Gluing pages

Gluing 3 pages together at the front of the book, using an old credit card to spread a thin, even layer of glue. Scrap paper underneath was discarded later.

Blotting paper

I layered blotting paper to either side of the pages, which wicks the moisture away so the pages dry flat (and quickly). If your pages are very sticky, place freezer paper or waxed paper either side of the glued block, then blotting paper to either side.

Gluing niche block

Having glued the first 3 pages and the last 3 pages together, these blocks were separated from the niche block by freezer paper (shiny side towards the niche block to keep glue away from the other pages). Glue the niche itself with PVA (white) glue or gel medium. Be generous.

Niche block

Once the glue has dried, the blotting paper was removed from the page blocks, and the freezer paper from the niche block. (Any excess glue was stuck to the non-stick, shiny side of the freezer paper, not the book, and just peels away once dry.)

Mark & cut

The aperture was marked in the niche block and I have started to cut into it.

Cutting in

You can see where the block was marked, and I am cutting into it with a craft knife (with a new blade) and a steel ruler, with a cutting mat underneath.

Further into the block

Cutting a niche takes time. Keep cutting deeper and deeper (after a while, you don't need the ruler to cut against). Keep a cutting mat under the block (and above those other 3 pages - you don't want to cut right through your book and into the table underneath).

Deeper & down

Cutting ever further into the block. Always turn the book round so that you are cutting straight towards yourself - don't try to cut sideways - that's how accidents happen.

Tidying up

My corners are usually very untidy, so here I am cutting into the block from the rear, neatening up those corners. Cut STRAIGHT down in a slicing motion.

From another angle

Viewed from the front, showing me cutting down vertically into those corners. NEVER cut sideways - always turn the book around.

Lining the sides

For extra strength, I used some of the discarded paper from the niche to line the inner sides of the block. Slather on plenty of PVA glue (or gel medium) on the inside of the block, then add the paper. Wrap the paper right around each section, with the excess stuck to the front and back of the block.

Finished lining the block

I already added some paper to the last section of pages, which will show through the niche when viewed from the front (although I changed my mind later, and added napkin tissue - also to the inner edges of the niche block). Lining the inner edges adds strength as well as a neat finish.