Crafting with Books
Books may not be the first thing to come to mind when you think of crafting, but book crafts can be fun and when you're done, you'll have a unique item like none other.
Books can be made into purses, secret storage containers (see photo here of a book safe), and wall hangings to name just a few fun crafts made from books.
Photo of a hollow book safe. Photo Credit: Peggy Hazelwood
Books can be made into purses, secret storage containers (see photo here of a book safe), and wall hangings to name just a few fun crafts made from books.
Photo of a hollow book safe. Photo Credit: Peggy Hazelwood
Contents at a Glance
Make a Hollow Book -- Book Safe
Use it to store secret items
A hollowed out book that can be used for secret storage.
Rescue old books
that are falling apart.
Make book crafts.
How to Make a Hollowed Book - Book Storage Box - Book Safe
Check out photos online using the links below for ideas
This book craft is easy but how the book looks in the end will depend on your skill level and patience in cutting out the hollow space in the book pages. Children can help with some of this book craft. The cutting should be done by an adult.Skill Level: Beginner / Intermediate
Supplies needed: Book you are finished reading, three or more clothespins or binder clips, decoupage medium/glue (like Mod Podge brand), paintbrush, Xacto knife or other craft knife, ruler, pencil
1. Begin by wiping off the book, removing any dust. Be sure to wipe the edges of the book.
2. Open the book leaving several pages at the front so when someone opens the book, it still looks like a book. Use the clothespins or clips to secure the pages to the front cover.
3. Place an old cloth like a towel on the work surface (not paper since the Mod Podge can stick to paper but the cloth will release easily without leaving paper on the book cover).
4. Open the Mod Podge and begin painting the three edges of the open book with Mod Podge. This is to hold the pages together. Wipe off any glue/decoupage medium from the back book cover.
5. Place a cloth on top of the stack of pages and set a couple of bricks or other heavy item to keep the book pages as they dry. Let the glue dry completely.
6. Decide on the design of the opening. You can make a small square in the center or a larger rectangle or a rectangle with a curved top as shown in this photo.
7. Use a ruler and pencil to mark the shape on the top book page.
8. Begin cutting into the book pages with the craft knife. This is tricky so please do not let children do this part. The sharper the knife, the better. Saw the pages to the desired depth a few pages at a time (leave some pages on bottom; do not go all the way to the back book cover). Carefully remove the book page shape and clean up the edges with the craft knife to remove bits of paper that are not cut all the way.
9. Now apply the Mod Podge or decoupage glue to the edges of the book where you cut to hold them together. For a cleaner look, try not to get glue on the bottom page that is exposed. If desired, glue scrapbook or other decorative paper to the bottom of the book opening. Let the glue dry.
Put the book safe on your bookshelf or give it away! Enjoy!
Photo Credit: Peggy Hazelwood
Book Safes on eBay
Great book crafts as gifts
When you want a unique gift but don't have time to make it yourself, one of these hollowed books is just the ticket. Use it to store an iPad, valuables, jewelry, money, whatever you have that needs to be hidden!
Links to Book Storage Boxes
More instructions and photos for making your own book safe or book storage box!
- Better Book Safe
- I wanted a book safe and didn't like the versions that I saw that looked like they were hacked out with a rusty hatchet. So I came up with my own way ...
- DIY secret hollow book
- The How To Do Stuff blog has posted a tutorial for making your own hollow book (you know - for hiding booty). All you need is:
- How to Make a Hollow Book - wikiHow
- How to Make a Hollow Book. A hollow book can be a nifty way to hide something, whether it's a spare key, a secret note, or even money. Most people wouldn't think to browse your library for private or personal things. It's also a great way...
- Make a Secret Hollow Book
- How To Do Stuff -- Make a Secret Hollow Book with photos.
More Book Safes
and a Shaving Cream safe. Why not?
Laminate the spines of old books
to make a bookmark.
Book Crafts by Etsy Sellers
Click a small image to enlarge it.
A bird, a pumpkin, and a book equal a work of art by Gathered Together. See the link below.
Book Crafts by Talented Etsy Sellers
These links go with the photos directly above.
- Black Crow Pumpkin Altered Book Mixed Media by GatheredTogether
- Take a handmade paper mache pumpkin, a vintage book titled The Mysterious Rider by Zane Grey, an old black crow, and put a handmade wire pumpkin around them and you have a fun, vintage looking decoration perfect to put out for halloween and then keep out permanently!
- Altered Book Art Mixed Media Two Paper Mache by GatheredTogether
- Altered Book with Two Paper Mache Birds sitting in a wire cage. A perfect wedding or anniversary present!! Two little paper mache birds sitting in a tree.
Make Collage with Book Pages and Book Illustrations
Click a small image to enlarge it.
Art collage made with book pages and illustrations.
All of of these photos by Peggy Hazelwood.
Shred old book pages
(use books that are falling apart)
to use to stuff gift baskets
or for packaging materials.
Make Your Own Books, Papercrafting, Bookbinding
Playing with Books, Book Arts, The Repurposed Library
The Art of Upcycling, Deconstructing, and Reimagining the Book
Use book pages for crafts.
Cut out illustrations
and punch text page circles
to use in other crafts.
Book Crafts Links
More book craft projects than you can shake a book at
- Make a Book Purse
- Take a beloved hardcover off the shelf and put it on your shoulder by transforming it into a smart-looking purse. CLICK through to the Book Bag project (14 of 37).
- A Way with Words
- For a house that speaks volumes, make clever and thrifty use of words with these tips from Country Living.
