Brown Paper Bag Decorating Ideas

The next time you're grocery shopping and forget your reusable shopping bags, don't fret! Ask for your items in brown paper bags, then turn those sacks into clever craft projects once you've unpacked your produce!

1. Stylish Coupon Book

VIEW IN GALLERY Kid Coupon Book

Kids love homemade coupons good for treats like a family movie night, an extra helping of dessert, or staying up an hour past bedtime. Learn how to make a cute presentation book for your homemade coupons at Small Fry & Co. (The website also has links to download a decorated cover and coupons, if you want to make this quick and easy project even faster to create!)

2. Paper Bag Scrapbook

VIEW IN GALLERY Paper Bag Scrapbook

This project is similar to the child's coupon book, only you're creating a mini scrapbook filled with photos, letters, newspaper clippings, and other memorabilia to give as a gift for a friend or family member. Get the details at Dawn's Stamping Thoughts.

3. Owl Paper Bag Gift Bag

VIEW IN GALLERY Cute owl paper bag gift bag

This cute little gift wrap design is a grown up version of the paper bag puppets you made as a kid. It's perfect for presenting DIY teacher gifts. Learn more by visiting Lisa Storms.

4. Customized Gift Bags

VIEW IN GALLERY Customized Gift Bags

Use your inkjet printer and scraps of pretty ribbon to make customized gift bags suitable for any occasion. It's easy, as long as you don't jam your printer by trying to load too many bags into the tray at once. Perfectly Imperfect shows you how.

5. Woven Paper Bag Basket

VIEW IN GALLERY Paper Bag Basket

Use a simple weaving technique to turn a plain brown paper bag into a cute little basket for storing odds and ends around your home. Head over to Simple Joys for the instructions for this wonderful recycling project.

6. Paper Bag Basket with Handles

VIEW IN GALLERY Basket with handles

Would you prefer to make a basket with handles? You can use three to four brown paper bags to make this basket variation from Mom 2 Punkerdoo.

7. Faux Leather Paper Bag Journal

VIEW IN GALLERY paper bag journal

A clever distressing technique turns a brown paper bag into a faux leather cover for a homemade journal. It's the perfect place for writing down all your secrets! Learn how to make this unique DIY project at Punk Projects.

8. Paper Bag Wreath

VIEW IN GALLERY Paper Bag Wreath

Turn paper bags into stylish home decor with this amazing wreath project. It's made using a stack of bags, a foam wreath form, hot glue, a scalloped circle punch, and grosgrain ribbon for hanging. Get the details at Vacuuming in High Heels and Pearls.

9. Paper Bag Flowers

VIEW IN GALLERY Paper Bag Flowers

Paper bag flowers can be used to embellish everything from gift wrap to home decor projects. Jojo and Eloise has directions for making five different types of simple paper bag flowers. (If you don't want plain brown flowers, try adding a bit of watercolor paint around the edges for a subtle wash of color.)