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Explosion Book

Last year my daughter and I were at a local craft fair where we happened upon our first explosion book! These mini scrapbooks really took us by surprise when we opened them as we didn't quite expect them to expand the way they did. These are also known as Squash Books and Amazing Folding Albums. Whatever you call them, they make great mini scrapbook gifts, as they can easily be customized to fit any ocassion or season.
You can make these explosion books in various sizes. I am giving you directions here for two sizes. Try one (or more) of each!

Materials:
3 sheets solid cardstock 8-1/2" square
2 pieces patterned paper 5-1/2" square
2 pieces chipboard or cardboard 4-1/2" square
Four different coordinating papers cut to a little less than 4-1/4" square. You will need a total of 10 squares to cover the inside squares of the book.
Ribbon, 1 yard
Embellishments and photos of your choice.

OR

3 sheets solid cardstock 12" square
2 pieces patterned paper 8-1/2" square
2 pieces chipboard or cardboard 6-1/2" square
Four different coordinating papers cut to a little less than 6-1/2" square. You will need a total of 10 squares to cover the inside squares of the book.
Ribbon, 1 yard
Embellishments and photos of your choice

Instructions:
Fold a piece of solid cardstock in half lengthwise. Open it up and fold it lengthwise again in the opposite direction. Turn the cardstock over so that the folds are pointing up in a mountain fold. Take the bottom right hand corner up to meet the top left hand corner. Do not fold twice this time -- only one diagonal fold.

Repeat this procedure with the other two pieces of solid carstock.
Place your three pieces of solid cardstock so that the first and third pieces' original two folds form valleys and the middle piece's original two folds form a mountain.

Take the left hand piece of cardstock and overlap completely the far right square of it onto the far left hand square of the middle piece of cardstock. Take the right hand piece of cardstock and overlap completely the left hand square of it onto the far right hand square of the middle piece of cardstock.

Using a hot glue gun, glue the 5-1/2" (or 8-1/2" if doing the bigger book) square pieces of patterned paper to the chipboard.

Cut the corners diagonally and fold over edges. Glue these down and you get a nice professional finish.

Glue one onto the front of your book. For the back of your book take your other piece of covered chipboard and place it upside down. Glue ribbon to it centered, and then glue ribbon side to back of book.

Glue your smaller patterned papers to the inside squares. You will have to cut some of them diagonally first and then glue into place.

Embellish with photos, embellishments, etc.

Fold book up and tie with ribbon.

Here is a version of the explosion book I made for a summer swap with my Yahoo! mini books group .

Here is one our Chernobyl Child made for her friend back in Belarus.

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