THE HANDBOOK FOR THE RECENTLY DECEASED

I started out with just a plain Whitman's Sampler box exactly like this one in the picture.

(photo courtesy of CVS via Google)

After taking a good look at the box, I decided to get out a few tools I would need.

Burgundy, black, and yellow paint (I was out of brown so I had to make it)

Glaze (or you could use mod podge or your homemade mod podge)

Fabric (I used an old t-shirt)

Brown Sharpie

Elmer's Glue

Scissors

Masking Tape

X Acto Blade Knife

I started by taking the top off the box and wrapping three sides in masking tape.  I was so delighted to see that the masking tape gave it look of pages, so that's all I had to do with that.

After wrapping the sides, I put the box back together.  I took some scrap cardboard and cut and measured it to fit one side of the book to create the binding.  Now, if you have the box then you know it came with a little white liner in there.  Use that as well as padding behind the cardboard piece.  I suggest hot gluing the piece to the "naked" side of the box (in other words, the side of the box without masking tape).  Tape the top and bottom to the binding piece using the masking tape.

Here you can see how I did that.  Sorry I don't have any actual pictures of that process.  

I wanted the box to able to actually open for the cover, I after creating the binding, I took my knife and cut the cover away from the inside of the box.

This was taken after I took the inside of the box and covered it in the fabric.  I simply then cut the pieces to fit the bottom and each side of the box.  Then I adhered it using the Elmer's glue.  Let it dry fully before you try to mess with the inside anymore.

While I waited for that to dry, I started to paint the outside.  Good thing acrylic doesn't take that long to dry, especially if you're as impatient as I am.

After the brown was dry, I did a Google image search for The Handbook for the Recently Deceased.  Make sure to find a large picture so you can see the details.  Now, if you can think of an easier way to do the cover art, then by all means do so.  I tested my talents and did the lettering and image of the people by hand using the assorted acrylic paints I already had.

Of course it's not an exact replica, but hey, close enough...right?

As an added touch, I used a brown Sharpie on a piece of scrap paper and did the "The Handbook for the Recently Deceased Press" label for the inside of the cover.

If you're wondering about the round pieces under the fabric used on the inside of the cover...they are pennies.  I glued them into place and then put the fabric over them using more glue.  After that was dry, I taped the edges down and painted those brown as well.  The pennies are to add weight to the lid and keep it closed.

After all the paint was dry, I covered the whole thing in glaze to protect it.  As some of you may know, acrylic paint can be delicate.  The glaze protects it and prevents chipping and scratches.  For a little extra stability, I attached a few felt circles to the bottom of the box.  This keeps it from directly touching whatever surface it sits on and keeps it from getting damaged on the bottom.

Here is the finished product.

I hope this helps you out.  If you don't like any method I used, then get creative and make it better!  

THE DIY SPELL BOOK

 I started this by taking a thin box that I got when I ordered something online.

  Now, of course you don't have to do that.  You could easily create the cover with some random cardboard pieces cut to the correct size and held together by masking tape.  I did mine the way I did it to give it added support.  Above you can see the basic shape of what I started with.

Now to get that nice leathery look, it just took a little patience and some masking tape.  Just cover the outside with the tape making sure to crinkle it in some spots.  This gives it a look of skin (maybe animal, maybe human!  Bwahaha!)

I then hot glued one inch wide pieces of cardboard inside the cover.  This I would use at the support and basis for the side of my pages.

After completing the sides, I did the same thing for the top and bottom of the pages.  The only difference is, the top and bottom pieces are curved.  After putting these supports in place, I measured out cardboard pieces to the approximate size of the "pages".  To curve them, I simply rolled them up (don't worry if they show that they're bent, when you're done you won't be able to see it).  I added some support on the inside of the cover by using two toilet paper rolls (empty of course) and attaching them with hot glue.  I glued the curled cardboard to the toilet paper rolls and to the edges.

After doing this and letting the glue cool and harden, you'll need to tea dye some paper.  I chose tea dying because I'm cheap and don't want to buy the already made old fashioned parchment paper.

Because the pages of my spell book are larger than standard computer paper, I had to use a few sheets cut up and placed in various positions to cover the whole pieces of cardboard that make up the shape of the pages.  I also covered the one inch pieces and of course the curved top and bottom pieces with the paper.  And, by the way, don't be worried if your tea dyed paper isn't perfect.  It doesn't need to be!  This is a witch's spell book and chances are the witch isn't a perfectionist...well....unless the witch is casting a spell!

As you can see from the picture above, I used a ball point pen and just went from end to end to create the look of several pages stacked together.  I also did this on the top and bottom.  Don't forget to curve the lines on the top and bottom.  If you don't get it, try looking at an open hardback book and see how the lines form from the pages being stacked together.

NOW!  Before attaching your pages, make sure to write whatever spells or such you want in the book.  It is so much easier to write on them before they are attached.  (Guess who learned that the hard way??)

After writing the titles of the spells on the pages, I glued them on using painting glaze.  Of course mod podge works just as well.  If you don't have any mod podge, make some with glue and water.  

To attach the actual spells and ingredients, I did something slightly different.  I wrote them on scrap pages of the tea dyed paper and burned the edges.  (Side note: be careful when burning the edges of paper, it gets messy and of course you don't want the whole scrap to go up in flames, so make sure to control it by either blowing it out or dabbing it with damp cloth).  I did this because I wanted the actual spells to stand out, just as their titles stand out.

Yes, yes...I know I ripped my spells off from the most awesome Halloween movie ever!  What can I say?  I love witches so of course I've seen it a bazillion times throughout my 27 years.  

After doing all this, it's time for the creative and fun side of yourself to make itself known!  As you can see, I added splats of paint (using my finger tips) in random locations to give it a dirty look.  Then I painted the spider web and attached a flat spider leftover from Halloween last year.  I also added some other random things.  If you're a crafter, look through your stuff and see what you have.  But don't look at it as is, look at it and see what it can be. 

Side note: of course the pages don't turn, so please don't expect that.  This is a static prop meant for a set up  of a witch's station.

Good luck making your own!