How to Make a Safe from a Book

Conceal Your Valuables in a Hollow Book

Aug 21, 2009 Stefanie Gabrych Fraser

Scour your garage, attic, or bookshelves for books you can convert into these unique safes, but first ensure that the books aren't valuable antiques or first editions.

Hollowed out book safes for storing small treasures have been around a while and they’ve even been featured in the occasional movie using hiding a clue necessary to the film plot. They are created by removing the interior portion of some or all of the pages, creating a hollowed-out book safe. To make one all you need are a hardback book ready for recycling, an X-acto utility knife, straight-edge ruler, and glue stick.

These little safes are great for concealing your little valuables that often can get lost or mislaid. Depending on the size of the book, you can also create a similar secret compartment for your reading glasses, extra house keys, even treasures such as jewelry, and why not your TV and other electronic remotes!

Keep the one concealing your valuables tucked away on a bookshelf and the others with remotes and your reading glasses on the coffee table close to your entertainment centre?

And while you’re at it, why not make a few extra for friends and family. These make unique gifts especially if the title of the book has special meaning for the recipient. When birthdays or other special days arrive, you can present them with a gift that’s not only personal but useful as well.

This is an easy project but an adult should do the cutting. When the book safe is complete, small kids can glue the pages together.

Material and Tools You Will Need

  • Used book
  • X-acto knife and extra blades
  • Metal straight-edge ruler
  • Pencil
  • Glue stick

How to Make a Hollow Book Safe

  1. Open the book and then decide on the size and placement of the compartment. You may want to create the hollow right after the title page or in the middle of the book.
  2. Once you have decided on your position, use the pencil and ruler to outline the opening on the page selected. If you are using it to hold eye glasses or a remote, measure these first and then add on-half inch to the overall dimensions.
  3. To create a hollow compartment in the book, cut out about the 5 pages at a time using the ruler and X-acto utility knife. Note you may have to replace the utility knife blade frequently to prevent raggedy edges.
  4. Continue cutting until you reach your desired depth. Leave some pages uncut at the bottom of the book so that the opening is lined with print.
  5. Use the glue stick to glue each page to the one underneath. The little ones can do this if you like.
  6. Add a pretty ribbon and you’re done.

Making a clock from a cereal box is another great craft idea for you and the kids.

The copyright of the article How to Make a Safe from a Book in Crafts is owned by Stefanie Gabrych Fraser. Permission to republish How to Make a Safe from a Book in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Create a safe place for your treasures., Stefanie Gabrych Fraser Create a safe place for your treasures.
It's easy to make a book safe., StefanieGabrych Fraser It's easy to make a book safe.
 
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