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DIY Book Safe

Make a DIY Book Safe at www.TheMakerMom.com

Making a book safe is one of those projects that I’ve long had on my to-do list, but put off.  How fun would it be to secret away something special and hide it in plain site in a book? In the end, it was simple and somewhat meditative. I can’t wait to make another one.

Make a DIY Book Safe

All you need to get started is:

  • a book you no longer want to read
  • a ruler
  • a craft knife
  • Modge Podge (or watered down white glue) and brush
  • a Dremel or rotary tool (optional)
  • fabric scraps (optional)

 Measure Once, Cut 300 Times

I chose a big, fat old dictionary for my safe, but such a thick book is not necessary. Open the book and flip past 5- 50 pages, depending on the depth of your book. Hold those pages to the left and brush the Modge Podge on the edges of the remaining pages that are on the right. Remember to only brush the edges. Close the book and leave it a few hours or overnight.  You may wish to weight it down to help the book keeps its original form.

Figure out what size storage space you’d like. I didn’t know what I’d keep in the book and arbitrarily decided on my margins. I must have eyeballed  it because they’re not even. Or should I say, unbalanced, like me. I suggest a minimum margin of .5 inches all around. Whether you measure or just estimate, you’ll want to use the straight edge to mark those first cuts that will outline the area you plan to carve out.

And then you cut.

Make a DIY Book safe with www.TheMakerMom.com

And cut.

And cut.

Make a DIY Book safe with www.TheMakerMom.com

Save the pages you cut out. They’ll come in handy for other maker project. Dictionary shoes, anyone? (Post coming soon.)

When you’ve reached the depth you want stop cutting and get out your Dremel. Use the rotary tool to smooth the sides of the cavity.

Make a DIY Book safe with www.TheMakerMom.com

When you’re happy with the size and look of storage area, you can seal it with Modge Podge or even embellish the space with fabric scraps to make it look fancy. Smooth black velvet would make a lovely background for your diamonds and gold, no?

Never Forget

I made this several weeks ago, but neglected to take a photo of the finished book safe, so I grabbed it off of a shelf and you could have knocked me over with a feather when I saw our passports inside. I had no idea they were in there and I suspect no one else from my family did either. I immediately had a vision of us frantically scouring the house for them just days before we need them for a vacation next year. Oh, the arguments! The accusations! The moral of the book safe story is that if you use it to store something really important be sure to make a mental (or written) note and inform your spouse.