December Gift-Making...Hollow Book

Just squeezing this quick mention of a gift I made for 17 year old Mado this Yule: a Hollow Book in which to hide away secret treasure.

First I chose a pretty book from the thrift store...not too flashy or attention-grabbing, but very handsome nontheless.

I looked for a title that would be a good tongue-in-cheek reminder and set the volume apart from other books in Mado's collection.

I used a straight edge and an x-acto knife (and a couple of hours of Netflix) to cut an opening in the center of the book, a few pages at a time.

I left about 50 pages intact in both the front and back of the book.

The book I chose was not very thick...I would have preferred a heftier tome, a Tolstoy or Proust, maybe...but there was just enough room for a little jewel box to fit inside this slim reader.

...and this awesome pin is what I tucked inside the jewel box (found at The Animal Den)

This gift was really well-received by my Mado...she actually started reading the book (which she thought quite interesting) before she realized the secret compartment and the pin, and so was doubly delighted :)