- Age Guideline: 8 Years and Up
- Time Required: 60 minutes (Does not include drying time)
The above age and time guidelines are estimates. This project can be modified to suit other ages and may take more or less time depending on your circumstances.
Materials Needed:
- Hardcover Book (an inch thick or more works best)
- Glue Stick, Decoupage Medium, Zip Dry Glue, or Other Glue of Choice
- Wax Paper
- Items to Embellish
- Utility Knife
- Paint Brush
- Scissors
Instructions:
NOTE: The cutting part of this craft should be done by an adult. Utility knives are very sharp and could be dangerous for kids.
Open the book cover and use a ruler to mark where you want your opening to be. It is easiest to leave at least a 1-inch border between the cut hole and the outside edge of the pages. Once you know what you are cutting out, use the ruler as a straight-edge tool and start cutting out your opening with the utility knife. It is easiest to cut down through and remove about 1/4 of an inch or less at a time at a time. It is also helpful to place a book about the same size under the open front cover so the pages stay lined up.
Once you have cut and removed your first section of pages, let the pages with the hole lie flat on the other pages and trace another rectangle for a cutting guide. Again, cut down through about a 1/4 of an inch section and remove. Repeat these steps until you get your hole as deep as you want it.
Once you are done cutting, you need to attach the pages together so whatever you put in the book, stays in the book. There are a few different ways to do this:
- The method I used on the book pictured here is similar to decoupage. I used a decoupage medium and brushed a very light coat along the sides of all the pages, both inside the hole and around the outside of the pages. I then put a piece of wax paper on top of the pages and closed the book cover (the wax paper simply helps the cover not get stuck to the glue). I then set a very heavy object on top ot the book until it dried. This helped to prevent the wrinkles from the liquid glue. Repeat until your pages are secure to your liking.
- You can glue each page together using a glue stick or Zip Dry glue. Of course, this might not be a desirable option if your book has many pages. A glue stick is a good way to glue pages together because it is not wet, which causes the pages to wrinkle and bubble. Zip Dry glue is made especially for working with paper and is one of my favorite glues.
- Finally, you can use a hot glue gun or other glue to attach pieces of felt or fabric into the hole or holes you cut into the book. Cut the felt or fabric pieces to fit and glue into place using generous amounts of glue from a hot glue gun making sure glue gets on all pages. This will hold the pages in the hole together so nothing falls out, yet the outer edges of the pages will still look loose.