Brown Paper Bags as a Canvas for Collage

I love that you're here with me today!

I'm very pleased that plastic bags and containers have been banned in many places. Stopping their use is a big step in protecting the environment and has encouraged more people to bring their own reusable bags.

In restaurants and shops, it's back to paper bags:

I've collected a stack in my cabinet and I can't help but think, "How can I turn these from blah to TADA!?"

Remember this paper bag that I transformed using collage, rubber stamps, and packing tape transfers? It's such an easy way to give a brown paper bag new life, plus it's an efficient way to use up paper scraps. 

With the same technique, here's how I dressed up a few other brown paper bags:

This brown paper bag collage has a summer theme using pink, mint green, and gray as the central colors. I used scrapbook paper remnants and security envelopes for the collage. Peony and fern rubber stamps, plus butterfly cutouts add to the soft nature-theme...TADA!

This brown paper bag collage uses two elements: circles made from security envelopes (made with a round craft punch) and patterned butterflies (also made with a butterfly craft punch and magazine pages). I played with symmetry and color...TADA! 

This brown paper bag collage is based on a travel theme: scrapbook paper, washi tape, ephemera and rubber stamps provide the wanderlust...TADA!

Finally, this brown paper bag collage gets its color from painted paper and magazine pages. A simple rubber stamp contributes to the celebratory theme...TADA!

Brown paper bags are the best canvas to experiment. You can try out paint, markers, washi tape, and seasonal cut-outs to turn them from "blah to TADA!"

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