By Elizabeth Carey, www.ballooningnesteggs.com

During a family reunion, wedding, birthday, or another big event, save a grab-bag of mementos, such as tickets, invitations, ribbon. At home, print out photos from the occasion. With your niece or nephew, make a paper-bag scrapbook, and send it as a “thank you” to the host or as a gift to the guest of honor (e.g., to Grandma if she was celebrating her 80th birthday). To make the scrapbook, follow these instructions from Christine Hicks, a fifth grade teacher at Jamesville Elementary School in Jamesville, NY.

Materials:
2 paper bags, any size (2 paper bags makes 8 pages with 4 pockets; you can use 3 bags to make 12 pages with 6 pockets)
Cardstock
Scissors
16 inches of ribbon
Stapler
Ruler
Hole punch
Mementos
Glue, Sticky Tack

Directions:
1. With each paper bag folded flat, lift the bottom flap, and cut straight across the bag. Repeat for each bag.
2. Fold each bag in half; stack on top of each other.
3. With the hold punch, punch 3 holes evenly spaced on the left side of the book.
4. Cut the ribbon into three even pieces. Thread through holes and secure with a knot.
5. Decorate!

Photo: Kittikun Atsawintarangkul
Published: November 27, 2012