How To Make A Book With A Secret Hollow Hiding Spot

The first step in making this book is to select a book. Make sure the book belongs to you, and not the library or a family member or friend. Make sure the book is hardcover otherwise when you cut the pages out you will cut right through the back of the book.

You will also need: 1. Elmer's white glue 2. A container to hold the glue solution. (A film canister works best) 3. X-Acto Knofe and/or box cutter. Both of you have them! 4. A paint brush to apply the glue solution 5. Pencil/pen 6. Ruler/straight edge, preferably one with a metal edge.

Set aside at least one page at the beginning of the book. You will need this for a later step. Next mix a solution of glue and water. Usually anywhere from a 50/50 to a 70/30 glue to water ratio is best. Just enough for the glue to be runny and absorbed by the edges of the book's pages. Half a film canister should suffice. Hold the remaining pages together and brush the glue onto the outer edges, not too drippy but enough for the solution to soak into the pages pretty well.

Allow this to dry but use a spacer so the first couple pages and the cover don't get glued together. Post it notes work well. Apply pressure to the book, hard disc platters are pictured. Allow to dry for 15-30 minutes.

When the glue had dried open the book to the first glued page and draw a 1/2 inch margin around all for sides. Don't forget the spine side!

Use the straight edge and knife to cut along the inside of the line. Be careful not to tilt inward or the space will narrow as you get farther into the book.

Continue cutting through all the pages. A box cutter may be easier to keep straight. This is the part of the process that will take the longest.

Once you have gotten to the back cover and through the last page stop and dump all the paper fuzzies that come from cutting out of the book. And paint the glue solution along the inside edges. This is also a good time to apply a second coat of glue to the outside edges of the book.

Brush a light coat of glue to the first glued page to affix the page we saved earlier.

Close the book and give it another 15-30 minutes to dry. No spacers this time!

Now the first page that we saved earlier is glue to the rest of the book. We need to cut through it to reveal our hollowed space.

Since there was not air in the book earlier the inside may still be wet. Give it a little bit longer to dry but once drying is complete you now have a neat little hiding space for all your treasures!