Scrapbooks and Steampunk

Have you ever wondered who invented self-pasting scrapbooks? Well, wonder no more. They were invented by Mark Twain, the author of Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, and the Prince and the Pauper, among other books.

 

Mark Twain was tired of making scrapbooks with pots of glue, according the Mark Twain museum in Hannibal, Missouri. He pictured a scrapbook with glue already on the page, ready to moisten and use. He developed this idea and applied for a patent.

 

On June 24, 1873, he received his patent for "Improvement in Scrapbooks." He then took his idea to a firm that began producing "Mark Twain's Patent Self-Pasting Scrapbooks."

 

The scrapbooks were sold in more than 30 sizes and models, from pocket size to ones that would hold almost a half of a newspaper page. Specialist books were developed for druggists to hold prescriptions, as well as other organizations.

 

Of Mark Twain's three patents, this one made a profit. In 1877, about 25,000 scrapbooks sold.

 

Hannibal, MO. had their first Steampunk Festival last year and had more interest than expected with approximately 1000 people showing up.  This years festival will be September 5-7, 2015. I purchased my first piece of steampunk jewelry today in Hannibal's Historic Museum.

 

I've got my thinking cap on -- I want to challenge myself to come up with an ATC or pocket letter with an antebellum/Border War/Civil War images. Do I have any rubber stamps with images that will suit? Will have to dig in the ole craft barn collection. 

 

And, I've been collecting miniature items from thrift stores to make a fairy garden. I have quite a few images/ideas pinned to my miniature Pinterest board "Miniature Scenes." I think I've changed my mind about the fairy garden. I think I want to make a diorama instead with a large glass fish aquarium. In the Hannibal museum, they had 10 dioramas of scenes behind glass from Mark Twain's novel "Tom Sawyer" right in a row. Pretty cool if you ask me!

Rainy Day Puzzle

 

 

Rainy Day Puzzle

By Dolores J. Rush.

 

Here's a little activity to keep your children busy on those days when they are bored and have nothing to do! Please supervise children when using the paper trimmers' cutting blade.

 

Supplies:

• Daisy stamp #440D99 from Stampcraft
• Dot Design #B2964 from Hero Arts
• Dot stamp from Stamps by Judith
• Outline stamp of Wildflower Duet #Z944E from Posh Impressions
• Outline stamp of Flower Duet #4555S from Posh Impressions
• Outline stamp of Rose Duet #4528S from Posh Impressions
• Inks, markers from Stampin' Up!
• Paper Trimmer with scoring & cutting blades from Fiskars

Instructions:

1. Insert scoring blade into paper trimmer. Score paper lengthwise at 2 1/2 inches across paper & then at 5 inches. Remove scoring blade, insert cutting blade and push paper to 7 1/2 inches and trim strip off.

2. Change back to scoring blade and turn paper 90 degrees. Insert paper into trimmer and score at 3 1/2 inches, then at 7 inches. Change blades and cut off at 10 1/2 inches. You have scored 9 ATC size rectangles.

3. Optional: at this time, you may turn sheet over and lightly pencil numbers in centers. Turn back over.

4. Ink up each stamp with black and center stamp evenly over score lines. Do not stamp off edges as they will be stamped later. Stamp randomly at least 3 times with each floral stamp, more if you have room. Ink up dot design stamp with two colored inks and stamp in centers of rectangles. Finish with Judith Dots in black.

5. Insert cardstock into trimmer and cut first scoring line on the right. Lift cut piece straight up off trimmer and lay to the left of cardstock. Slide uncut piece out and butt edges together. Stamp over cut edges, holding strips together, as you did over score lines.

6. Turn all pieces of cardstock to the right and repeat step five. You may color in flowers at this time.

7. Finish cutting out rectangles along score lines and mix up pieces. See if you can put the puzzle together without looking at your placement numbers. Enjoy!

Colleen B. Hubert Flour Sack poem

Verna sent me this poem today via email.

I wondered how many of the squares in my blog background

were flour or grain feed sacks.

 

~~ <> @ <> ~~ 

1930 Flour Sacks

 

BY COLLEEN B. HUBERT

 

 

IN THAT LONG AGO TIME WHEN THINGS WERE SAVED,

WHEN ROADS WERE GRAVELED AND BARRELS WERE STAVED,

WHEN WORN-OUT CLOTHING WAS USED AS RAGS,

AND THERE WERE NO PLASTIC WRAP OR BAGS,

AND THE WELL AND THE PUMP WERE WAY OUT BACK,

A VERSATILE ITEM WAS THE FLOUR SACK.

 

 

PILLSBURY'S BEST, MOTHER'S, AND GOLD MEDAL, TOO

STAMPED THEIR NAMES PROUDLY IN PURPLE AND BLUE.

THE STRING SEWN ON TOP WAS PULLED AND KEPT;

THE FLOUR EMPTIED AND SPILLS WERE SWEPT,

THE BAG WAS FOLDED AND STORED IN A SACK

THAT DURABLE, PRACTICAL FLOUR SACK.

 

 

THE SACK COULD BE FILLED WITH FEATHERS AND DOWN, FOR A PILLOW,

OR T'WOULD MAKE A NICE SLEEPING GOWN.

IT COULD CARRY A BOOK AND BE A SCHOOL BAG,

OR BECOME A MAIL SACK SLUNG OVER A NAG.

IT MADE A VERY CONVENIENT PACK,

tHAT ADAPTABLE, COTTON FLOUR SACK.

 

 

 

BLEACHED AND SEWN, IT WAS DUTIFULLY WORN
AS BIBS, DIAPERS, OR KERCHIEF ADORNED. 
IT WAS MADE INTO SKIRTS, BLOUSES AND SLIPS.
AND MOM BRAIDED RUGS FROM ONE HUNDRED STRIPS
SHE MADE RUFFLED CURTAINS FOR THE HOUSE OR SHACK,
FROM THAT HUMBLE BUT TREASURED FLOUR SACK! 


AS A STRAINER FOR MILK OR APPLE JUICE,
TO WAVE MEN IN, IT WAS A VERY GOOD USE,
AS A SLING FOR A SPRAINED WRIST OR A BREAK,
TO HELP MOTHER ROLL UP A JELLY CAKE,
AS A WINDOW SHADE OR TO STUFF A CRACK,
WE USED A STURDY, COMMON FLOUR SACK!


AS DISH TOWELS, EMBROIDERED OR NOT,
THEY COVERED UP DOUGH, HELPED PASS PANS SO HOT,
TIED UP DISHES FOR NEIGHBORS IN NEED,
AND FOR MEN OUT IN THE FIELD TO SEED.
THEY DRIED DISHES FROM PAN, NOT RACK
THAT ABSORBENT, HANDY FLOUR SACK!


WE POLISHED AND CLEANED STOVE AND TABLE,
SCOURED AND SCRUBBED FROM CELLAR TO GABLE,
WE DUSTED THE BUREAU AND OAK BED POST,
MADE COSTUMES FOR OCTOBER (A SCARY GHOST)
AND A PARACHUTE FOR A CAT NAMED JACK.
FROM THAT LOWLY, USEFUL OLD FLOUR SACK!


SO NOW MY FRIENDS, WHEN THEY ASK YOU
AS CURIOUS YOUNGSTERS OFTEN DO,
"BEFORE PLASTIC WRAP, ELMERS GLUE
AND PAPER TOWELS, WHAT DID YOU DO?"
TELL THEM LOUDLY AND WITH PRIDE DON'T LACK,
"GRANDMOTHER HAD THAT WONDERFUL FLOUR SACK!"