10 Items to Recycle and Repurpose in Your Journal // Creative Journaling on a Budget

Hey there abiding fam! Today we are talking all about creative journaling on a budget as I share with you 10 everyday items you can recycle and repurpose in your journal. Some of them may surprise you!! With these tips and ideas, you'll be able to turn trash into treasure to document your life!
Be sure to watch all the way through to see the examples and get tips on how to use these items in your journal, and when you want a refresher, use these handy chapter markers:
00:00 - Intro
01:13 - Gift Wrap and Tissue Paper
02:41 - Gift Bags and Brown Paper Bags
04:06 - Greeting Cards and Invitations
05:49 - Travel Brochures and Magazines
07:06 - Junk Mail
08:41 - Repurposed Ribbons and Fabrics
10:21 - Food and Product Packaging
12:20 - Old Books
12:54 - Free Stickers
13:36 - Old Calendars and Planners
15:27 - Outro and how to support my channel more
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[@MyAbidingJournal]

*THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING FAM!* Be sure to give this video a big thumbs up and let me know in the comments. Which is your favorite idea? Do you save any of these items too? What items do you hold onto to recycle and repurpose in your journal? Share your ideas and tell us what trash is your personal treasure!

[@sarahelizabeth6342]

I would love to see a video on how you organize and store all your stuff!!!

[@MyAbidingJournal]

Thanks for the idea. I have thought about doing a craft room tour

[@teresa8287]

YES me too!

[@marthalytle8772]

Lol! Your dog is giving you side eye!😂

[@MultiPassionateCreator]

Not only do I save the tea package I also save the tea bag. Once it's used I set it aside to dry then carefully empty the tea and open up the bag. Because they are so thin you can layer it over pictures cut from magazine pages to make them look vintage. I also save used coffee filters through my journal.

[@MyAbidingJournal]

That's a great idea! I hadn't thought of doing that!! :) Thanks for sharing Kristie!

[@sunsetsky594]

The last idea you listed about the discounted outdated planner is my favorite. Something I like to recycle is the pretty wrapper from fancy soaps Ihave bought at gift shops or even TJMaxx. It's pretty and smells great!

[@MyAbidingJournal]

I’ve saved soap wrappings before too!! Hahaha so many things one can save! Thanks for watching!

[@queengoben1018]

Thank you for not making me look like crazy!!! I do already collect all the these things you have mentioned and sometimes people look at me weirdly!!! But my boyfriend got used to it and sometimes he is saving some trash/possible journaling things for me!!! It is awsome to have someone like me!!! Thank you !!!

[@MyAbidingJournal]

hahaha. One of my favorite parts of this community is showing people they're not alone in their "weird" journaling hobby! ;) Thanks for watching!!

[@pharvey1750]

I always save the pretty decorative paper and plastic that’s wrapped around bouquets of flowers. At Christmas time when popping bonbons I save the ribbons and tissue paper hats.

[@MyAbidingJournal]

That’s awesome! I love everyone’s ideas!!

[@MomentstoMemoriesbytai]

I always pick up business cards to restaurants I like or candy shops or hotels we stay at or shops I purchase things from. They are small and easy to save and make a good story in our journals to remember. 😉

[@vamonarch4740]

I enjoy using the stickers that come on produce. They can make interesting collages and wellness themed pages.

[@jennacrystalblue2244]

I cut bookmarks from my greeting cards. But this is next level. 👍

[@SheilaKarner]

Now I want to go through the recycle bin to see what junk mail I can repurpose!

[@gillwinship5278]

Clothing labels are a must. X🌸X

[@pyenygren2299]

Use old clothes and bed linen to sew a book cover for the journal.

[@EvelineUK]

Love this! I always look for things to add to my journal. I often stick in the little envelopes that my teabags come in, they double as a pocket. This holiday season I am also using postage stamps in my spreads, as well as Christmas chocolate wrappers. ;)

[@MyAbidingJournal]

All great ideas!!!! Thanks for watching and sharing! :)

[@martyc7746]

I’m a very new subscriber and you have opened a world of creativity for me. Thank you. This video is one of my favorites so far.

[@MyAbidingJournal]

Awe thank you so much Marty! Welcome to the abiding fam ☺️

[@springnicole]

I love the food packaging idea. I noticed while watching your video that I had a bag left over from coffee candy and it has a cool picture of a latte and some chocolate on it.

[@bernieskuuipo308]

Dickens ?! I’m clutching my pearls. Ok, so maybe I can’t bring myself to cut into a classic novel but love many of your ideas. Thank you for the great video.

[@MyAbidingJournal]

Haha fair enough! It was an old (but not valuable) copy, but as a book lover, I understand your distress 😂

[@lakshmiratnakar7909]

Anyone gonna talk about the cute dog sleeping behind? 🥺, anyways great ideas!! Loved it, helped a lot cuz I was thinking to start a journal from 2023, as it motivates me. Also please make video on you showing all ur supplies

[@mariefranceartdesign]

Great ideas! I also like using paint swatch samples you can get at your local hardware store.

