Paper bag art journal 🔸 DIY art book for beginners

[@robertakeirn1870]

Having worked for the US Postal Service for 32 years it always cracks me up to see someone use stamps and legit postal stampers to make journals. I love your love of all things stamp related! ❤

[@MargareteMiller]

😂 correspondence art is real. There are a lot of us postal lovers out there❣️

[@carolstewart8507]

Oh I love all kinds of stamps most crafters do I love all mine from paper to rubber xx 🫶🤗💜🙌😘🌹🌹🙏🙏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@WendyInMD]

Canceled stamps on mail from other countries are AWESOME!

[@phyllismonroe8603]

I love the idea of using postage stamps. Unfortunately, the ink used for cancelation is so thick and dark these days that I can barely see the images on the stamps.

[@phyllismonroe8603]

I love this idea for an art journal!

[@tisatruett1623]

Gotta love someone who saves security envelopes!!!❤❤❤

[@MargareteMiller]

Ha! I have such a hard time throwing those out 🙌🏼❣️🌟

[@janiceerbstoesser84]

Can't stop saving those security envelopes. 😁

[@myrah3500]

Love this so much..I have an idea to journal on each page for 12 month about the things I talked with my granddaughter for a year! She can laugh years later

[@MargareteMiller]

What a wonderful idea! And a lovely memory to treasure forever 😉👍🏼🌟

[@TissyBrooks-cr7iy]

What a beautiful 😍 idea xxx

[@mandyw242]

That’s an awesome idea, she will love that so much 💚💚💚

[@SandiMo77]

That little paper bag booklet turned out so very cute Margarete! Thanks so much for this lovely inspiration of taking an ordinary household item and transforming it into something so artistic. Can't wait to try!

[@MargareteMiller]

Super! I'm so glad you're going to create some and put your own spin on them 💜

[@heartfeltlife8803]

This is just what I need for my high school intro to art class! Thank you so much for this wonderful info on using low cost materials

[@darcypalmer7783]

I love a project where you don't need to spend money! The folding of this is genius! Turns out so cute! Thank you.

[@MargareteMiller]

So glad you enjoyed this! 💙

[@marilyndamschen5435]

I’m always looking for ideas for workshops with special-needs adult clients. This is so adaptable and a great low-cost project I can offer a group.!

[@MargareteMiller]

Wonderful! Glad this was helpful. 💜

[@mariannesalisbury4056]

This is a great idea! I am going to go thru all of our prints and make mini photo albums for our girls and grand children!

[@kerrypocock1075]

I love using brown paper shopping bags

[@nancystephenson1323]

OMG, it's so nice to see that I'm not the only one who saves the security envelopes for the different patterns inside! Great ideas! It would be fun to make little smaller books like these sometimes.

[@MargareteMiller]

I hope you do someday. They are such fun little projects. 🩷

[@SoOkThenLetsGo]

I’ve got a collection of envelopes of my own. I have some that have a 4 in.² window on the front. They are fun to play with.

[@dawncarter9961]

Thank you for sharing! This is so fun! Will do some collage books with Christmas paper and stickers after opening with the family!

[@donnanowland3163]

Kraft paper is so versatile, making a paper bag a perfect crafting resource. This is a great project. I think it can be called a “zine”. Thank you for this video. I was very inspiring. 👏👏👏😎

[@MargareteMiller]

It definitely had zine-like qualities with all the folding and strategic cutting 👍🏻💙😉

[@olderendirt]

Very cute idea. I've saved so many bags like that. Thanks for the nice tutorial.

[@MargareteMiller]

You are so welcome! I hope you create a couple and have fun decorating those pages 🩷

[@jbcowland1]

I’m brand new to ‘book’ making, your tutorials are so helpful and easy to follow!

[@MargareteMiller]

Thank you for saying so! I appreciate the feedback 👍🏻❣️⭐️

[@BarbRoss-s3n]

I somehow lost my reply, but here’s what I o with my old school 3 ring binders. I do art work ,so I collect pictures and use them as inspiration letting them motivate me ,also I save magazine photos of antiques I own. I’m 92 yrs old and love your work. I was happy to know that other people had a similar hobby and I wasn’t off my rocker.

