Cat Squash Book

Today I have a "Squash Book" - known by many names.  Links to directions are given in this post.  I made it using three 12" x 12" pieces of card stock for the base, 6 1/4" square pieces of chip board for the covers, covered by squares of card stock that were 7 1/4".  Then I added ribbon to the covers (for tying it closed) before covering the inside of the covers with card stock pieces that were about 6 1/8" square.  Then they were ready to adhere to my card stock base.

Decorating was a bit of a challenge because though my decorative papers were 8" x 8", they had a clear direction to them - which was not on the diagonal like I needed them to be.  So, I had to do some fancy cutting to make them work.  

For the squares, I turned the 8 x 8 papges on point with the point at 2 7/8" and sliced the side off.  Turned 180 degrees and did the same thing, then sliced the opposing sides to form a square with a small section of each corner missing.  

The triangular pieces were easier - simply line up opposing points along the cutting track & slice in half.  Then for each of the two triangular pieces you created, line up the long edge along the straight edge of the cutter with the point aligned with the cutting track and slice in half.  When you've finished both pieces, you should have 4 triangular pieces - two of which will work if there is a clear up and down to the pattern, four of which you can use if there is no particular direction to your pattern.  If starting with an 8 x 8 piece, you end up with triangles that are just the right size to serve as mats for the triangles of your 12" x 12" card stock base.

Then I simply added my pictures (after printing them the right size!) and decor from my stash - including a lot of alphabet stickers, other stickers, and some printed vellum.

Here's what it looks like when opened up (side one):

And a close up look at each section:

And then a look at the back:

And again a closeup of each section: