Super Cool Holiday Gift for Spies: Hollow Book

Photo Tutorial

by , posted on December 13th, 2011 in Arts & Crafts, Ideas and Inspiration



Long time readers know we’re lovers of spy games and stuff. For newbies to Classic Play, here’s a link to get you caught up: Impromptu Spy Games for when you’re shopping for a car, furniture, suit or other excruciatingly boring thing.

So when I was thinking about making gifts for the kids this year, I went back to our spy roots and came up with the idea to make hollowed out books. They’re super cool, inexpensive (two books from a thrift store cost me $1.38 before tax) and easy to make.

You'll glue the side of the book so the pages all stick together. Just make sure you fold back the first couple pages so they don't get glued. That way when someone opens the book, they'll see pages not what's inside.

Makeshift press: trifle bowl filled with clementines. I put a paper bag between the first couple pages and the glued ones.

While it's more time consuming, you'll get better results if you cut each page individually rather than try to cut through several pages at once.

Present as is, or fill with spy gear.

For a real tutorial filled with tips and techniques click here. It’s far better than anything I could have written.

Now, if you want to take the gift one step further, fill the book with more spy goodies, like these:
Wooden Decoder (my kids have this and love it!)
Daring Disguises
Invisible Ink and UV Spy Pen
Spy Glasses
Fingerprint Kit

PS. This would also make a great sibling gift for older kids who can use exacto knives.


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Comments

8 Responses to “Super Cool Holiday Gift for Spies: Hollow Book”

  1. Allison Waken Says:

    December 13th, 2011 at 3:52 pm

    Yes, yes, yes! Perfect idea – I’m making one for each of the boys.

    [Reply]

    Jennifer Cooper Reply:
    December 13th, 2011 at 4:24 pm

    I bet they’ll love ‘em.

    [Reply]

  2. Cindy H Says:

    December 13th, 2011 at 4:08 pm

    Very cool! How hard (and time consuming) was the cutting part? It’s the thing that has kept me from attempting it…

    [Reply]

    Jennifer Cooper Reply:
    December 13th, 2011 at 4:23 pm

    Well, I’m not exactly sure how long it took. I’d guess, based on the number of songs that I listened to while doing it, about 20 minutes.

    As far as how hard it was, it wasn’t at all. But do have a couple blades ready to go. I went through two of them. I imagine you’d go through more for a book with more depth.

    [Reply]

  3. Carla @ All of Me Now Says:

    December 13th, 2011 at 11:30 pm

    My girls aren’t big into spy stuff but they love little boxes and special places to hide their stuff so this is perfect! I love sweet DIY gift ideas like this – simple, inexpensive and sure to provide hours of fun. Thank you!

    [Reply]

  4. wendy Says:

    December 15th, 2011 at 10:34 am

    I am so into spy stuf, can’t wait until he’s a little older to do some of your fabulous spy games – this is awesome. I would have loved this as a girl!

    [Reply]

    Jennifer Cooper Reply:
    December 15th, 2011 at 8:05 pm

    Me too! You know what? We should make some for ourselves.

    [Reply]

  5. wendy Says:

    December 19th, 2011 at 10:52 pm

    oh we should do a swap!

    [Reply]

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