[@brendawarner4344]

I have ruïned so many bags! You said “I am just going to cut down the side here” do you mean the middle of the side seams? If so do you then cut across the middle of the bottom seams? I AM not dumb but very confuses. I have re-run your vídeo many times. HELP

[@MargareteMiller]

Hi, yes, cut the side seams off, and then cut the base off. 👍🏻

[@nancypridham6556]

What a great project. Easy access to inexpensive supplies, lots of it was recycled, which I love, and I think kids would enjoy doing this project as well. I volunteer at a craft only thrift store and this would be a great project for a class there. Thank you so much for the fabulous idea and instructions.

[@MargareteMiller]

Great project!! I’m so glad you will be teaching it at your shop. 💙💜❤️

[@jennyor867]

I like it. One can use old eyeshadow, dry leaves, flowers, twigs, feathers, grass, gauze, tea bags, coffee, glitter, lace, crochet, old jewelry, clean, dry and colored eggshells, buttons, etc.

[@MargareteMiller]

Great ideas! 💙 Thanks for sharing.

[@AlisonGreenValleyCrone]

So glad to see this. Bit fed up with all the videos that just assume that you can afford to spend $£ on tools and equipment. Sure that journaling started out using what ever you have at home…Thank you

[@MargareteMiller]

Well said! 💜

[@SharaLee60]

These are so fun! I've made a few of these over the years, just a little different. In gluing, I made some pockets & tags out of the paint chips! Thanks for sharing! ☺️🫂🐾🦋🧶🧵🪡✏️📓🌹✨️

[@MargareteMiller]

Pockets are a great idea. I might try that next time. 👍🏼❣️😉

[@PeterMurphy-c8i]

I think I will try this booklet with packing paper! Thanks

[@MargareteMiller]

Such a good idea!! I didn't even think of that. I'll try that next 😉❣️👍🏻

[@catcauldron217]

A brown paper bag huh? Let there be art! Thank you😘

[@paulinestewart8188]

These are the cutest little brown paper books! Thanks for the great idea Margaret.

[@MargareteMiller]

Glad you like them! 💙

[@jerrieanderson2245]

I really enjoyed this. Both books are really nice. My grandkids have started doing collage and glue books so I think they would really like this way of creating their own books. Thank you for sharing.

[@MargareteMiller]

Yes!! Great idea to try with the grandkids. They'll need help with the folding (maybe you do that part) but when you unfold them and lay out all the squares, they are so fun to decorate!! ❤️

[@janicehoughtelling5137]

Please show how to cut the bag after you cut the side and do you cut both sides

[@thrivingselfcarerenee]

Somehow I managed to fold it differently. I ended up with 12 pages plus a front and back cover. Not exactly sure what I did. 🤣 I love the idea of using grocery bags for paper journals and art. An excellent way to recycle and use what we already have. Thanks for this wonderful tutorial! Edited to add: I figured out what I did! I didn't wrap the end page around the back. I left it folded to the front. Gives me some more pages, so I'm fine with that. 😊

[@MargareteMiller]

You can try again with another bag, right? There's so many of them out there 😉. Glad you enjoyed this. 💜

[@ericastannard2635]

This is just so fabulous! I love your 2 books! You come up with the best ideas, I’m so glad you made the short of this video, I might have missed the longer version! Erica❤

[@MargareteMiller]

Thank you so much for your feedback! And thanks for watching both ❤️

[@NoDecaf7]

Heck yeah something I have the extra materials for! The way you described this process reminds me of some of the teachers I had in grade school, very easy to understand and follow along with for anyone at any age ❤❤

[@MargareteMiller]

Awwww, what a nice thing to say! Thank you !! 😘

[@debzehr3244]

