"Find Joy in the Journey" Paper lunch bag journal
Hello Craft Friends!
It's Dana here! I'm back to share a paper lunch bag journal project (no sewing) using the Tres Jolie June Scrapbook kit! This is a fabulous kit that features Uniquely Creative "While Away " 12x12 Collection kit! There are double sided 12x12 patterned papers (2each), lots of fussycut images, tags and pocket pieces, matching Creative Cuts package, Tres Jolie Chipboard nature floral piece, and Prima Marketing Flowers! This kit is one you'll want to add to your crafty collection! Here's a photo of the Scrapbook kit:
From my stash, I am using Distress Ink Gathered Twigs, foam tape/dots, paper punch, jute cord, Memento Bamboo Leaves ink, Prima Marketing gems from a previous Tres Jolie Kit, paper lunch bags, white ribbon from the June Cards Tags and More kit, Tim Holtz Idea-ology paper dolls and bone folder.
This journal is easy to make and put together. The lunch bags I bought from the Dollar store so it's an economical way to say money and you have plenty of lunch bags to use for future projects!
First off, we will be creating our paper bag journal. You'll need 4 lunch bags total. There ones I'm using are giant size and measure 6 &1/4 x 4 x12 3/4 inches. You may have to adjust the measurements depending on what size lunch bags you are using.
Take your lunch bags and cut off 1/2inch off the top of each bag. See photo:
Now fold up the bottom on each bag and crease using a bone folder. See photo:
Set your paper bags aside. Choosing several different patterned papers from the kit, I will cut as follows:
Above pocket piece: 5 & 7/8 x 3 & 7/8 inches- cut 4 total,
pocket front- 5 & 7/8 x 3 & 7/8 cut 4 total
Front/back and all inside regular pages- 6 x 7 & 3/8- cut 4 total.
Cut the spine piece to measure- 6 x 7 & 3/8 inches. Score this piece at every 1 inch and fold accordian style. See photo:
Take your paper bags and lay in this order- flat page (front cover),pocket page, flat page, 2 pocket pages, flat page and pocket page. 6 total pages inside your journal. You can change them around in a different order if you like.
Ink all papers and glue in place, except the spine piece. You can also glue your pocket pages shut.
Front cover:
Continue this until all your papers and pockets are adhered. Here's some photos of my pages:
Next take your spine piece and add glue on the 2 and 3 flaps together. Then glue 4 and 5 flaps together. It should look like this:
Add glue on the inside creased section on each paper bag. Slide the first spine panel to the inside of your paper bag And continue this with the remaining spine panels. See photo:
Your journal should end up looking like this:
Now we can start decorating our front cover. I fussycut several pieces from the Folio bits paper and library cards. See photo:
Set your journal aside for a moment. Take one of the Tres Jolie chipboard nature/flower pieces. Taking some Memento Bamboo Leaves ink, I applied onto the chipboard leaves. Let dry. I applied some Stickles Golden Rod glitter on the flower stamins. Let dry. Then I glued a gem in the center of a chipboard flower! Note: I will add acouple more Prima gems later. See photo:
I chose some of the beautiful Prima Marketing flowers from the kit. I arranged them along with the Tres Jolie chipboard flower piece at the top left corner! With foam dots I adhered the Books diecut and glued the "find joy in the Journey" library card at the bottom right edge. I tucked acouple diecut leaves behind my library card, adhered the books diecut next to the sentiment. I added the small red heart at the bottom. Here's a closeup look:
Open to page 1 pocket page: Using a Sizzix Thinlets die from my stash, I diecut out a file folder from Find Joy paper. See photo:
Fold and crease folder. On the front of my file folder, I glued a circle diecut piece, and with foam dots, I adhered a floral diecut piece and added some Journaling.i glued one of the Diecut tabs sentiment on top of my file folder tab. See photos:
On the inside of my file folder, I added a photo of my mom.
Tuck your file folder into the pocket. You could add more photo files, or other memorable pieces inside your pocket if you like. On my pocket front, I cut out a Circle sentiment and glued on the front of my pocket. I cut and trimmed away border strip and glued along the top of my pocket edge. I punched out 3 diecut pendant flags and glued at the top left corner! Here's a photo:
Page 2: I gathered some diecut pieces from the kit,
I cut a circle sentiment in half, and from one of the border strips, I cut out a sentiment phase. I chose a photo strip and some Thicker sticker letters from my stash. I applied some glue to a floral diecut piece on three edges. I left the bottom open so I could tuck my photo strip underneath. I glued the half circle sentiment at the top of my page. With foam dots, I adhered the phone diecut piece along the bottom right edge. Glued the sentiment phase above my phone diecut. Added some sticker letters on the right side. Here's some closeup photo!
Page 3 pocket page: I cut out a pocket and card from one of the element sheets in the kit. I scored on the 3 sides of the pocket piece. Fold and crease all 3 sides. see photos:
Add glue on each flap. See photo:
On the matching card, I glued a tab diecut at the top of my card along with a diecut flower. I tied some white ribbon through the hole on my tag and knotted it.
Slide the card inside the pocket on the front pocket. Tuck your tag into the other pocket. With foam dots, I added the cute coffee cup diecut piece in the center. Here's a photo:
Page 4 pocket page: I cut out acouple tags, square sentiment, border strip sentiment. From the Creative Cuts package, I chose the bird, and pitcher. And a Prima flower. I tied jute cord through each hole on both tags.See photo:
I glued my bird and border strip sentiment at the top of my page. On the front of my pocket, with foam dots, I adhered the sentiment and pitcher diecut piece. Glued my Prima flower above my sentiment. Tuck the other tags inside the pocket. Here's a photo:
Page 5: I took the Best Friends diecut letters, and diecut clock pieces from the Creative Cuts package.
I glued the letters at the top of my page. With foam dots I adhered the clock diecut on the bottom right corner and paper dolls on the right. Here's a photo:
Page 6: I cut out 3 more tags, cut a circle sentiment in half, and chose some diecut pieces. I tied some jute cord through the holes on all 3 tags. See photo:
With foam dots I adhered the Amazing diecut piece and glued the number pieces on the right side on my pocket front.i glued the half circle sentiment at the top and tucked my tags inside my pocket! Here's a photo:
Here's another closeup photo of my finished journal!
Another closeup!
Now we are finished with our paper bag journal! I hope I've inspired you and you will grab a kit and your crafty supplies and create one for yourself!
Thank you for visiting the Tres Jolie Blog! We love to see your crafty makes! So please share on our Facebook Tres Jolie kit club Cafe page!
Until next time, have a great week!
Dana
June 2025 Mood Board Challenge
This month’s Mood Board Challenge is here to inspire! Use it as your creative starting point, share your project with us on social media using #CreateWithTresjoliekits, and you could be featured — and win a surprise prize pack! So join in the fun and good luck!
Here are the rules.
1. This challenge is still open to everyone.
2. You can create any type of project for the challenge.
3. You MUST say what you were inspired by.
4. You MUST include the twist in your design. This month's theme is LAZY SUMMER DAY.
5. We would love to see you USE AT LEAST 1 of Tres Jolie's products on your projects but it isn’t required to play along.
6. It MUST be a new project.
7.To have everyone eligible to win, we are limited the same winner to once every 3 months.
We have added some new chipboard designs to the store. Make sure you check them out.
Here's our June Monthly Mood Board:
TRES JOLIE LINKS
Tres Jolie Facebook
Tres Jolie Instagram
Tres Jolie Pinterest
Tres Jolie YouTube
Tres Jolie Blog
Want to purchase a kit? Check out our Blog, & More? Click here
Or make it easier & join in the monthly subscription here