How To Make An Accordion Book With Pockets From An Antique Book

I bought a bunch of old books with pretty covers and I'm re-purposing them by making new books out of old ones. Polly was the name of my childhood dog and the 1890's camping scene is very attractive.



















Remove the pages with a razor blade and scissors, leaving the cover intact. I didn't like the look of the cardboard inside the spine so I covered the inside of the book with new end papers. Lay the book cover on a piece of scrapbook paper and trace around the cover with pencil. Cut the paper slightly smaller than the book cover then glue the new end paper inside the cover and over the spine.














Use a brayer to smooth the paper and remove any air bubbles.













I used a large sheet of heavyweight black paper for the inside of the book. If you want to see the end paper make the insert smaller than the original book. These pages are 4.5" x 10" and the page on the end is 5" wide. It's wider so you can make a flap to ensure the pocket will be secure by not allowing items to slide out the side. Cut off the excess edge portion. Make pencil guidelines for creasing and if the paper is thick, use a bone folder to score the lines.















The pages are 7" high so I also made a horizontal guideline for creasing a 3" deep pocket.

To recap, fold the paper accordion or paper fan style to fit inside the book cover. Fold a long horizontal crease to make a pocket like you'd find in back to school folders. Use the bone folder to make sharp creases.





















Flip the paper over and glue down the flap. The flap needs to be on the opposite side for the back of the book.












My book was fairly thick and since the paper wasn't long enough to use only one segment I used two. I left a flap to glue under another page so that the pages hinge together.





















The book is now a long accordion fold with the pocket on one side and the end flap is on the backside.





















Spread glue on end flap and glue it to the inside cover.





















Press the paper firmly and glue the back cover to the inside page. Close the book to verify placement. You don't want the pages too close to the spine or too far away.




































Now the book is ready to fill with memorabilia and you can decorate the pocket for more of an art journal feel.





































This version is filled with 90lb, cream colored drawing paper.