I love these little books. I’m going to gather supplies and make them with my grand littles. We will have so much fun. 😊. Thank you so much. 💖💖💖

[@MargareteMiller]

Great idea!! Perfect for kiddos❣️🙂🌟

[@QueenNoTeetha151]

Thank goodness I found this video again! I had bought the low denomination stamps and couldn’t think which video featured them and what to do with them! I’ve been looking through all my craft video history trying to see what on earth I was going to make! 😂

[@MargareteMiller]

Yay!! So glad you got those stamps. Aren't they lovely! I hope you do something fun with them 😉💜👍🏻

[@joycegitter1778]

Love these little guys! Once you started the folding process, I realized I had made quite a few of these a few years back out of 12 x 12 scrapbook paper. The postage stamps are wonderful! Thanks for the tip. I have to go to the post office tomorrow so I’m gonna try to find these cuties. Thank you!

[@MargareteMiller]

I hope they have them at your post office. You can order them easily, too. 👍🏻

[@mrs.brayman4840]

This is such a great idea. I haven't used a paper bag yet. What I did do is solve a problem I have with note pads. I took a piece of copy paper and followed your directions. It makes a no fuss note book that I can take anywhere. 😊

[@MargareteMiller]

What a great idea!! I'm going to try that and toss it in my bag to see if I can put it to use. 👍🏻❣️⭐️

[@elisabethblaue9852]

The second with the stamped frame on each side is gorgeous too. And I will try out one with 14 pages - so with one more fold horizontaly.

[@MargareteMiller]

Neat!! Yes, experiment with another row and see how it goes. That's a great idea. 👍🏻❣️⭐️

[@telenaeldridge3737]

Oh my goodness!! What a fun idea. And because it’s made from a free paper bag, I could see it being very freeing to experiment in it with all kinds of media.

[@MargareteMiller]

Exactly! You can experiment with all kinds of mediums 💜

Gorgeous! Love it! ♥

[@jenntonakSA]

What a cool project! Simple but they look really nice!

[@MargareteMiller]

They are simple, Jenn. Some paper bags are darker than others. Next time I will try to find one that is a little lighter. 💙

[@phyllismonroe8603]

Thank you for this idea! My mom and I have saved the stamps from envelopes for over 5 decades so I now have another idea on what to do with them. And I have lots of rubber stamps and scrapbook paper too. I appreciate your inspiring videos. ❤

[@MargareteMiller]

Yay!! I'm so glad you've got ideas on how to decorate the pages. It sounds like it's going to be so much fun!! 👍🏻❣️⭐️

[@bsquared9647]

I can't wait to try this. Thank you for this tutorial! ❤

[@MargareteMiller]

I'm so glad you enjoyed this! Have fun creating your own 👍🏻❣️⭐️

[@michelebernsteinklausner4634]

Stunning! One of the best paper bag journal videos. I love the idea of using postage stamps.

[@MargareteMiller]

So kind of you to say. Thanks so much!! 🩷

[@Teresa63274]

Great project thank you for this demo and the postage stamp info. 😊

[@MargareteMiller]

You are so welcome! 💙

[@elisekt1860]

I’ve seen this before but your video is much better. Thank you!

[@MargareteMiller]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for letting me know❣️👍🏼🌟

[@SS-te4hs]

You have such beautiful skin Love this book idea

[@MargareteMiller]

Thanks! Make up and a good camera helps 😉

[@JoySibley-l4t]

I love the way the collages turned out! Good tutorial ❤

[@MargareteMiller]

Thanks so much!! 👍🏻❣️⭐️

[@kalpanakonar]

Excellent idea ❤

[@ericbruth]

Thank you for this video Margarete. I always wanted to do such a "folded" journal. And the idea of using a paper bag makes it even more appealing to me. I'm going to try. Thanks for the inspiration

[@MargareteMiller]

Awesome, Eric!! Tag me on IG or wherever you post a photo so I can see and cheer 😘❣️👏🏼

[@matthewflinchum5452]

I love your tutorial! I make them with my school kids but will follow your lead with paper bags, paint chips, postage stamps and rubber stamping! Everyone can design their own book using found supplies! ❤❤❤🙂

[@MargareteMiller]

Yep, using what you have is half the fun 😉❣️💙

[@tfntexas]

Awesome video, it’s full of inspiration and not really at any cost!

