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Little Lasting Legacy Book

By Dawn Eichsteadt & Diane Martin with revisions and additions by Karyn Manor

The little lasting legacy book is the perfect scrap booking project for a change of pace or a “knock their socks off” workshop project! It makes a great gift, especially if you find your photos or budget are too limited for a full-sized album! Whether you’d like a use for all those “odds & ends” photos left over from your regular scrapbook or want to create a special theme book, this is a fantastic project that can be completed in a short amount of time with stunning results. Thanks to our gorgeous array of papers, inks and stamps, you will have unlimited design possibilities! We have seen these books @ local stores for $20-25, but you can make your own for $1 or so.

Supplies:

q 3 (or any odd number) square pieces of cardstock or background & texture paper

q Stamps and inks of your choice

q Scraps of coordinating cardstock and/or background & texture paper

q Adhesive

q Mat board, chipboard, heavy cardstock

q Ribbon

q Paper trimmer

Square squash fold steps:

q Fold a square in half from top to bottom. (If you are using background & texture paper fold with the pattern facing out.)

q Open the square and fold it in half from side to side *(again, if you are using background & texture paper, fold side to side with the pattern facing out)

q Reopen the square again and TURN IT OVER *(this is important)

q Fold diagonally just once. Reopen and turn the square back over.

q Hold it in the palm of your hand, mountain fold facing up, with your thumb on one end of the diagonal fold and your forefinger on the other end along the diagonal fold. Use a finger on your other hand to press the center down while pinching in the diagonal fold, bringing the fold up and together while it collapses/squashes into a little square. *It is a good idea to make sure that the folds/creases are tight.

q Repeat with all squares.

Assembling the squares:

q Start by laying your squares out on the table in the following manner:

q Lay the first folded square with open end pointing up

q With the square still folded, apply glue to the exposed area. *I actually glue on the inside so they fit together rather than gluing on the outside, that way I know they are secure.

q Stack the next folded square on top of that with the open end pointing down

q Apply glue to the new exposed square area.

q Repeat, alternating open points “up” and open points “down” until you have the desired amount of squares.

Front and back cover assembly:

q The front and back covers of the book are made with a square of mat board (*I use card stock!) that is cut ¼” larger than the finished size of the folded squares.

q Cover the mat board with a piece of b&t that is cut 2” larger that the size of the mat board. Miter all four corners to the backside of the board and glue.

q Stamp and decorate cover at desired. You can add beads, charms, and other trinkets as well.

q Add a ribbon to the inside of both of the covers to have your book tie on the sides. (*I add one length of ribbon so it ties on the top of the book.) You may want to tape the ribbon to the cover before gluing in the pages to give the ribbon extra strength.

q Next, glue the pages of the book inside the covers. The ribbon is tied on the sides (or front) to keep the book closed shut.

Finishing the pages:

q Your book is now ready for stamping and pictures. You will generally treat each square or triangle of the book like a page.

q You can use scraps of cs or b&t to decorate the spaces or mat your photos.

Tips and ideas:

q When making a smaller size book, pages made of b&t are fine, but you will want the extra stability of cardstock with a larger book. *cardstock is more stable with a smaller book as well unless you are making a tiny 1” sized book!

q We found that it is best to make a template of the triangle sections when cutting your pictures to fit. Then you will know which angle to cut when adding your pictures, and you will be sure that everything fits in the desired space before cropping your photo.

q You can treat the triangle areas that touch each other as one square. Cutting through the photo or decorate the squares where the fold will be to allow the book to fold back up. The same idea can apply to a larger area, making your photo almost like a mosaic by cutting wherever there is a fold!

q You can add photos, journaling and stamping to both sides of the book to allow for more images and/or photos to fit. Each side could even be a different theme!

q These books can be made to any size, including very small to where as a pin or necklace. Have photos reduced on a color copier to better suit a small book.

q Another fun twist on the project uses the same fold and 5 squares of cardstock or background & texture or other lightweight paper. Glue the 5 folded squares all facing the same direction (unlike the little legacy/squash book, in which the folded squares alternate). Use one length of ribbon, starting at the open ends and wrapping all the way across the pointed fold to the other side to meet the first end of the ribbon. Make cardstock covers and attach. When you open it up, flip all the way around to meet up the ribbons again and tie. You will have a starburst mobile!

My notes:

q I make the Cardstock 3 ¼” x 3 ¼” for the pages and the covers

q I make the background & texture paper 4” x 4”

q Other notes I added, italicized, throughout

q Tombow Mono-Adhesive or Hermafix is much easier than glue

Typed by: Karyn Manor, Independent Consultant, Close To My Heart,

Call Liane at 503-430-1686

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