I made this scrapbook from recycled materials to celebrate some of the "highlights" of my relationship with Jeremy. I listed out ten things that I love about our life and then used a highlighter pen and cut them into strips for each page. It's the perfect small book for our coffee table at home.
Here's a look at each of the inside pages. I printed out ten photos that I love, they don't necessarily have anything to do with my list of favorite things. The pages are super simple… just a photo, a journaling strip and some washi or masking tape.
Here's a look at the front and back of the book, as well as the inside of the last page. I loved using recycled papers to make the book.
Here's a little bit about how I made this book. First, I saved papers for a few weeks. Anything that could be used to make a scrapbook, I saved. I used a girl scout cookies box, several paper shopping bags, a fabric bag and some cardboard coffee cozies.
Step 1: Trim all pages. I chose a 6×6 inch size for my book. The pages don't have to match exactly, but they will be easier to bind if they are nearly the same size. Step 2: Use masking tape to bind all the pages together on the inside of the book. Step 3: Continue adding more and more pages until you have 10 inside pages and 2 cover pieces attached. Trim excess tape from each page as you go. Step 4: Use as many pieces of masking tape as you need to to bind the outide spine of the book together.
There you go! This is a super simple way to make a journal or scrapbook from scratch with recycled items. After this just add the photos and journaling to your book!
A few tips for the highlighting…. I printed out my text and then highlighted it, but I had problems with smearing (seen above). To prevent this problem, I used the smeared version as a guide to highlight a blank sheet of paper (I held them together against a window) in the same spots. After the blank sheet was highlighted I let it dry for 5 minutes and was careful to put it into my printer in the exact same direction as the first pieces printed. Then I printed the same text over the highlighter areas and this took care of my smearing problem!
Have fun creating your own highlights book! xoxo, elsie
100 Comments
ahaha, very cool! how creative!
http://www.tinacious.me/
http://www.tinacious.me/
Love this! Taking Brown Paper Bag Book Covers to a whole new level 🙂
ps – I’ve been following you here on Bloglovin’ for a while an I LOVE LOVE your style, so unique and fun 🙂
Such a great idea! I love how creative your projects are. I would like to pick your brain!
Kindness is the best accessory,
Rebecca
Awesome!!! I love this idea of using recycled bags! I may just have to make one!!
-Miranda
http://paperthoughtsfabricdreams.blogspot.com
Such a cleveri idea! I love how everything came togethet : )
I LOVE this!!!
xoxo – http://cachecloset.blogspot.com/
This is such a fun idea. I can’t wait to try it out!
You are so creative, and I love reading your blog.
Such a great tip about highlighting before printing – I always have this problem!
Love the minimalist designs and the unified theme!
Material Fixations
I’m so gonna do this for my next journal. Thanks you inspirational lady 🙂
Oh this is so nice! 😀 I will definitely try this too at home! Think my boyfriend would also like it very much! I also wanted to say I really enjoy reading your blog! X Lots of love from Belgium!
can’t wait to make one!
jillian&hannah
http://hitherandthitherblog.blogspot.co.uk/
This is so cool!
Love the fact that you used old paper to make this scrapbook and it’s such a cute idea 🙂
xx Sari
Elsie that is absolutely adorable. You guys seem SO HAPPY together and I absolutely love it 🙂
Rory
http://www.WearAboutsBlog.com
Enter my giveaway!!!
I really love this! It’s so cute! Thanks so much for sharing!
eeeee love! my three year anniversary is this week and i have been trying to think of something super unique to make. thank you!!! so genius and so cute!
So sweet + such a great idea! This would make the perfect anniversary gift! YAY! You always have the best ideas. 😀
Love it! I used the same idea – but oversized – to archive my son’s art projects from gradeschool. I cut and used whole bags and kept the handles attached so that I could carry the “scrapbook” like a briefcase.
That’s a super cool idea love how it turned out! Thanks for sharing and inspiring!