[@nikita3966]

The little books are so cute. I’m babysitting for my niece this weekend and the kids like crafts. I going to find some paper bags. I think they will have fun decorating each page. Thanks for the great idea.

[@MargareteMiller]

That sounds like a fabulous project! You are such a fun aunt❣️

[@laelswager4983]

I love these these small books and grocery bags are a great idea

[@MargareteMiller]

Almost anyone can find these types of grocery bags. They aren't free anymore in California, but they do sell them for 10 cents. I'm happy to pay that for two awesome little books 😉❣️👍🏻

[@deannak1659]

This is so FANTASTIC!! I have seen this project with craft supplies, but give you so much credit for coming up with this wonderful project using things things most people have in the recycle bin!! You are very cleaver!!!

[@MargareteMiller]

Thank you so much, Deanna. It wasn’t my idea, but it was so much fun running with it 💜

[@kdstinson4727]

First time watching and I'm so excited to make these little books with my grandkids. Thank you!❤

[@MargareteMiller]

Wonderful! Have fun 💙

[@raylenemock2112]

You are so amazing! I can’t thank you enough! I love anything to do with paper and you are the best at ideas and very good at explaining. God bless you!

[@MargareteMiller]

Thank you so much! I appreciate your kind comments 💙

[@aprilcarter749]

Great booklets love the one themes you used for each one. I’m ready to make one. TFS ❤.

[@MargareteMiller]

Super!! Have fun making your own 👍🏼❣️🙂

[@tonyastone6866]

So cute. I'm going to fold and cut some for my grandkids to be creative with. Thank you Margarete. What a Great idea.

[@MargareteMiller]

Doing this with the grandkids will be great fun. They’ll need help with the folding but can probably do everything else. 👍🏼❣️😉

[@hildedebreucker536]

❤ gone make a lot of these for friends. Greeting from belgium

[@MargareteMiller]

Wonderful, Hilde!! They will make great little gifts 👏🏼🌟💜

[@kristinebeer9505]

I love it!! Thank you for the tutorial and inspiration!!❤

[@MargareteMiller]

You are so welcome! Glad it was helpful 💙

[@Mizowi75]

Thank you for such a cute idea for the meandering book! I love how you decorated it. Also, thank you for the postal stamp idea! I didn’t know about those but will be checking with my post office!

[@MargareteMiller]

Awesome! You can get the stamps at www. stamps.com (the website of the USPS) if you can't get them at the post office. 💜

[@lorrainewilson2067]

Awesome idea. So easy to put your own take on this lovely project. Great for rainy days with kids!

[@barbaraholt5859]

Thanks so much, Margarete. I made the base along with the video, now nwwd to think about the collage. Really enjoy your presentations.

[@MargareteMiller]

Awesome! You’ve got the layout done and now for the fun part of decorating. Enjoy! 😉👍🏼💜

[@Nitabo5150]

Simply beautiful 💕

[@MargareteMiller]

Thank you! 😊

[@clairesladylair3624]

Ths is great!💯👍🤯

[@normawingo5116]

Thank you, I’m new here, recovering from spinal fusion. Looks like a perfect easy, project. I subbed, your videos are just what I needed to help get my mind off the pain.

[@MargareteMiller]

I'm wishing you a speedy recovery. I hope you're back in your space soon and creating fun things once again. 💜

[@dianejohnstone8653]

Hi Margarete, greetings from Victoria, Australia. Thank you for your tutorial Love your clear, concise instructions. 😊😊

[@MargareteMiller]

Thanks so much 😊 So glad you enjoyed this ❣️

[@Nathalie_MR]

That's a fun project Margaret. Your little books turned out great! Thank you 😊

[@MargareteMiller]

Thanks so much! I want to make more of them 💜

[@mshanks2257]

Love the way you decoupaged these little booklets. So adorable!

