DIY: Hollow Book

For Christmas this year I got The Repurposed Library, a collection of things to make out of old books. There's all sorts of stuff, like vases, a light fixture (seriously!), and a poker kit. Totally cool.

One of the projects involved carving out a small hollow section, but I like the idea of doing it for an entire tome. So that's what I did:

You'll need:
a hardcover book
craft knife
Mod Podge or other clear-drying glue
paintbrush
several heavy books or other weighty item
scrapbook paper (optional)
paint (optional)

Fair warning: this one can get a little time-consuming, depending on how deep you make the hollow part, how thick the book pages are, and if you need to add any extras like scrapbook paper or paint to cover up a discolored spot.

The first thing you'll need to do is choose a book you don't plan to read:

Then take your trusty craft knife (I suppose a box cutter would work, too, if you're feeling brave) and start cutting.

Press evenly and firmly, but don't try to cut through too may pages at once. You'll end up with a neater edge if you take your time.

Once you've made a deep enough hole, take the Mod Podge and brush it along the outside edges of the book...

...and the inside of the cutout (careful not to get any on the top cover, or you won't be able to open it later). Put the book under a heavy object for a couple of hours to dry.

At this point, you could be finished! But if you're me, your book had some attractive water damage, so this is when the scrapbook paper and paint came into play. Of course, you can always add those for fun if you want.

Now you have a hiding place for your jewels in case a burglar breaks in, or for when your sneaky husband tries to eat all the Dove chocolate before you get any.

Have you ever made anything out of an old book? Or own a hollow one? What would you keep in there if you did?