I absolutely love this! Always looking for cute present ideas for my man.
Take carex
I love this idea of creating your own book from recycled paper! I definitely want to have a go making this, maybe for my mum’s upcoming birthday!
http://www.styleisalwaysfashionable.blogspot.com
I’m loving this so much. great idea.
Oh and the printer trick– you deserve 10 points for that.
Sónia from Cats and Sisters
http://catsandsisters.blogspot.pt/
Inspiring! Such a great idea!
What a cute idea!!! 🙂 I just gave my man a photobook of our first year together and he absolutely loved it. 🙂 I’m pretty sure, if I make something like this, he would also be so happy!! Thanks for sharing the idea!
xoxo
Ida
This is such a sweet idea, what a lovely memento.
Zoe
http://gypsiesister.blogspot.co.uk
So glad to see you dipping your toes back into scrapbooking…sorta! Love your ideas!
This is such a great DIY. I’m going to have to try! Love! xxxo.
http://www.lisapriceinc.com
I can’t tell you how happy I am to see some scrapbooks on your blog again – I missed your art journals! Such a cute way to recycle grocery bags 🙂
cutest idea! how do you come up with them all? 🙂
Okay, first of all I have to say that your solution for the smearing problem is GENIUS. Simple *genius*!!! 🙂 & secondly, I love this scrapbook!! It’s so cute! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
How cute!! I love this and can’t wait to create my own 🙂
I love this!!!! 🙂 How cute.
so fabulous! i’ve been doing lots of highlighter action the last few weeks in my scrapping – think its the neon 😉
Wow! This is such a great idea! You two are so cute together!
xx
http://www.thrifted.ca
This is a great idea – I love how it turned out. Very Creative!
All inspiring as always. Totally doing this one!
♥ sécia
http://www.petiteinsanities.com/
Beautiful book and I love your quick fix for the smearing!!!
Great idea girls. I wish I had more free time for scrapbooking. But this is lovely inspiration.
xoxo
http://www.natashafatah.blogspot.com
I love this idea! I’ve been making something similar to this for my fiance as a wedding gift. It has recycled materials as the pages, and is filled with memories, receipts, photos, parking tickets, and so much more! Thanks for sharing your finished product, it looks wonderful!
Katie
Very cool Elsie! Loving this project, you are very creative. Also, the highlighting before printing to prevent smearing – genius idea!
So cute! That’s a great use of recycled materials 🙂 And if you have a color printer you could have just highlighted it online. Great idea!
I <3 this!!!! x
What a great memory treasure! I do believe I will do it for my kids– one for each of the three~*
http://aclosetintellectual.blogspot.com/
I love this!! Great tip for highlighting!! Thank you for sharing all your creative ideas and inspiration!! 🙂
This is so resourceful and cute! Definitely a great coffee table book/conversation piece.
http://viennawaitsblog.blogspot.com/
I love how easy this is, and the very focused topic for a little journal.
“Road trips with marathon planning sessions” ? Does this mean you plan through the night while on the road or you plan to run a marathon?
Just curious,
Joi
http://joyful-wife-joiful-life.blogspot.com/
Oh, this is so awesome!
http://www.loganmakesamess.com
What a cute idea! Love love love that you used recycled materials. 🙂 And smart thinking on overcoming the smearing problem!
http://thejoyfulfox.blogspot.com
I swear, not a single day goes by where your blog does not bring me inspiration. GAH. You have me so excited to begin my life with me and my boy again, to have our own home again, and to have just our own lives again.
Your happiness honestly rubs of on people. It’s a gift, Mrs.Larson.
tea-atnoon.blogspot.com
I love this! For valentines day I strung a garland with 10 things I love about my hubby:
http://victorypaperdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/02/10-things-i-love-about-you-garland-gift.html?m=1
Awesome idea! I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for the tutorial!
xo-Kimberly
I love this idea to celebrate your love! It’s organic and yet has so much personality. Such a cute expression of love. 🙂
This is so fun! I wish my boy and I had more photos together. I’d love to make a book like this.