[@MargareteMiller]

Thanks so much! There are so many creative ways to decorate them. The sky's the limit! 💜

[@glittergrandma]

Thank you for your excellent directions and , as always, outstanding inspiration. ❤!!!😊

[@JeanFB16]

What a fantastic project - grid journal meets zine meets gluebook meets cluster art? 😆 Absolutely adore it, and it's another "no risk" project - no worries, just pure creative fun!

[@lesliespeers2739]

OMG these are so adorable!! When you first showed the theme of the stamps I thought she should use those bug stamps you showed on FB. So glad you made the extra book with them. All the pages look great!! TFS Hugs * L

[@MargareteMiller]

Yep!! You can tell that I had a plan all along, couldn't you? 😉👍🏻💜

[@lesliespeers2739]

@@MargareteMiller Those bug stamps BTW are adorable, I love bugs. I have lots of rubber stamps like that too.

[@juanitagentry9816]

So much fun! Thank you for sharing 😄

[@MargareteMiller]

Thanks for stopping by 💜

[@juliebey8240]

GENIUS 💡! 😊 what a cute idea! Perfect little gift 🎁. I’m trying to explain to my mother what junk journaling is. She asks me “what’s the point?” Well there doesn’t really what the point is. it’s fun and it is junk journaling at it’s simplicity 😊👍👏🤗

[@MargareteMiller]

So glad you enjoyed this!! 💜 I'm glad your mom is curious and asking questions. 😉❣️👍🏻

[@juliebey8240]

@@MargareteMiller she also said “it’s not my thing”. I’m going to try and convert her! She loves shabby chic so that’s what I’ll make for her!

[@sherryhyde565]

What a great idea! I love your channel! Thank you for sharing your beautiful creations! Be blessed 🌿

[@MargareteMiller]

Thank you so much! 💙

[@marydepew8062]

What a great idea, and very cute journals! Always fun to find something new to make with paper bags.

[@MargareteMiller]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@nathalieheath5693]

Been waiting for this tutorial ever since I saw your instagram post. Love it❤❤❤

[@MargareteMiller]

😁 Awesome, Nathalie❣️The bug book turned out nicely. I’m so glad you enjoyed this! Go make on 😉

[@christine0nowell757]

This came just at the right time for me Margaret. Many thanks xxx

[@MargareteMiller]

So glad, Christine! I'm glad you enjoyed this 💜

[@TheSwissy4me]

Very clever

[@lindahowe2293]

A friend is coming to my house tomorrow and I will be showing her this adorable little book! Thank you for such clear instructions!

[@MargareteMiller]

Have fun! 👍🏼❣️😉

[@jeanneblondewomanstamping9788]

I love to use low-denomination stamps on my mail art as a graphic element. So many of them are beautifully drawn, especially the flowers & fruit. Gonna try this fun project. Thanks for sharing. 🥰

[@MargareteMiller]

Low denomination stamps are SO fun to collage with. My favorites are the 20 cent, extra ounce rabbits 🐇

[@wandaspencer9523]

Your bag book is super cute. So well explained, and easy to follow. Thanks for sharing!😊❤

[@nanmau6234]

Great idea , Love, Love, Love this little booklet! And you are a fantastic teacher ! 💕

[@MargareteMiller]

Thank you so much! 😘

[@2004Yvonne]

You are a fabulous presenter, Margarete. I do not even make/do junk journaling, but I watch and enjoy your videos, just in case I change my mind. I am a card maker and have a lot of suitable "stuff" saved. I love that you have used ordinary papers to decorate your beautiful little book as I do not really have vintage ephemera to spare. Thanks for all your effort and generosity! x

[@MargareteMiller]

Thanks, Yvonne, for your kind comments❣️ I love that I can temp you to consider working on a project like this. I hope you will 😉❣️👍🏼

[@tammyfrazer9868]

Fun, fun fun and you get two. Thanks for the tutorial.

