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8.01.2012

"hidden storage" books


We have a lot of books - many of which we haven't read. We collected a lot of pretty hard cover books for the wedding (we used them with our center pieces) and they have been sitting on our open shelving for the past 10 months. I figured it was time to either do something with them...or donate them. I decided I'd make a little hidden storage with a handful of them.

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Here is what you'll need to make your own:


hardcover books
a small wooden crate//box
hot glue gun
exacto knife
scissors
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[STEP 1] Using the exacto blade, start by disassembling the books. You'll want to remove all of the pages and just leave the "shell." A lot of times you can get the pages out in tact. If you have a hard time "destroying" books, make a new cover for the pages with fabric or decorated cardboard :)


[STEP 2] Next, you'll assemble your spines. Figure out which books you're putting on either end and set them aside for later. Take your first spine and cut off the front and back cover (leaving a little bit of one cover so it can be folded over and glued together).


 [3] Repeat the above steps with your end books - except leave either the front or back cover to hide the side of your crate.  Fold over and glue together.


[4] Glue your "books" to the crate. I didn't do a very good job of measuring, so I had to add some spacers between my book end and the crate. I used the left over book covers to fill the space and covered it so it wouldn't be seen.


[5] Now you have some "books" to add to your shelf that will serve as hidden storage!


Cute & functional.


[this may be linked up to any number of these blogs]

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40 comments:

  1. Kathryn Ferguson GriffinAugust 1, 2012 at 11:40 AM

    Smarty pants! Love it! Thank you for sharing. Visiting from Southern Lovely. Would love it if you would share this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2012/07/make-it-pretty-monday-week-8.html Hope to see you at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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    Replies
    1. Shannon BarefootAugust 1, 2012 at 9:25 PM

      Thanks for the comment and the invite. I've added your link party to my list of weekly link ups :) Thanks!

      Delete
  2. Garage Sales R UsAugust 2, 2012 at 11:25 AM

    This is awesome!!!! I am visiting form the Catch a Glimpse link up and wanted to stop by and say hi. I a a new follower. I blog over at http://www.garagesalesrus.blogspot.com/ I hope you will stop by and do the same. I also have a giveaway with a Circut Machine going on right now. I would Love it if you entered but you have to hurry it ends tomorrow! Hope you have a great day!

    Robin

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    1. Shannon BarefootAugust 6, 2012 at 2:41 PM

      Thanks for stopping by! I am now following you as well :)

      Delete
  3. MichelleAugust 2, 2012 at 7:02 PM

    Wow - such a cool idea! Would you mind linking it up to my current homeschool organization/rooms/back to school linky party going on now? I think some other moms might be interested in the idea of how to conceal things in a school room at the end of the day. :)
    http://www.thenatureofgrace.blogspot.com/2012/07/reading-spot-and-homeschool-havens-link.html

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  4. girlsAugust 3, 2012 at 11:24 AM

    This is a fantastic idea! I am totally going to try it! Thanks for the inspiration I am your newest follower! If you ever have time I would love for you to come check out my blog!

    -Peggy

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    1. Shannon BarefootAugust 6, 2012 at 2:43 PM

      Thanks for following! I'll definitely head over and check out your blog.

      Delete
  5. BabsAugust 6, 2012 at 1:40 PM

    That is such a pretty and practical idea! How smart you are to figure out how to make it.
    Babs

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  6. ElaineAugust 6, 2012 at 10:25 PM

    What a wonderful idea! I'm sure I already have everything I need, which makes it my favorite kind of craft project! I'm your newest follower!

    Visiting from Make It Pretty Monday!

    Elaine
    Creating Wonderful Spaces

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    Replies
    1. Shannon BarefootAugust 9, 2012 at 10:14 PM

      Thanks for stopping by - those are definitely my favorite projects too! :)

      Delete
  7. AnonymousAugust 12, 2012 at 7:34 PM

    So clever and so pretty!

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  8. CocaloresAugust 14, 2012 at 6:57 AM

    These look pretty, especially because of the hues you picket! Cool idea! xo Anja

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  9. Lydia @ Huckleberry LoveDecember 19, 2012 at 11:19 AM

    My sister used books as centerpieces for her wedding as well and now has boxes of books all over her small apartment. I am definitely going to show her this post (and also snag a few books to make one for me!). Simple, cute and ingenious...great job!

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  10. UnknownDecember 22, 2012 at 12:31 PM

    LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEE THIS!

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  11. AnonymousDecember 29, 2012 at 12:50 AM

    I like this idea! I will be making one soon!

