If you've been collecting cereal box liners and wondering what on earth to do with them, this tutorial is for you. I turned mine into what I'm calling "blessing bags" — faux glassine-style pockets made entirely from the plastic liner inside a cereal box, sewn on the sides and optionally run through an embossing machine for a look I absolutely fell in love with. They slip beautifully into journal pages, fit into front pockets, and hold little treasures, tags, or embellishments. The whole thing comes from something that would otherwise go straight in the bin.
What we cover
This tutorial shows how to cut, fold, sew, and emboss cereal box liner plastic into small decorative bags that work as journal pockets. I also show a washi tape version for anyone without a sewing machine, and walk through how to finish and embellish the bags once they're made — thread colour, paper clips, charms, ribbon, the lot.
What you'll learn
How to prepare a cereal box liner for crafting — Unravel the liner, rinse it under water (no detergent needed — a quick rinse and air dry does the job), then trim one edge straight so you have a clean starting point. The plastic is crinkly fresh out of the box, but that's exactly what the embossing step addresses.
How to cut and size the bags, including:
- Trimming one edge straight first, then aligning the layers as closely as you can before cutting to your desired size
- Folding one end down to create a flap-style opening, or leaving it straight for a more open pocket
- Trimming a small notch or curve from one side of the opening so the pocket is easier to reach into
How to hold and sew through plastic layers, including:
- Using a bulldog clip to hold both layers together while you position them under the needle
- Sewing down the sides with a regular sewing machine (the plastic is surprisingly strong — stronger than paper, in my experience)
- Tying small knots at the thread ends to finish
A washi tape alternative for anyone without a sewing machine — Run strips of washi tape along the side edges in place of sewing. It holds well and can look lovely decorated, though the sewn version has a cleaner finish.
How to emboss plastic with an embossing folder — After sewing, run the bag through a Sizzix or similar die-cut machine with an embossing folder. The plastic picks up the texture beautifully and transforms the crinkled look into something that genuinely resembles glassine. The embossed bags are my absolute favourites.
Which embossing folders work on plastic and which don't — Intricate, fine-detail folders give the best results. Large, simple shapes (big circles, for instance) don't translate well to plastic and end up looking a bit flat. Detailed lace and doily-style folders work better than you might expect; very open geometric ones less so.
How to use the finished bags in a junk journal, including:
- Clipping one to the side of a page with a paper clip
- Sliding one into an existing front pocket
- Leaving extra space at the top of the bag for a charm, ribbon, or paper clip embellishment
Decorating and personalising the bags, including:
- Sewing a small embellishment to the front of the bag before closing the sides
- Playing with thread colour
- Adding a ribbon, charm, or decorative paper clip at the top
Tips & gotchas
Rinsing the liners with plain water is genuinely all you need — no scrubbing, no detergent. I just rinse and leave them to dry outside, and they come out perfectly clean and ready to use.
A circle punch will not cut through this plastic. I tried, and it simply doesn't go through — you'll need to cut any curves or notches by hand with scissors. Scissors, on the other hand, cut through the plastic very easily, so hand-cutting isn't a hardship.
For embossing, lean toward folders with intricate detail rather than bold, simple shapes. I tested several, and the fine-detail ones — the kind with small repeating motifs — give you that beautiful textured look. Big open circles just look flat on plastic.
When sewing, clip the layers together before you start rather than trying to hold them with your fingers. Plastic slips more than fabric does, and a clip keeps everything aligned while you feed it through the machine.
Emboss after sewing, not before. If you emboss first and then sew, the needle can distort the texture around the stitching. Sew the sides closed first, then run the finished bag through the embossing machine.
One more thing: the plastic is stronger than you'd expect. I was nervous the first time I put it through the sewing machine, but it holds the stitching really well — better than thin paper, honestly. Don't be shy with the machine.
The same plastic — cut small — works as a window in an envelope or a tag. Cut long and narrow, it could be a little sleeve for a folded note. I've been hoarding cereal box liners for a while now, and this is what finally unlocked a use for them that I actually love. The embossed version especially — I keep reaching for it when I'm putting together a journal page and want something that looks considered without requiring a trip to the craft shop.
