These homemade seed packet journals are a great way to upcycle empty paper seed packets into something usable! The process is easy and fun, and these mini notebooks would be wonderful for keeping a garden log, for notes or as a nature journal for children. I used the recycled homemade paper that we made recently inside of our journals, as well as pages from old books and paper from junk mail. I’m using a fun vintage seed packet that I’ve been holding onto for a special project like this. To bind the journals, we use either embroidery thread (reduced to four strands of floss) or heavy weight waxed cotton thread.

Materials

– empty paper seed packets
– scrap pieces of paper
– embroidery thread or waxed cotton thread— i’m using embroidery thread (4 strands of floss)
– needle
– awl, push pin or a large needle

Instructions to make journals using recycled seed packets

Step 1: How to create the journal cover

Cut your empty paper seed packet open alongside the top, right and bottom edges using an xacto knife or a sharp pair of scissors. If the paper is thin or feels flimsy you can cut a piece of cardstock and glue it on the backside to add stability.

Step 2: How to create the journal paper

Cut your pieces of scrap paper to your desired size. Gather all of the papers and place them in a stack, underneath the top cover. Clip the paper in place. I prefer to fold all of my papers prior to binding them together so that I can see if any of them need to be trimmed prior to starting.

Step 3: How to bind a journal

Use a pencil to mark five evenly spaced holes alongside the outer spine of your journal. Use your awl, push pin or large needle to create the holes. Begin by pushing the needle through the center hole, starting from the underside up through the top. Make sure that you leave a tail of thread on the end– this will be used to tie the entire thing shut at the end. Thread the needle back down through the next hole, then go back the opposite way until the ends of your thread meet and you can tie them shut. Tie a double knot, making sure that you are pulling the thread tightly. 


How we use our journals

– For taking notes
– To keep a garden log
– For creating collections of ideas
– To make our own illustrated mini-books
– As a nature journal
– To collect leaf and tree rubbings
– As a sketchbook