James, I love this “paper bag junk journal”!!! Love it!!! You have the best ideas, really!!! Hi to Steve!!! I think I am going to make one of these this year. I’ll photograph it when I do (2023).

I LOVE this. I do not have access to Trader Joe (I live way out in the middle of nowhere) so no epic bags for me. But I have saved the brown packing paper to use with what brown shopping bags I do have access to. Love the recycling aspect to this. Keep inspiring us---we love it.

This is such a cool idea! I am going to be collecting cool paper bags now! 😂

I didn't even know TJs had printed bags like this for the holidays. Def checking that out this year!!

I’m so torn right now. I freaking love that you are dancing and have that life back. And I’m loving seeing how you still get stuff done while working the other job. It’s helping me be a little kinder to myself when I just “throw” things together in the limited time I have 🤣😂🤣 But then there’s a part of me that misses full time to art James!! Actually I’m shocked at how much you are still accomplishing! I really didn’t get my hopes up for Merry Mixed Media this year haha. I don’t want to give you the grace to to not do all the things because I’m incredibly selfish bahaha. But all joking aside I am loving everything!!!

I give the journal to everyone on Christmas and ask them to write down their favorite memories.

I absolutely love this! The Trader Joe bags are fantastic! So wish we had a Trader Joe's where I live!

I absolutely LOVE your Christmas projects James! I am totally going to do your “favorite ornaments, mixed media piece!“ I’ll do yours, but then I am absolutely going to photo journal all of our sentimental ornaments for our kids. I could feel your pain as you were talking about the horrors of having your things “felt up“ by the TSA agents! 😅 I once had a carry-on of my grandmothers and great grandmothers, silver, that I had just inherited and was bringing home. So obviously, it was already an emotional time. I had totally forgotten that the butter knives in the chests in my carry-ons were technically knives… Well, that actually got past the TSA agent, not at all, and as I looked on in horror he was making soup of all of these carefully packed and treasured heirlooms. And just like you experienced he did not smile at my attempts to reach in and “save the silver!” It’s probably no surprise that I was an emotional wreck and sobbing by the end of this encounter. And my husband actually had to do a “reverse 0J“ through the airport to get all of the “dangerous contraband“ into our checked luggage. Another time I had forgotten that I had two giant pair of sewing shears in my equally giant purse. It’s such a good thing that my husband is willing to run like crazy through airports for me! 😇😂🤣 “Quel nightmare!” 😂

I love saving the large paper bags from different stores or when we do a large takeout order. I have some from Trader Joes as well. I cut them up and use them in my journals as pages, but haven't made an entire journal out of them. I also have a travelers insert that I put all my extra stuff in and I love how chunky it is. Great ideas. Thanks for sharing.

This is such an amazing idea, thank you for sharing this James. I've been collecting newspaper clippings of major news ever since Covid hit New Zealand, and I've been searching for a big journal (bigger then A4) to put these articles in. This video has inspired to make my own out of my hoarders-collection of paper bags.

I have to try this!!!!! I have no bags, but I'm gonna get some!!!!!!!

Still love this video. Came back to it for inspiration as I'm cutting up this year's TJ paper bags. :) Thanks JLB! Merry Christmas!🎄

My partner always brings home paper bags from the grocery store…and I have been using them to wrap presents. I have noticed that certain adhesives don’t work on the kraft paper, so this is a wonderful alternative!! I’m curious to know how you plan to archive this size of a journal. 🤣

Very cool ideas! Thanks for sharing ❤

wow very Kool James love this super fun idea

Hi James Please make a quick video for the family sticker pages.

This is a great idea! We had so much fun seeing you tonight!!!!

This is awesome! 😊

Wow James, another wonderful Xmas idea! I will just enjoy watching you fill yours! Glad to hear you had a great trip and wedding … look forward to all you care to share! Also, sounds like you are enjoying your dancing gig 🎉-so happy for you! Thanks for another fun video! 🧚🏼‍♂️🧞‍♂️🌟🤩

i'm learning so much!

Oh...I love this! (And all your "junque" journals!) I have wrapped my Christmas gifts in TJ's bags for years. Last year I made Christmas stockings out of them.

get well soon. love your paper bag journal. those are really cool bags. 😊👍 love the drawings in your test journal. 😊👍

What a fab idea. Looking forward to seeing how it turns out. 🎄🎄🎄

YES WHAT A WONDERFUL REMINDER AND IDEA. I LOVE TRADER JOES BAGS. I BELIEVE I DO HAVE A COUPLE FROM LAST YEAR AS WELL (THE IMAGES AT LEAST) BUT I DO HAVE THE CURRENT BAG AS WELL. TFS

Soooooo Fun!!!!! I love it! Soooo inspirational ❤️

Love this James! ❤️ You mentioned that many people post regular videos during December. Aside from your good self, I have also been following 49dragonflies...a 'junk journaler' who posts daily during something called "dephemerember" Anywho, it ALL seems a lot of fun to me! Just thought I'd share that 😆 Cheers 😊