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Zero Waste Print Lab: Upcycled Junk Journals!

Celebrate Zero Waste Week at Print Lab: turn discarded packaging and paper scraps into a one-of-a-kind handmade junk journal. No experience needed.

In celebration of October’s Zero Waste Week, we’ll be exploring a creative use of upcycling and bookmaking with guest book arts instructor, Bettina Pauly!

Print Lab is not a traditional class, but a fun, affordable, group art-making experience. Our mission is to explore a creative arts technique socially with our community. We welcome you to print, play and experiment with an activity to create something unique in our printmaking studio. Enjoy light refreshments and mingle!

In this hands-on “Upcycled Junk Journal” workshop, participants will transform and craft everyday discarded materials – food packaging boxes, album covers, paper scraps, chipboard, envelopes, and other rescued treasures – into a one-of-a-kind handmade journal.

In lieu of printmaking this month, explore book arts! Learn simple binding, folding, and scoring, and discover how materials destined for the recycling bin or trash can be given a second life into something useful. Guests will be able to take home their own unique junk journal they create to use. No art experience is necessary, just bring your imagination and a willingness to make and experiment!

In Partnership with
Zero Waste Sonoma

Zero Waste Sonoma and Zero Waste Marin are partnering with 25+ local organizations and cities to bring a full week of free and donation-based educational opportunities and participatory events to the public.

Zero Waste Week will run October 10 – 17, 2026
View the full calendar of events and activities.


Bettina Pauly

Bettina Pauly was trained as a professional chef, then worked as a head server throughout Europe before she received a B.A. in Hotel-Economy from Hotel Management School in Heidelberg, Germany. After coming to the U.S. and working in hospitality, she went back to school and studied at the Academy of Art University San Francisco in the Fine Arts and Letterpress program under Chris Rolik, Dorothy Yule and Macy Chadwick. Bettina has also worked with Kim Vanderheiden at Painted Tongue Studios in Oakland, California, as a letterpress printer. She is very experienced with Heidelberg Windmill and Vandercook Press Machines. She has taught book arts and letterpress classes throughout the Bay Area at the Academy of Art, the O’Hanlon Center for the Arts, and at the San Francisco Center for the Book. Her award winning work has been presented in national and international collections and galleries including library collections at: St John’s/Saint Benedict College Minnesota, Savannah College of Art and Design, University of Denver, University of Colorado, San Jose State University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the University of Nebraska. 

Bettina loves books and boxes both as physical objects and as containers of meaning. She is interested in a variety of folded, sewn and woven structures in which she can incorporate her printing. Bettina now lives in Sebastopol and is excited to work in her own studio space as well as starting to teach classes in West Sonoma County.

https://www.instagram.com/bpbookartandletterpress/


Membership Has Its Benefits

All Silver Memberships and above receive 10% off the registration cost for any class purchase over $40.
Materials fees are not discounted.

Membership helps support our programs, events, and financial aid programs.
Become a member today and find community, connection, and creativity.


We ask that you notify us at least 10 days in advance of a class if you need to cancel your registration. You may cancel by phone or email and we will gladly offer you a refund or credit toward a future class. If you cancel with less than 10 days’ notice, we will not be able to provide refunds, due to our contractual obligations and material purchases for each class.

Sometimes, the Sonoma Community Center has to cancel a class due to low enrollment or unforeseen circumstances, such as a natural disaster or health emergency. If this happens and we do not offer a reschedule date, you will be refunded 100% of your registration fee (minus the payment processing and services fee), or credit towards a future class. If we are able to offer a reschedule date but you are unable to make the new date, we will gladly offer credit towards a future class.

All credits must be used within 1 year.

You can view our full class policies and guidelines here.

The Sonoma Community Center is committed to creating an accessible learning environment. If you require any special considerations(medical, physical, learning) please share them with Sean Baskin, Program Associate, by emailing him at [email protected] so that he can forward them to the relevant Program Director and Instructor.

  • All Levels
  • Welcomes participants from beginning through advanced. Instructor provides a balanced and flexible curriculum suitable for participants with any level of experience.
  • Beginning
  • Participant has little to no experience with this medium and needs or expects guidance at every step during the class. Participant wants to learn about materials, techniques, and vocabulary of the medium.
  • Intermediate
  • Participant is comfortable with the medium and expects both guidance and time to work alone with the medium.
  • Advanced
  • Participant is very confident with all aspects of the medium. Participant is self-motivated; ready to experiment and develop their artistic voice.

Late additions to any program, class, or workshop that has already begun will be allowed on a per-case basis depending upon the Program Director & instructors approval. Late additions will have to pay the full registration cost of the class, along with any materials fees, and will not be prorated for the time missed. You may reach out to the program directors directly, or the Program Associate Sean Baskin at [email protected] to request a late addition.

We are always looking for new instructors. You can fill out the form directly here.

Registration Open

Date & Time

Friday, October 16, 2026 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Location

276 East Napa Street
Sonoma, CA 95476

Category

Experience Level

Experience Level

Beginning

Ages

Age(s)

16, 17 and 18-over

Registration Cost:

Free

Donations accepted at checkout or in person. This workshop is sponsored by Zero Waste Sonoma.