[@MargareteMiller]

My pleasure! I hope you’ll make some 💜

[@lynnburns3715]

These are cute and I think I’ll make them with my grandkids for a fun craft to do together

[@MargareteMiller]

Great idea to work on something like this with the grands 👍🏼😉❣️

[@shariolson-anderson3792]

My sister works for the postal service..this would be fun for her

[@MargareteMiller]

I hope you’ll share the video with her and she’ll get a kick out of using postage stamps 😉👍🏼❤️

[@lu-ellenhafner4968]

I do like that your collage has a theme, as a scrapbook et this resonates with me😊

[@MargareteMiller]

I find that picking a theme really helps in narrowing down the scope of materials that you can choose from. Otherwise there's too much choice and it gets overwhelming.

[@lindamorse1335]

Love this

[@olderendirt]

Those are so cute. I used to collect stamps so I have a lot of canceled international ones. This would be fun to do with some of them. Thanks!

[@MargareteMiller]

Yep, that's a great way to use some of your cancelled stamps 👍🏻❣️⭐️

[@coffeejournalcreate]

Margarete...I love this!

[@MargareteMiller]

I'm so glad! I hope you'll make one. 💜

[@coffeejournalcreate]

@@MargareteMiller Yep, I've started on it already 😁

[@rebeccabodine413]

How very very clever!

[@MargareteMiller]

It wasn’t my idea, but I loved running with it and putting my twist on it 😉❣️👍🏼

[@cynthiahogue7724]

Another great video! I’ve seen this done before but not explained so well. My mind is already racing with ideas!

[@MargareteMiller]

Glad to hear it! Have fun making them 💜❣️👍🏼

[@suebailey245]

This is so lovely - I have so many things in my stash that I can put in one of these books. Can’t wait to get started (hope I’ve got a bag I can use 😂) x

[@MargareteMiller]

Awesome! I’m so glad you’ve got a new idea to play with 😉🌸❣️

[@vickiejensen1265]

Very cute idea!❤

[@MargareteMiller]

Thank you! 😊

[@kellercrucita550]

Tu creatividad es increíble! Gracias por compartir 😊

[@MargareteMiller]

Glad you enjoyed this! I hope you will make one 👏🏼

[@mommaknowsbestakagwen4028]

Oh so Cool 😎. Thank you. Great job 👏👏👏

[@idalujan3571]

I use the Fearless Flyer too for text or the illustrations for junk journaling. Love this booklet.

[@MargareteMiller]

Thanks! 💙 I find a million uses for that flyer 😉

[@martymace9139]

This looks like so much fun! ❤ I will have to try it.

[@MargareteMiller]

I hope you do! There are so many fun ways to work on these pages 💜

[@jennifersdoglife]

Thank you thank you thank you! So many ideas growing in my brain!

[@MargareteMiller]

Awwww, I’m so excited for you to work on one! Have fun❣️

[@sharronemerson2930]

What fun. My Grandkids will love it as well ❤

[@MargareteMiller]

This is a great project to do with the grands. Have fun!! 💜

[@tambrayork1652]

Wowww who in the world figured this out? I hope they are an engineer. This is soooo cool.

[@MargareteMiller]

Yep, there are some creative people out there! I had so much fun putting my spin on it, though 😉

[@michelel3372]

What a fun project!! I really like your use of paint chips along with the postage stamps. Thank you so much for sharing. ❤

[@MargareteMiller]

You are so welcome! Glad you enjoyed this. Thanks for stopping by 😉👍🏼❣️

[@jeannette7243]

This was such fun, thank you! 💚

[@sherryliberto6749]

Wow, I love this project. Your bag art books turned out so adorable. Thanks for the inspiration. Have a fabulous Friday. Sherry ❤❤❤

[@MargareteMiller]

Thank you, Sherry❣️ I hope you’ll work on some, too. They come together easily 👍🏼