Have you ever looked at an Amazon package and seen more than just something headed for the recycling bin?
In today’s project, I’m taking Amazon packaging and combining it with papers and supplies from my stash to create a one-of-a-kind handmade journal. It’s a great reminder that creativity doesn’t require a shopping trip—sometimes the best supplies are already sitting in your craft room waiting to be rediscovered.
The paper bags that your Amazon packages come in make an excellent journal cover. Paired with patterned papers, scraps, book pages, and leftover embellishments, it becomes the foundation for a journal that’s both beautiful and functional.
One of my favourite things about making journals this way is that no two are ever alike. Every paper scrap, vintage page, tag, or embellishment adds its own personality to the finished project. It’s also an excellent stash-busting project for that pattern paper you’ve been saving for just the right project.
Be sure to watch the video below to see the complete process and get inspired to create your own handmade journal from materials you already have on hand.
Giving the Journal a Purpose
Rather than letting this journal sit on a shelf, I’ve decided to use it for Liz Lamoreux’s 5 Things Challenge (you can find Liz on Instagram as @lizelayne).
The challenge invites participants to slow down and notice the small moments of everyday life. Through simple prompts and observations, it encourages creative reflection, mindfulness, and storytelling. A handmade journal is the perfect place to capture those thoughts, photos, sketches, lists, and memories.
Why Participate in a Prompt Challenge?
Prompt challenges like the 5 Things challenge are about much more than simply filling pages. They encourage us to slow down, pay attention, and reflect on the moments that make up our everyday lives.
A creative journal is the perfect place to capture those thoughts, observations, memories, and feelings. By combining words, photos, ephemera, artwork, and keepsakes, your journal becomes a personal record of a season of your life—one that you can revisit years from now.
Here are 6 reasons why you should give a prompt challenge a try.
- They encourage mindful reflection. The prompts invite you to pause and notice things you might otherwise overlook. Taking a few minutes to reflect on your day can help you appreciate the small moments that often end up being the most meaningful.
- They help preserve memories. It’s easy to remember the big milestones, but the little details of daily life tend to fade over time. Prompt challenges encourage you to document those everyday experiences, creating a rich collection of memories that tell the story of your life right now.
- They give your journal purpose. Sometimes the hardest part of journaling is knowing where to begin. A prompt provides gentle direction while still leaving plenty of room for personal interpretation and creativity.
- They create a record of personal growth. Looking back through completed journal pages can reveal how your thoughts, priorities, interests, and perspectives have evolved over time. Your journal becomes more than a creative project—it becomes a reflection of your journey.
- They encourage storytelling. Whether you write a few sentences, include a photo, save a ticket stub, or add meaningful ephemera, each prompt helps tell a piece of your story. Over time, these individual entries come together to create a beautiful snapshot of your life.
- They make creativity more meaningful. Instead of creating for the sake of creating, prompt challenges encourage you to connect your creativity with your experiences, memories, and reflections. The result is a journal that feels deeply personal and uniquely yours.
Start with What You Have
Whether you’re creating a journal from Amazon packaging, a thrifted book, an envelope, or supplies from your paper stash, the important thing is to begin. Creativity doesn’t require perfect materials—it simply requires a willingness to see possibilities in what you already have.
So before you recycle that next package, take a second look. It might just become your next favourite journal or a gift for someone special.
If I’ve inspired you to create your own journal, I’d love to see it. Snap a photo of it or tag me if you share it online.
Until next time,
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