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  12. AnonymousDecember 29, 2012 at 12:51 AM

    I like this idea! I will be making one soon!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ann @ makethebestofthingsDecember 29, 2012 at 6:42 PM

    Can't hardly bear to destroy books, but I think I can finagle this with semi flattened paper towel rolls and some neat decoupaged paper or fabric and printed titles, maybe on tissue so it blends into the paper? On the other hand, I've done loads of projects with really old book pages which have beautifully gold hued edges. So, maybe I can destroy more books and not feel guilty. Gotta try this, thx for the creative kick start.

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  14. TheDabblingCrafterJanuary 2, 2013 at 12:38 PM

    Love the idea! Where did you find the wooden crate?

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  15. BloggersJanuary 14, 2013 at 2:01 PM

    I love this so much and I have a ton of books laying around waiting to be donated. Now I am going to do something cool with a bunch of them.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Countrified HicksJanuary 14, 2013 at 7:45 PM

    Love this. Love this. Love this!!!
    I'm your newest follower. Hope you'll return the favor and follow my blog and/or FB fan page!
    http://www.countrifiedhicks.com
    http://www.facebook.com/countrifiedhicks

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousMarch 6, 2013 at 12:56 PM

    hi i like your ideas...great and thnx!!!

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  18. J BerkeleyApril 6, 2013 at 7:38 AM

    Great idea. The dilemma, what books do you want to be seen and if they make the cut you have to cut them up.

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  19. Imaginary Confetti ClubApril 18, 2013 at 7:59 PM

    Great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  20. AnonymousApril 24, 2013 at 11:26 AM

    That is genius! Loved it!!
    Anjana @ http://happyandharried.wordpress.com/

    ReplyDelete
  21. Eden House News and viewsApril 24, 2013 at 12:05 PM

    This is very clever trouble is i cant cut up books

    ReplyDelete
  22. AnonymousMay 6, 2013 at 10:00 AM

    Your blog is very cool & I can't wait to find the time to make some of the stuff you've done. As far as cutting up books, the library has book sales some for a dollar, so I don't think I will have a hard time chopping them up! cool. -amy

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  23. Sandra J. StricklerMay 23, 2013 at 11:45 AM

    At first the bibliophile in me cried over these beautiful destroyed books! The horror!!! But I just realized that the book itself can still be read, it just won't have a cover! Phew!!! Now I just might have to try this!!!!!

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  24. Karen G.June 27, 2013 at 6:03 PM

    This was wonderful, thank you.

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  25. UnknownJuly 20, 2013 at 12:11 AM

    I'm loving this idea, and I'm already trying to figure out all of the things that I can hide like this! Thanks for sharing. I linked to you in my blog if you'd like to check it out :) http://littlebitsofeverythingqce.blogspot.com/2013/07/weekly-wrap-and-pinned-it-friday-by.html
    Rachel @ Little Bits of Everything

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  26. JamieAugust 9, 2013 at 7:56 AM

    I am so glad I saw this... what a genius idea! I'm pinning it right now

    ReplyDelete
  27. UnknownAugust 24, 2013 at 10:21 AM

    Great idea. We have a "free barn" here in town at the county dump and there are a ton of books that have been dropped off there that no one wants and the library has passed on, so I think I will go up there and find some nice covers, clean them up, and make some little storage boxes. My mind is just racing with ideas of what I can hide behind these "books"! Thanks for sharing!

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  28. UnknownAugust 24, 2013 at 10:26 AM

    Love this idea. We have a "free barn" here at the county dump site that residents donate items they don't want anymore, but don't want to throw away. As you can imagine, there are a ton of books donated. I think I will go there, pick some nice covers, clean them up good, and then make some of these book storage units. My mind is racing with ideas of what I can hide behind them. I love the idea of not having a lot of "stuff" sitting out on book shelves, and just seeing "books". Thank you for sharing!

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  29. MlncrdSeptember 19, 2013 at 5:25 PM

    That's awesome!

    Melanie ~ www.iheartsharingthings.blogspot.fr

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  30. Txbellemc1April 8, 2014 at 8:32 AM

    Thanks for the clever tutorial! Do you have pics from the wedding center pieces you mentioned?

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  31. carft storage servicesMay 5, 2014 at 4:32 AM

    Such a nice tutorial and very informative blog . Thanks for sharing .

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  32. UnknownDecember 2, 2014 at 10:37 PM

    Awesome idea! Stupid question, but can the remote shoot through the book covers?

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  33. UnknownDecember 15, 2014 at 9:20 AM

    Nice

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  34. UnknownDecember 15, 2014 at 9:28 AM

    Gr8 idea

    ReplyDelete

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