Bookish DIY: How to Make a Book Keepsake Box for Young Adults

Here at Once Upon a Book Club, we love reading and crafting. Thanks to technology, we’ve entered an era where most of our memories have become digital—let’s be real, it is so much easier!

But there is something profoundly special about having a tangible place to store your most precious keepsakes. Whether it’s a ticket from an incredible concert, that first love letter, or a small souvenir from a memorable trip, a keepsake box is the ideal way to safeguard your treasures. 

We love adding literary touches to all things special, and creating a book keepsake box is simply bookishly brilliant! Creating one for (or with) your young adult will kick off the process with a memory you will think about every time you open your box.

Join us as we transform an old book into a beautiful keepsake box—creating memories that last a lifetime.

Memory Box: Creating a Personal Keepsake

It's time to gather your materials and get ready for some wonderful bookish fun! We can’t wait to see what you create!

Materials Needed

• An old hardcover book
• A ruler
• A pencil
• A craft knife
• Sandpaper
• Mod Podge (or any other craft glue)
• A brush for the glue
• Decorative paper or fabric (optional for lining the box)
• A hot glue gun

Instructions

Step 1: Select the Perfect Book

First up, choose a hardcover book that you are willing to repurpose because there is no turning back. Look at covers that appeal to you—you can even make a morning of it and check out the local thrift stores for the perfect book, obviously stopping at your favorite coffee shop on the way.

Remember that the size of the book determines how much storage space you’ll have inside the keepsake box! 

Step 2: Measure and Mark the Cutting Area

It’s time to measure and mark our cutting area. You can cut all the pages, but we recommend leaving a few uncut pages at the front of the book to preserve its appearance. Using a ruler and pencil, draw a rectangle on the page, leaving about an inch margin from the book's edges. This will be your cutting guide for the storage compartment.

Step 3: Start Cutting

Carefully cut along the pencil lines with your craft knife. You will be cutting through multiple pages, so be patient and take your time—you’re aiming to cut through about three-quarters of the book’s thickness. It is super important to make straight, clean cuts to ensure the pages don’t tear. 

Step 4: Smooth the Edges

You can breathe a sigh of relief; the hard part is over. Once you’ve cut out enough pages to create a deep compartment, use sandpaper to smooth the edges of the cut pages. This step will give your keepsake box a polished, finished look. Attention to detail is everything!

Step 5: Glue the Pages Together

You now need to apply a generous layer of Mod Podge to keep the pages from shifting—make sure you cover all the sides and edges evenly. Close the book and press it down with a heavy object or clamp to ensure those pages stay together as the glue dries. This process usually takes a few hours, so be patient. It’s the perfect time to take a break with a great book!

Step 6: Line the Box (Optional)

For an added touch of elegance and style, you can line the inside of your book keepsake box with decorative paper or fabric. Simply measure the interior dimensions of the box and cut your chosen lining material to fit. Use Mod Podge or a hot glue gun to secure the lining inside the box. Although this step is optional, it adds a nice finishing touch to your project.

Step 7: Secure the First Few Pages

To keep the first few pages intact and give the appearance of a regular book when closed, you can apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to the inside edges of the first few pages. Press them down firmly and allow the glue to dry completely.

Step 8: Add Final Touches

It’s time to let your creativity shine, and you can add those extra personal touches to the cover or inside of the book.

Conclusion

We love the personal and sentimental aspect of creating a book keepsake box. And to top it all off, there is something so rewarding about finishing a project and sitting back to admire your work of art!

This makes the perfect heartfelt gift for your young adult, showing that memories are to be treasured. You can even include coffee date vouchers or a personal letter inside!

Combining functionality and creativity in one magical box! Now that we’re talking about boxes, you definitely want to check out our whimsical book boxes, which, just like your keepsake box, are packed with magic. Subscribe now and receive the ultimate immersive book box experience!