Paper Bag Albums

Paper bag albums are fun and easy to make. They make great gifts and are a fun way to use your duplicate pictures. One fun thing about them is that the bag opening creates a pocket where you can place journaling cards, and memorabilia such as tickets stubs, notes, etc. The pocket is also the perfect size for a photo CD.

You can use any size paper bag, but my favorite are just standard size lunch bags. When folded, they create an album that is approximately 6x6 inches.

Step by Step Instructions:

1) Take 3-5 paper bags and lay them on top of each other alternating ends.

2) Fold the bags in half and crease to create a book. Notice how the open ends create a pocket? Punch three to five holes along the spine. It is easiest to place the holes at measured points and punch through one folded bag at a time.

4) Decorate the pages using patterned paper, cardstock, photos, stickers, stitching, staples, buttons, fibers and any other embellishments you like.

5) Create coordinating tags to place inside the bags open ends for a nice extra touch. Add a ribbon or paper pull tag to pull the page out of the bag opening.

Like any scrapbook, paper bag albums can follow any theme. They are particularly great when you want to scrap one event. Ideas for album themes: Baby’s first Christmas, animals/pets, trips, All about Me, Grandma’s/Grandpa’s brag book, summer camp, holidays, vacations, etc. No matter how you decorate them, paper bag albums make great gift items and are one more creative and unexpected way to use your scrapbooking materials.

REMEMBER, PAPER BAGS ARE NOT ACID FREE, SO BE SURE TO USE DUPLICATE COPIES OF PHOTOS!

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