Squash Book Tutorial

These adorable little scrapbooks are really rather easy...and quite a lot of fun to make.


Supplies:

Three 4"x4" Square chipboard coasters ( I actually use BEER COASTERS...not used...YET, anyway. The best place to get them is Katz Americal. You do have to call, though, to order them blank. This last time I purchased 1000 for $22.45 + $10 for shipping) 2 for your Squash Book, and 1 FOR YOUR BEER...LOL
Four 4"x4" pieces of designer paper ( Stampin' Up's Delicate Dots)
Three 7 1/2"x7 1/2" pieces of cardstock (SU Bashful Blue)
Your choice of coordinating cardstock and designer paper for embellishing outside and inside of book
Glue Stick
Sticky Tape
Scissors
Sanding Block
Ribbon

Instructions Step-by-Step


Step 1
Adhere designer paper to coaster


Step 2
Trim corners of designer paper and sand edges if necessary


Step 3
Repeat steps 1-2 on the other side of the coaster


Step 4
Repeat steps 1-3 for the 2nd coaster


Step 5
Score each of the 7 1/2" cardstock squares in half at the 3 3/4" mark both vertically and horizontally


Step 6
Score each of the cardstock squares in half once on the diagonal (from one corner to the opposite corner, once)


Step 7
Stamp cardstock squares to your choosing, to decorate the back of the book up a tad. Stamp one of the squares on both the front and back of the cardstock for the middle piece


Step 8
Fold on all of the scored lines you've made


Step 9
Take the middle piece and place it with the diagonal fold pointing down. Add you Sticky Tape on the unscored quarters of the piece of cardstock


Step 10
Take the 2nd piece of cardstock, with the diagonal fold pointing upward. Adhere 1 of the full squares of that piece of cardstock to one of the full squares of the middle piece.

Step 11
Take the 3rd piece of cardstock, with the diagonal fold pointing upward. Adhere it to the other side of the middle piece as you did in Step 10


Step 12
Fold your Squash Book on the Score Lines...it's a bit tricky at first. Add Sticky Tape to the outside square.


Step 13
Adhere one of the covered coasters to the outside page.



Step 14
Repeat on the back side of the book.


Step 15
Add your coordinating cardstock to the inside squares and triangles "pages".

NOW IT"S TIME TO PUT THAT BEER ONTO THAT 3RD BEER COASTER, because the fun part starts now. Cut 3 1/2" squares and for the triangles, cut 3 1/4" squares in half diagonally.
Add designer paper to the squares and triangles as you choose. Create your own design....time to be creative. Cut any designer paper triangles from a 2 3/4" square, and again cut in half diagonally.

I decorated the inside using Stampin'Up's Terrific Tags and Punch Box. Tag sentiment is heat embossed, and embellished with a brad, and Window Punch die cut (can't see it, but the sentiment on the Window Punch die cut says, "Cutie, Patootie" (My Favorite Things Paper Doll Sentiments). The circle embellishment is stamped with Stampin' Up's "Sweet on You" set, heat embossed and layered on Bashful Blue cardstock. I also added a spiral clip with a tied bow from ribbon.


Step 16 Decorating the front, first adhere ribbon to the front, only of the book, running it underneath your main image. To decorate I used "Little Hellos" Stampin' Up Stampset. I colored in the giraffes with markers. I added eyelets for the wheels, used Stickles on the giraffe's spots and bow. I ran silver cord through the eyelets, adding the name "Maddix" from alphabet beads in between the stamped images images. The layers were popped with Dimensionals. Close the book and tie a bow with your ribbon.

NOW, GO HAVE SOME STAMP HAPPY FUN!

Thanks to Beate Johns from Splitcoast Stampers website for her initial tutorial on this project. I had seen these Squash Books before, and found her tutorial there in the Resource section of Splitcoast Stampers.