-Lindsey
http://ettu-tutu.blogspot.com
Cute idea! 🙂
http://www.happypaperplace.com/
really lovely! and creative! 🙂
I absolutely love that you used WF and TJ’s paper bags to make this super cute scrapbook!
a really cute cute little thing to do! x
it’s easy and beautiful and creative idea!
I love how loveable you are together. I wish my boy would love stuff like this, would be amazing to share this with someone who appreciates it…
That’s a beautiful idea!
Such a sweet idea (:
xo Kayla
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what font did you use?
I made a poem book out of paper bags when I was younger just like this!
http://madnessanmusings.blogspot.com/2012/03/spring-has-sprung.html
Love it!
I think i gonna do one for my boy
http://mykitschworld.blogspot.com.es/
Wonderful DIY. I love stopping by and being inspired everyday 🙂
Thank you!
Much Love
Anie
http://www.thelifeofanie.blogspot.com
I love this idea! Your scrapbooks are amazing!
What an adorable project! I’m so impressed with your projects.
Xo, Amanda
http://www.littledooronthesound.com
SO cute and green – I LOVE it! You guys are ADORABLE!
This is adorable! 🙂
http://stainsofpaint.blogspot.com/
Your highlight-first-print-second idea is genius, especially the part about holding them up to a window. Lady, I don’t know how you do it! 🙂 Over and over again with the great ideas!
This is so cute.
I always love your DIYs. They are so personal and sweet. I’d love to start making these kinds of traditions with my hubby. 🙂
I adore this idea! When I was in high school I took old books and drew in them to make journals on pre-existing pages. I’ll have to try this too 🙂
omg! i love this & your blog. thank you for sharing this with us!
xoxomb
http://www.occupationhousewife.com
I really love the way that you and Jeremy treasure the little things that matter. I believe it’s something that will keep the love strong in time to come. =) <3
this was the push i needed to get this idea on paper. http://dailypamage.blogspot.com/2012/03/mini-album-for-soul.html
Thank you for the inspiration. my best friend has cancer and I needed a little book just like this help remind me of our good times together.
soooooooo cute! 🙂
adorable elsie!
‘yesterday, today and tomorrow’ just made me shed a little tear. you’re so sweet.
love the recycle scrapbooking!:)
staklene bombone
I’m excited to do this. I’m thinking of doing one for each if my girls, listing the things I love about them. What a special gift that would be for them. Thanks for the idea.
Vintagehoneybee.blogspot
This is too cool. I think I will make each of my daughters one, listing what I love about them. Thanks for the idea.
Vintagehoneybee.blogspot.con
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You have so many great ideas! 😀
what a wonderful idea! Thanks for the inspiration!
Great idea! I thought of making one but using dermatographs instead of highlighters to avoid smearing.
good thinkin on highlighting before printing!!
Hi,
Just found your blog and I love it!
Just wondering what font you used?
It’s really clean and simple.
This is so cute!!! I love it.
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i dont really uderstand how you fix the papers with the masking tape. could you explain this a little bit better please?
Elsie, you`re a master in making of scrapbooks!
http://theproject6x6.blogspot.com/
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i saw this and was instantly inspired to make my boyfriend a scrapbook like this of his senior year! it came out great and i was glad that i didnt have to spend tons of money on scrapbooking supplies, even though i did use cardstock for the pages, rather than recycled paper bags. this is a great idea! love it!
AWESOME POST!! Its really great to find something that ease my frustrations and something that makes me want to move forward. I found my peace in making scrapbooks! I am constantly looking for ideas I can use to make decorate and design. Currently, I am obsess with any thing underwater / ocean theme designs. I like to use a Whale Coral Octopus Metal Stencils to add in my design which is totally cute. Can you share any underwater theme designs?? Hope you can show us more ways to decorate !! 😀 Thanksss!!