vintage appliance pamphlets, 

and TONS of old ephemera from my Grandmother 

while cleaning out our old farm.

Vol. 1 ~ "Holiday"

Stuck in lots of tags, old pamphlets,

old recipes....

used the old newspaper as background paper,

embellished with old buttons, rick rack...

even included an attached yarn bookmark

with XO beads on the end.

Lots to go through.

Vol. 2 ~ "Baking"

I used part of my Grandmother's old apron to cover

 the front of this one. I was lucky that I could fit the pocket

on the cover.

Included in the pocket were things

Grandma may have had in there

*note the date on the letter...1917

tons of old recipes, even an 

old order blank from the dairy...

"New Perfection Cook Stove"!

more treasure packed inside.

We have a friend that instead of exchanging gifts

at Christmas, we exchange pictures from that year.

This is one I made quite awhile ago.

A photo Album/Scrapbook for her.

With lots of photos tucked in,

lots of pockets were needed.

An old tea towel came into play...

stamp if you'd like...

farmer handkerchiefs...

can't say no to dried rose petals!

I hope that gave you enough inspiration to try one for yourself.

Just have fun with it!

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