How To Make Your Own Craft Paper 🖤 Upcycle Any Sheet of Paper

With thanks to ‪@KariGibsonArt‬ for the inspiration!
Access free printables and PDF tutorials via my mailing list here: journalingplanet.substack.com/
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Please note that all crafts shared on this channel are designed for adults 18 and over.

[@marilynmccormick3731]

I went to my local library's used book sale for the first time. I bought a 168 page field guide book of beautiful butterflies. I also bought a 184 page book of herbs, spices, & wild flowers. The books were grouped according to topics, so I looked in the gardening section. My local thrift store does not segregate the books this way. Both books are like new & full of beautiful color photos. I feel so fortunate. I spent $1.00 on each book! The butterfly (new) book price on the jacket is $24.95. I'll use them in journalling or wherever I want to add a personal touch. Check with your library for dates of their used book sales.

[@marilynmccormick3731]

I love frugal living, and now that I'm retired, my income became very limited i love to see what I can make from junk. It's sort of like making a delicious pot of soup from what's in the fridge!

[@cathyward6909]

I love what you did! I work for an electrical contractor and I've started playing around with using old electrical plans/blueprints in my journals because they have a neat background to make envelopes, pockets, etc. They would be great for this too.

[@beverlymeaker7566]

These papers are so nice. I never thought of re-purposing used printer paper. That's a wonderful idea. I've got bunches of paper already; some I'm donating to the art teacher at a nearby school, and a load of supplies I'll be selling this summer. I love seeing the results others achieve from up-cycling old, cheap, discarded books that would end up in the bin, but I can't do it. I do know they are being turned into beautiful pieces of art, though, which does help the planet.

[@mrscms831]

I think I like this better than the tea or coffee staining paper videos I’ve watched. Your results are lovely. ( And less messy!)

[@ShoshiPlatypus]

Brilliant! This sort of thing is right up my alley. I agree with you about most purchased papers although I have bought some which I really love, and then can't bring myself to use - I get it out and stroke it every now and then, and then put it away again! I love making art from recycled stuff - I keep all my Amazon packaging (that brown paper they put in their boxes is great), and I have a large roll of unprinted newsprint that the removal men left behind once - when the paper is plentiful and free, you can be much freer with your art and really splash about with no fear of wasting precious paper. I have also recently discovered paper mesh, a packaging material. This brown paper is cut with little parallel slits, and when you pull it apart, it opens up and bulks up. This is great for collage, for stencilling through, and for the gel plate. I paint it, add gilding wax... whatever takes my fancy.

[@carolstanley9888]

I’m so happy I came across this video. I too am frugal. I subscribed to your channel and I’m looking forward to your videos. 😊

[@vamps_rock]

Love these💖, and as someone who loves to create art with a lot of 'junk', it's always nice to find a new person to watch. I've done something similar with all sorts of papers, but the best ones are the medicine instructions in pill packets as they are almost tissue paper thin so are great for collage and decoupage and tend to be really large so lots of bang for your buck (£!)! I also like using them for gelli prints too.

[@iaciflanders6608]

I will use anything for pages that I don’t need anymore. My husband brings me construction plans he is finished using ; I cut them into whatever size pages I need to add to junk journals, make tags, paint/decorate, etc.. We home schooled our children (one learns to live VERY frugal doing so) and still have pads of cursive handwriting paper and old notebooks which I usually dye or color for projects; also old atlas/map books are great! We still get junk snail mail and if the envelopes can be reused, I place them in a drawer along with paper bags; also keep the little paper bags that some restaurants slip their silverware into and bring out with their menu. Also, thick catalogs with thick paper that are a few pages in size (like makeup, The Republic of Tea, new cars, etc.) are great for mini books or cards by covering them with the art pages one makes and personalizing them for the occasion. Lovey video! Thank you!!! 💝🧵💝😂✂️💝

[@mLourdz]

I've been doing this for years, i.e. upcycling used papers, paperbags, cardboards, etc. into journal materials. I didn't care if I got criticized as frugal. For me, I find joy in making something from what other ppl would call junk. It enhances creativity plus less waste.

[@LSI.]

I am a frugal recycler too. I found junk journal videos about 5 years ago, yet have not used pretty commercial craft papers in any of my journals. I continue to "waste" my time spending hours making my own journal pages from trash. I felt crazy, until hearing you say you're not interested in the pretty commercially available papers, too. Thought maybe being frugal was the reason, yes, it is a part as you said but it is not the only reason, thank you for saying that. Conservation and rescue is also another reason for me. I am looking forward to your 100 day recycling project. I'm going to binge watch your channel and get up to speed.

[@brat16r7]

I'm in the medical world and have saved materials for just this very reason. You have provided great inspiration.

[@janeb7633]

First of your videos I have seen, and so glad I watched. Great idea, and like you I LOVE that each project is unique and not mass produced. The possibilities are endless. Thanks for sharing. Your time in creating to share is appreciated. ❤

[@tieskeellis8531]

I also make my own craft paper and make stamps from everything I find in my house. I am a vegetable farmer in the Namib desert in Namibia and I have a veggie stand in the little town we live near. I always have a list of things on my table that I use for my crafting, like corks, buttons, brown paper bags, candle wax, and everything an Idiot could use to craft with. My customers will bring it to me instead of throwing it away and they are very happy to know it will be re-used. So a lot of my inspiration comes from what people bring me. I have thousands of the Chinese chop sticks that I get from the Fishdeli and Sushi bar and I am still waiting for a super idea what to do with them. But one day it will pop up in my mind. I understand your feeling of not getting excited going into a craft shop. Like you say, everything looks the same. And what I still do not understand is how so many people make junk journals with

[@pattiroy9961]

I absolutely love what you just made. I also love the fact that you’re using things you already have. Thank you for the video.

[@pokey3010]

Excellent video I love how you made this beautiful paper and love what you said "no more $ to the man" I hate commercialism and how greed is ruining our planet. Thank you so much you inspire!

[@gracecarmichael5974]

This is lovely!! I speaks to my crafters soul. Creating one of a kind paper. How can you not love that!!

[@jennr7500]

I have been pondering how to be originally creative about paper. I can put together photos etc but never thought about what you’ve demonstrated. Those turned out beautiful. I agreed with so many of your comments and that you can go broke trying to figure out preprinted papers of which you like some pages but not others and they tend to be too … what’s the word here? Strict? Not my likes and personality so much as taking time and creating something you really like or love. Not that I don’t like some papers - just end up with pages I don’t like. Thank you. I hit the subscribe and like buttons. Thanks.

[@vamps_rock]

Also, if you have paper packs with designs you don't like, you can also customise them rather than use them as is or waste them - using embossing to create a resist effect is a great way to do that. 🥰

[@captgray2000]

I will use all the health insurance mail to do this process. I appreciate your video ideas.