I use rice starch paste in the conservation lab where I work.  In order to mix it up easily, we use a self-stirring, self-warming pot.  It also absolutely has to be refrigerated, and even then will go bad after about a week or so.  You'll be able to tell it's bad because it's no longer tacky and it doesn't smell so nice.

As Sdia said, it's very strong, acid free, pH neutral, and water soluble.  However, for bookbinding and box making purposes in the lab, we still use good old PVA.  I agree that paper artists should learn more about glues and the paper materials they are using, because let's face it: a book made of Elmer's, cardboard, and construction paper is going to deteriorate much more quickly than a book made with quality archival materials.  And when you spend so much time creating, don't you want the end result to last?

I was perusing the other coptic bindings and found one by the man I learned from:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BMSrm0QOt0&feature=related

Good for me as a review, but it doesn't start from the very beginning as the one posted above does.

My suggestion would be to glue the pages together first, then cut the hollow.  Then you'll have a solid block to work with, and single pages won't buckle up under your knife.  Also, ditch the Xacto and use a utility knife you can easily switch blades out of - you'll need to change blades often to keep your cuts clean and going quickly.

I've never done this, mind you, but I spend lots of time thinking about books and how they're made.   

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hmm... do you want a card stock for mounting your photos?  it's thick and sturdy, and you can buy sheets of it in 18x24 inches.  ordering paper online is kinda tricky if you don't have sample books of their selection, but you can get cardstock at stationery and craft stores.  the university book store on my campus also stocks it, as do many local art supply stores.

the only other thing that comes to mind is thick watercolor paper, which may be nicer in terms of texture (not just flat and smooth), but it's considerably pricier.

I agree!  so pretty!  I don't own any glitter, but... I may have to get some for this project.

i really like the cover material!

aren't books fun?   

i'll try with sandpaper. thanks!

oh, and be sure to try on a piece of scrap paper first!  wouldn't want you to make things worse on the project itself.

neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeat!  my book arts class didn't even have a midterm, so I've just been making blank books to try out different binding styles.