- 9 Cool Things to Do With Old Books -- Written Word
- Not sure what to do with the books cluttering your living room? Learn how to make them into a safe, a shelf, or something else awesome at the Written Word.
- Twitter Question: Tips for Crafts Using Old Phone Books? - Style Lush
- By Jessica This week on the @stylelushblog twitter feed we received the above question. All these years, I've just been dumping them straight into the recycling bin. Who knew you could make cute things with phone books? These clever people, that's who. Like this gorgeous candle centerpiece via The 3
- Reader's Digest Condensed Books Crafts | Just Something I Made
- Reader's Digest Condensed Books Crafts -- I've been collecting vintage Reader's Digest Condensed Books for about a year now. If you're not familiar with these books, here's a blurb from Wikipedia:... Some of Cathe's projects include book page hydrangeas, book and butterfly shadowbox. Lovely!
- sherlonkahkai -- Paper Goodies
- Paper goodies including tags made from old book pages and apple art using an old book.
- Book Page Rose Wreath | Pretty Handy Girl
- Make this easy book page rose and ceiling medallion wreath. The results are truly romantic and perfectly timed for Valentine's Day.
- Where the Grass is Greener...: Genius Repurposing: Books
- Friday, February 17, 2012 Genius Repurposing: Almost as much as I love to repurpose, I love to see what others do to repurpose! Pinterest has fed my obsession. I check every hour day to see what clever people came up with.
I own tons of books - as a writer/researcher, I have to... and as an avid reader, it just goes with the territory. Here are some of my finds from Pinterest: - Book Page Pockets | Just Something I Made
- Book Page Pockets Monday, February 20, 2012 I've got another project to share using my old Reader's Digest books! This one is for creating pockets from pages within the book for stashing and organizing things like monthly receipts.
- Instantanés " éphémères" - Une Belle Histoire...
- Escapade en Avignon pour une Vente Ephémère (In English, this is a blog that features several photos of crafts using book pages. No directions, that I can read any way! but simple enough to figure out with eyeballing the pictures.
- Make The Best of Things: Book Page Clock
- When I began my craft studio redo I decided to use recycled book pages to make matching storage boxes and accessories to tie everything together. I've recycled book pages for lots of projects but never to this scale and I love how every inch of it came out.
Papercrafts, Book Binder, Laminator
Get your book craft on
Use Book Covers to Make Collage
Click a small image to enlarge it.
Book cover as the base of a collage.
These photos by Peggy Hazelwood.
Crafts for Your Books
Dress up books with these crafting ideas
- Covering Books - Martha Stewart Crafts
- Covering Books article. With back-to-school comes back-to-books. You need to protect those all-important textbooks against the elements and it's also fun to personalize each book
- Waterproof Book Covers - Martha Stewart Crafts
- Waterproof Book Covers article. Protect books at the pool or in the bathtub.
- Personalized Bookplate Craft - Martha Stewart Crafts
- Personalized Bookplate Craft article.
Book Making
and caring for books
- Make a Soft Book
- Quiet Book for little ones.
- Holiday Recipe Book
- Find out how to make a holiday recipe book to preserve cherished family recipes.
- Eclectic Guest Book - Martha Stewart Good Things
- Eclectic Guest Book article. Get birthday themes, baby shower ideas, appetizer recipes, menus, invitations, and party tips.
- Get Rid of Musty Book Odor
- How do I rid antique books of mold and must?
Use old book covers, front
and back, as the base for
wall hangings and art collages.
Care to comment on these book crafts?
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BarbRad May 7, 2012 @ 1:10 am | delete
- Someday I just may make a book safe. It would be pretty hard to find among my thousands of books.
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skiesgreen
Apr 19, 2012 @ 5:49 am | delete
- Returned to bless and feature this creative lens on Blessed by Skiesgreen 2012. Hugs
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klaird
Mar 7, 2012 @ 12:36 pm | delete
- Book safes remind me of old tv shows where they always hid their valuables in some book on the shelf. I love books and have a hard time letting go of them. Love to see all these uses for them. I've featured this lens in a new section about craft ideas from old books on my "101 Craft Ideas for Adults" lens. Love all your craft ideas!
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bygproductions
Mar 1, 2012 @ 1:03 am | delete
- I really like the book safe idea. Will post on my http://www.facebook.com/HomeschoolPreschoolthruHighschool page tomorrow.
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jimmyworldstar
Feb 8, 2012 @ 7:51 pm | delete
- A book safe is a great idea, most people would never think to look inside a book to find stored items.
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burntchestnut
Jan 20, 2012 @ 10:00 pm | delete
- Great ideas - I'm going to try some of them.
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veryirie
Jan 17, 2012 @ 10:05 pm | delete
- I've always wanted to try making a book safe, but haven't yet found the right book with the right cover. Enjoyed reading about these various book crafts.
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curious0927
Jan 9, 2012 @ 7:24 pm | delete
- Love, Love, Love this Lens. Thanks...book marked and Angel blessed!
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Tipi
Jan 8, 2012 @ 2:10 pm | delete
- Very nice book crafts lens with great ideas. Wow!
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Ruthi
Nov 28, 2011 @ 4:23 pm | delete
- I like the old book safe idea. Great instructions.
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Thank you!
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books + crafts = Peggy
aka Scarlett O'Hairy
This So Crafty page written by
scarlettohairy
I love books and crafts! Combining the two makes for some good times.
Create something new! Show off your work! Time to get So Crafty!
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