Altered Book - Clay Rose

I made this book to, well, look like a book.
This altered book holds a secret.
(I will post a tutorial soon on an altered book that I will make into a keepsake box)

For this book I used - a book, a ruler, a craft knife, wax paper, gel glue, fabric, ribbon and a clay rose.

To start, I had to decide where I wanted to make a niche for the surprise. I also made a tiny niche for the clay rose.

When I make this type of altered book, I select a book that has at least 3 entire novels within it. I leave the first novel in the book completely unaltered. That way it can actually be read.

This particular book is a Reader's Digest - Select Editions which I purchased at a local thrift store.

I opened the book to the first page of the 2nd novel and placed wax paper between the pages. I closed the book and applied gel glue around the edges of the bottom portion. This makes a solid block of pages to cut out a niche.
I put a heavy object on the book and allowed the glue to dry.

I don't measure the niche, I just start cutting. I used the ruler as a straight edge to guide the craft knife. I run the craft knife a few times over each side of the niche, remove the pages and repeat. I stopped when the niche was as deep as I wanted it.

**HINT** - Do not press extremely hard on the craft knife. The first time I cut a niche, I pressed really hard thinking I could hurry it along. The tip of my index finger was numb for several months and the niche was a mess.**

Next, I applied the same gel glue inside the niche - both of them. It makes them stable.

I know what your thinking! Your thinking "Bare, that's a rather ugly niche you have there". Not to worry, I will fix it.

See, all fixed.

I glued fabric inside of the large niche and applied ribbon around the edges.

I didn't decorate the small niche because I love the way the clay rose looks on the words. I glued the rose in the niche with the gel glue.

I now have an altered book that still looks like a book and can even be read.

It will hide a small gift and the recipient will think the book is the gift.

( The book wouldn't stay open, my moose friend had to hold it open so I could take pictures!! )

What do you think????