There are so many wonderful things you can do when you mix traditional scrapping in with other types of crafts. Hybrid Art. I will be placing some of my own hybrid designs up here for you to see as I get them created. I hope they not only give you some fun new ideas, but that they will also inspire the artist in you!

Today I decided to post a craft project that I used to have up on my design site, to hopefully help get some creative juices flowing for you all this Mother’s Day. I know … it is so easy to go out and buy something for your mom for Mother’s Day, but in reality, most mom’s still prefer a handmade gift that comes from the heart. :)

This is a book I created for my Mom after my Grandmother passed away.

To create it, I took an old beat up book that I found at the thrift store and hollowed it out with an exacto knife, leaving about 1″ of the book on all sides. Using a collage paste (glue that dries clear), I adhered the pages together by brushing the paste on the inside and outside of the hollowed out pages. While the book was still open, I put a piece of waxed paper over it, and set something heavy on top of it while it dried.

After it dried, I removed the wax paper and I then “scrapped” the book using papers that I thought were reminiscent of my grandmother – music and handwriting. I tore the pages instead of cutting them in a straight line, and I inked the edges of the papers with some gold embossing ink to give it a more aged look. Then I put another layer of collage paste over the papers, and allowed it to dry.

Lastly, I added some personal items that I had inherited from Grandmother, (an old photo of my Grandmother, one of her hankies, a necklace with her name, a couple of her recipes, etc.) to make it true to her personality. I think this a fabulous way to preserve a part of your family history and keep those memories alive.

You could do just about any type of book for Mother’s Day; old photos of yourself as a baby, photos of you and your mom, even little pictures that you might have drawn for her when you were a child. The possibilities are endless!

To make it more personal, try to use scrapbook papers and colors that represent you or your Mom, and add things that will bring back good memories for you both. Memories are precious, and it is nice to have a visual reminder of them.

If you decide to try this hybrid craft, let me know. I would love to see your finished project!

Loving the arts,