[@kahafnasara3083]

These are very creative... i always reuse the wedding invitation cards in my journal

[@MyAbidingJournal]

Yes! So great to document the actual wedding OR cut apart and use the designs. Wedding Invites are always so pretty ☺️ thanks for watching and sharing your idea!

[@majajoan]

I love to keep envelopes of all kinds to use them in my journal.The nicer, the better of course 😀

[@kreativeReise]

7:04 the little snorer...❤...cute.

[@Alliappalachian]

I love this so much! I'm getting back into journaling and needed some inspiration so thank you!!! 💛💛

[@MyAbidingJournal]

Yay!!! I’m so glad it inspired you! ❤️

[@shannonc7308]

Love these ideas. They make you look at things differently and creatively. I love to use images from magazines, especially travel magazines.

[@1lawn68]

I do all of these. Just found your channel. Great tips.

[@SPiRAh]

I loved this video!! Originally, I clicked on it to get ideas of things to use in my journals that maybe I haven’t thought of or come across already & ironically, I’ve also been hoarding these same things!! The only thing I hadn’t been saving for journals was old planners & calendars but I definitely will now! However, I did love finding out that I’m not the only one that keeps junk mail, wrappers & especially packaging!! One thing I’ve started saving is any brown bags I get from stores. My favorite is places like Cracker Barrel, the little brown paper bags they use for small purchases are THE CUTEST!! Also, I received an eBay order that was shipped in a very cute shipping bag. I messaged the seller to ask where she got it & she said they’re sold on eBay & probably Amazon too. They’re great for journal decor! I’ve gotten some super cute stuff from the makeup sets sold in stores around Christmas!! They usually have the cutest packaging!! My daughters know to save their stuff like that for me! You sound like me though, when someone gives you a card or gift, you’re looking at all the possibilities you can do with the packaging, etc!! It’s like a bonus gift!! 🤣

[@MyAbidingJournal]

Hahaha yes yes and yes! We are not alone in our crazy journal habits 😊

[@Whatsbrewingwithb]

LOVED this!!!!

[@rhondalupo3531]

I save lots of things. One, I really love and buy are tissues in pretty boxes. I tear down the cardboard because it's too thick for what I want in my journal. Loved this video!

[@MyAbidingJournal]

Love this idea Rhonda! Thanks so much for sharing. Going to have to try this! ☺️

[@craftersalleybyheatherc]

What a great idea!

[@marianadar8143]

Loved the video :D Thanks for sharing. Have a great day!! Here in India, we don't get much journaling tags. So I print tag printables from pinterest and stick it on wedding cards, cut it out in shape and use in my journals. I also use the paper bag..it gives a good vintage look too.

[@MyAbidingJournal]

Thanks for watching Maria!! Printables are a great way to get cheap illustrations and images for journaling. And yes love the vintage look of paper bags

[@colleenmichalec5470]

Omg! I'm just like you! I look at everything and reuse it for my art journal Thank you for sharing your ideas!

[@jaytea7078]

I'm new to journaling, these are great tips. I've just went and found last year's calendar, it's going to provide me with loads of pretty pictures, months, days and numbers. I also found an unused Christmas napkin, which will be great for a winter scene. It's a shame I already disposed of my birthday and Christmas cards. I will though look in my drawer where I keep wrapping paper, tissue paper and gift bags.

[@teresa8287]

Clothes in a journal!!! Brilliant!!!!

[@AbbaJoy1]

I have labeled a box "mixed media journaling" because it occurred to me that my kids would think I'd become a hoarder! Lol! When the box is full, I can't keep more until I use some supplies.

[@luanarodrigues7800]

I loved it so much!!!! Thanks for super creative and amazing tips

[@tabathahogg9871]

That looks like my dog 😊 I’ve been holding on to all these things. My daughter thinks I’m crazy says it’s junk. Now I know what to do with it all. Thank you for this

[@iwona_iwona]

excellent idea!

[@izzy574]

I ❤️ the "vote early" card. It's going to come in very handy when the 'flu' just happens to kick in just in time for the midterm elections; at least that's what Dr Ouchy says, Yay! Btw, since my evil mother in law is from Chicago, I'm going to make her voter card say, "vote early and often!" It's a tradition there 🤫🤣 ... anyway, glad I found your channel. I'm a bored housewife.

[@lisafrank156]

you are sooooo inspiring. thanks for this video

[@gatina7713]

Excellent tips!!! Thanks for sharing 🤗

[@MyAbidingJournal]

Thanks for watching! So glad you found it helpful

[@rajeshpaswan1308]

Thanks for giving this great ideas. Now I can get in journaling again thank you so much!😊😊😊

[@MyAbidingJournal]

So glad you found it helpful!

[@craftersalleybyheatherc]

Empty tea packages and tags.

