Use Hardcover Books to Create Keepsake Gift Boxes and Secret Hiding Spaces

Using unwanted hardcover books to create a keepsake gift box is fun and easy but having a secret hiding space that will blend with the décor of any room is nothing shy of brilliant.

Hardcover books can be found everywhere from the corner shelf to the local garage sale and most for none or very little money, why not use them to create the ultimate secret hiding space or special keepsake gift box for someone special.

The materials required to complete a keepsake gift box and a secret hiding space can be found in the scrapbooking isle of most craft supply and discount stores.

Supplies needed / Keepsake Gift Box or Secret Hiding Spaces

Hardcover book

Waxed paper

Rubber bands

Scissor

Super bond glue w/brush

Glue stick

Razor knife

Metal ruler

Pencil

Specialty paper/Fabric

Thin piece of cardboard

Rubber stamps and ink (optional)

Stickers/Charms (optional)

Any size hardcover book can be used; keep in mind the size of the book will determine the amount of storage space available for your keepsake gift box or secret hiding space.

Slip a piece of waxed paper big enough to overlap a few inches on each side between the last 10 pages of the book and tape waxed paper edges to completely cover the back hardcover flap of the book. Follow the same directions for the front cover of the book.

Rubber band the book closed, making sure the pages that are not to be glued together are completely covered by waxed paper and using the super bond glue, brush the glue on the sides of the hardcover book until all the pages to the binding are saturated. Be careful not to glue rubber bands to the book.

Let the glue set according to manufacturer instructions let the hardcover book dry overnight to assure glue is properly set. If you are planning to create more than one keepsake gift box or secret hiding space follow the steps above for as many hardcover books required.

Once the hardcover books are dry use the scissor cut away the rubber bands, remove the waxed paper from the hardcover book and your ready to cut out the recess for your gifts and secrets.

Using the metal ruler draw a rectangle large enough to accommodate the keepsake gift or secret in the center of the first glued page of the hardcover book.

Line up the ruler to one of the sides of your rectangle and while keeping firm even pressure on the ruler use the razor knife to cut through the pages, keep going over the same cut with the knife about 5 or 6 pages deep.

Cuts should be even enough to make a uniform recess in the hardcover book to provide space for your keepsake gift or secret. Follow the same procedure for the remaining three sides of the rectangle in the hardcover book and continue these steps until desired depth is reached within the glued section of pages.

Place the thin piece of cardboard covered with waxed paper between the top of the glued pages with the rectangle cut out and flip the first unglued page over to cover the cardboard.

Using the glue stick cover the front of the entire page and flip over the next unglued page to bond the pages together. Continue this procedure until all the non glued pages are bonded to create one thick first page.

Let the thick first page dry completely according to manufacturer instructions to insure a solid bond in the pages. The thick first page will provide enough resistance to keep the keepsake gifts or hidden secrets snug inside the hardcover book.

When the thick first page of your hardcover book is dry place a piece of specialty paper over the rectangle cut out and trim to cover the entire page. Using the glue stick bond the specialty paper on the page covering the rectangle cut out.

Put the razor knife directly over the center of the rectangle and poke a hole in the paper. Use the scissor to cut an X in the middle of the rectangle by cutting a slit from the center of the rectangle to each of the 4 corners, 4 slits total to make an X.

Glue the flaps down into the rectangle hole, using the scraps of paper from trimming cut and trim to cover the remainder of the rectangle hole. Adding stuffing and gluing soft material to the rectangle hole will form a safe space for precious stones and metals.

Do not close the hardcover book until the specialty paper and insert décor has dried completely to avoid damage to the project.

If you are creating this wonderful hardcover book for a keepsake gift or a secret hiding space the only difference is decoration so let your imaginations go wild and create something wonderful today.