hardcover book picture frame

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My local library holds a twice-yearly book sale offering a whole shopping bag of books for only $5. I've been doing projects such as rebinding the hardcovers with blank sheets to make journals, and experimenting with altered books. This idea evolved from altering a book.

What's Needed:

	Hardcover book Utility knife Gesso Gel medium (optional - you could use the gesso instead) Paint Heavy cans or brick (to press book flat after altering) Fine sandpaper (or a disposable emery board) Picture
	This book's spine was in pretty bad shape--the outside cover separating from the spine. If the book you are using is in better shape, you can skip the next few steps and pick up on step 4 (tracing the area to be cut).
	Carefully cut through the cover sheet and separate the spine from the book. If the glue is old, it shouldn't be that difficult. Just don't cut through the cover.
	After cutting away the cover it should look like this.
	Use glue, gel medium or gesso to glue a new endsheet to the inside cover. A heavy coverstock works best, as lighter paper will bubble.
	Glue paper, smooth out with bone folder and let dry a few hours.
	Once you determine what size you want the frame to be, trace the opening onto the paper. I used an insert from a 5x7 picture frame.
	Use a straight edge to cut out hole. The book I used was about 300 pages. I only cut a "frame" out of about 75 pages, placing a heavy piece of cardboard in between the "frame" and the rest of the book.
	This is what it should look like after cutting out the frame.
	Leaving the cardboard in between the pages use gesso to prime the frame, being sure to paint the inside of the frame as well. Let dry several hours, though overnight is better.
	Using gel medium (or gesso) paint the outside of the book, around all three side. This will glue the pages together making it a solid unit. Leave the cardboard in between the frame and the rest of the book. This will make sure the frame is does not stick to the rest of the book, so you can insert the photo later.
	If the cover was separated from the book spine adhere the two back together with gesso or gel medium. Apply pressure until the medium is dry. If you left the spine alone, skip this step.
	When everything is dry, sand all the edges and corners.
	Paint the frame, the inside of the book, and the outside edges. I chose white. Let dry overnight.
	Insert the photo between the frame and remaining pages and glue the two parts together, sandwiching the picture inside. If the pages have bubbled at all close the book and leave a brick on the top for several days to smooth everything out.
	There are other ways to make these frames. You could cut through the front cover, making it one solid instead of a book with a frame inside.