[@MyAbidingJournal]

Yes! Love using tea packages and tags! Should’ve mentioned that example when I was talking about food packaging 😜

[@ruthhernandez9611]

I am a beginner, and I am starting with pressed flower stickers and pretty wasabi tape. Great ideas on this video. I'll be sharing with my friend who is also a beginning journaler!

[@MyAbidingJournal]

So glad you found it helpful 💛 thanks for sharing it!

[@melissaealy]

Bears where I live have been literally coming down out of the mountain where I live in Harlan Ky.

[@amyalbers6145]

Love this video. I've saved all these...nice to know I'm not the only one! ;)

[@cherbowman]

Such great ideas!

[@MyAbidingJournal]

Thanks Cheryl!

[@tisaloewen7051]

I think about this with people that talk about junk journals- are people using the junk as a base for something else- like an art journal- or is the junk what is being journaled. Similarly- a lot of that ephemera tat MAJ is reusing, I would have journaled for its OG thing. Like the thank you card- I would've kept the whole thing. Now the Kodiak cake-- that I would reuse for something "bear" themed. Same with the large vote at home house. But the map house? If I'd been to that place- I would keep the whole map as a place I'd been. Its interesting to see our conceptual understandings of - essentially- turning real ephemera into a craft supply to look like vintage/ other ephemera or reuse to be future ephemera of a different nature (its all now a book page to a future person).

[@jolandiduplessis6554]

Wow, I have been keeping all of these, always thinking how I can use them ;-), thank you so much for the inspiration and knowing that I am not alone :-)

[@MyAbidingJournal]

Haha yes lots of journal hoarders here in this community! 😉

[@rnbsteenstar]

You can use these same tricks when you build a journal from scratch and re-use snack and cereal bosex and pet food chipboards for the covers, journaling cards/tags, mini master boards, larger master boards, and photo mats!

[@LovieTribe]

Loved this video.. great tips!!! I looooove saving my junk mail😉❤ thanks for sharing this informative video. Happy Thanksgiving 😊 🦃🦃🦃🦃❤

[@MyAbidingJournal]

Yay!!! Thanks so much Missy! Glad you enjoyed it! Happy thanksgiving to you too!!! ☺️

[@theresamacias291]

Love to use clothes tags that will have the designer's name and sometimes have cute ribbons or rope attached that can be used as bookmarks, I'll usually cover with beautiful card stock, stickers or paint over... some designers may even have tiny metal safety pins attached (cute emphera). :)

[@MyAbidingJournal]

Yes! These are great ideas

[@jeffthejournaler4894]

I saved my newspaper's cause im gonna put it in my journal i saved my old plaid dress i saved it for my journal and i used food packaging i ate and saved paper towel i saved and out in my journal! And i saved a envolpe to put in my journal too i even saved a restraunt menu and taped it in the front of my journal i even got a old book my librains gave me i can use for anything i want so im gonna use pages from them i got already pages stickers i never gotten a free sticker before tbh i only got store bought stickers i actually got two new 2021 calender im gonna use in my journal tbh! I got a old black planner! Nice stuff u named makes me want to freaking do it which i already am! And I love how thick my journal is getting from sticking stuff in my journal!😍😍🤗😎have a nice day and stay safe

[@fayeadamson896]

Loved this video and great ideas in it..Subbed to your channel..

[@MyAbidingJournal]

Thank you Faye. Welcome to the abiding fam!

[@amberamber6163]

This is what i do too!!. I have been doing this for a few years now hehehehe :)

[@MyAbidingJournal]

haha. Yay!! Paper hoarders are welcomed here!

[@Caroleen52]

I keep old envelopes that have large clear windows to cover things in my journal.

[@user-lh6ig4wj4v]

My favourite thing from this list is a food packaging.

[@MyAbidingJournal]

Glad you got some good ideas! ❤️

[@Shortybubabyyy]

I save candy wrappers🤣😍

[@ourcreativebeehive]

As someone who came face to face with a wild bear at our cabin...at a national park is truly the best way to see one.😂

[@MyAbidingJournal]

Hahaha yes at my cabin door is not the preferred meeting place! 😂

[@hannahgermann3345]

I use all of the magazines that we get in the mail for free and then I rip them out and put them in my journal.

[@tabathahogg9871]

You are so my people lol

[@MyAbidingJournal]

Hahahaha 😉

[@libriniserenagobbo9717]

love this video!

[@sunsetsky594]

I realize this video is several months old and maybe you figured things out by now. While your ideas are wonderful, the filmograpy needs some improvement. The problem - back and forth between a view of you and the items you are showing caused a back and forth on the camera focus, either waiting for the focus or not seeing the item because you didn't leave it in front of the camera long enough to focus. The solution: set up the camera focused of a desk and then bring each item into that view. That way the camera never needs to refocus with each item. Making this change will make your video more enjoyable to watch :)

[@mariamorales852]

...those are reindeer 🤦‍♀️

[@MyAbidingJournal]

I know lol I misspoke. It is Christmas wrapping paper after all