This is a small altered art scrapbook I made for my Aunt Val for her birthday a few years ago.
Materials/medium: Small children’s board book (about 4″ x 6″), scrapbook paper, ribbon, pressed flowers, tiny seashells, photographs, scrapbook accessories, acrylic paint, beads.
The cover says,
“Aunt Val,
If you were here
or I was there . . .”
Torn paper can add a cool edge.
Adding a pocket allows you to add photos or anything you’d like to include or for the recipient to add little keepsakes.
Use the tip of a pencil or non-brush point of a paint brush, dip in acrylic paint, and add dots for an easy border around photos.
Braided ribbon makes a nice border.
Pressed flowers picked from your garden make an inexpensive embellishment. I set the flowers between two sheets of waxed paper and let them dry out in the pages of a book for a couple weeks.Stack heavy books on top of the book with the pressed flowers.
Entries from my childhood diary!
Minimized photos of old magazine covers are tucked into the pocket on the back cover.
You can find scrapbook embellishments at discount and dollar stores in addition to regular craft stores.
The s so adorable! I just love all the layers of creativity! Well done!
Aw, thanks so much, Denise! And thanks for stopping by!
What a cool idea! I love it Lynn. You are so talented and thoughtful. The art book is really the perfect gift. I can only imagine how thrilled your aunt was to receive it. ?
Thank you, Karen. That’s what I love about making an altered book as a gift, making it personal and meaningful.
This is super cool. You are really creative. She will LOVE it!
Thanks, Susie. She loved it!
Such a wonderful, personal gift! I know your aunt will treasure it for always! You are overlying with talent, Lynn dear. <3
She does treasure it, Teresa. Thanks so much!
What a beautiful, personalized, piece of art! It clearly shows how much your relationship with your aunt means to you. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Jennette! Yes, my Aunt Val is super special to me. She loved the gift.
Wow, you put a lot of effort into it! I bet you could make those for people and charge a hundred dollars.
Thanks, Alex! I’d love to make a living doing this. I get lost in altered art stuff and the hours fly by into the wee hours of the morning!
Lynnie, you are a wonder! Wow. This is gorgeous. What a great idea. I second Alex’s idea, that you could sell these.
What a super-talent. I love all the little creative flourishes – even down to photocopying entries from your own childhood diary which related to Aunt Val – who would’ve thunk it? You’re a star!
Thanks for your enthusiasm, Yvette! You’re da bomb, you know that? 🙂
That is adorable! Ingenious to use a board book. Your aunt will love it.
Thank you, Catherine. I agree, ingenious to use a board book. I learned to do that from a friend, who learned from someone else. But you can use lots of things besides a board book. Some people use fabric or heavy paper bags. Old album covers. So many creative ideas that people come up with!
Very cool.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
Thanks, Patricia!
Very cool, Lynn!!!
What a wonderful idea, Lynn! I’m sure your auntie will love it. You should think about doing a craft book if you can come up with more ideas like this. 🙂
Thanks so much, Sharon. I’ve made quite a few of these books and plan to do blog posts about them. There are a couple others I’ve already posted about. I never thought of doing a craft book, but I’ll keep that in mind when I make another one, whenever I can find time for it. I’m dying to make more. I love doing it. Thanks for stopping by my blog. So nice to see you here!
I love it! What a sweet keepsake. So much thought and creativity in one place… I bet she loved it.