Introduction: Secret Book Bank

Thanks to my student Shannon Griffiths for posting this Instructable.

Step 1: Remove the Binding From the Book Pages

The easiest way to remove a binding is by using an X-acto knife.

Be sure not to cut through the binding. If the pages are glued directly to the binding this book will not be suitable.

If the book is thin bend the covers back and drill through the book and use a scroll saw to cut out the interior.

Step 2: Gluing the Pages

The pages need to be glued together so the book can be cut out or you can cut the cover first and then glue the pages together. Put plastic or wax paper on the bottom and top of the pages, to prevent them from sticking to other surfaces. Then put a weight on top of the pages to keep the pages from separating.

Step 3: Cutting Out the Book Bank.

Draw the cavity on the back page of the book.

Cut in through the spine as per illustration.

Cut out the bank.

Note: Save the pages as you might want to use them later on.

Step 4: Gluing the Book

1. Use full strength white glue to glue together the bank frame.

2. Use a glue-water mixture (30% water). Decapage glue is another alternative.

3. Apply clamp using light pressure so not to bend the book.

Step 5: Weight Down the Book

Place a piece of plastic or wax paper on the book. Then put pieces of wood to cover the opening of the book. Apply weight to keep the pages from separating. Allow the glue to set for several hours.

Step 6: Gluing Strips of Book Pages

By using strips of the pages from the book, glue (water 30%) them to the inside part of the cover and the book itself to connect them. Strips could be put randomly or in a symmetrical order.

Step 7: Glue the Back Cover

Glue the back cover to the book. Then put a weight on top of the book to make the back cover stay attached.

Step 8: Completed Book

The book is complete. The interior has not had any added strips.

Step 9: Completed Book - Kindle

This book has had handmade paper on both covers. There is also a slot cut out for the charging cord. The cavity was designed to fit a Kindle

Step 10: Completed Book - Peter & the Starcatchers

Because of the detail on the covers they were left intact.

Step 11: Variation on the Secret Book Bank

One of my students has a new twist on Secret Book Banks. She used the words on the cover with a cut picture and had multiple layers with picture cut outys separated with plastic between the layers.