Tutorial: my newest book purse! - PURSES, BAGS, WALLETS

hi guys i've just finished two more book purses....but my camera batteries died so i only got pictures up for one of them but here it is and i'l be sure to post the other one later

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*******TUTORIAL*********

1. Pull all the pages out of the book EXCEPT the two closest to the front and back covers (so leave four pages in total), then go through the pages and choose two pictures, or text pages that you want to use as the side pannels (i also like to keep all the illustrations or pictures to be used on other projects) then you can RECYCLE (not throw away please) the extra pages.
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2. lay the book open flat on a peice of cardboard and trace around it. cut that rectangle out and trim it so it's no longer the size of the cover but the size of the pages you've left in (usualy you have to remove about a cm and a half) then fold the cardboard so it has a "spine" and fits exactly inside the book and use a glue gun to secure it to the spine and to one page on each side
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3. Now it's time for the lining. spread your book flat and trace around it onto your chosen fabric and cut it out. now comes the bit that's a little tricky.....ugh math. ok to make the side pannels you will need to use the Pythagorean Therum (sp?) come on your remember that from elementary school right? c²=a²+b² ok here's a quick paint diagram i drew up
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1127819/sidepannel.jpg
the side is two upsidedown right angle triangales with a rectangle the width of the spine in the middle you can use a ruler to find the measurements for the spine and the length of the cover's edge (that's the short one attached to the spine not the long one across from it) then the amount you want it to open (we'l call it X) is a variable that is up to you, decide on a mesurement, then subtract the width of the spine from that number and divide it by 2 to find the length of (A). then plug the (A) number and the length of the cover edge (C) into the pythagorean formula and solve for B to find the height. then draw the figure out twice onto your fabric and cut them out to form the two sides (remember to leave sewing room on all the fabric you cut out) this would also be a good time to cut out any pockets or anything you might want. then sew all the peices together.
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4.the peices you've just cut and sewin will be slightly too large to fit in the book frame but don't worry it will help to glue things in cleanly. put hot glue along the spine of the book and place the spine of your lining onto the glue. then put glue on the BACK of the cardboard along the top and pull the extra fabric around so it's tight against the frame (this will also fold the extra fabric on the triangular side peices down, you will want to iron that once you've finished gluing to get a nice clean crease). do the same to the other side. now go around the edges of the back of the cardboard and pull the side bits tight around too.
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5.next is the paper side pannels, these obviously arn't needed as they really serve no structural purpose. i just like them because it cleans up my messy edge (the part that's folded and ironed down on the side can look kinnda messy) and i think the pages add a nice touch...reminds you that it's an actual book) take those pages that you saved from the book (or print off pages from the internet or whatever....but make sure to use a laser printer...inkjet will run if they get caught in the rain for even half a second) then using the same measurements you made for the fabric lining draw a side pannel near the center of the paper. cut along the top and cut along the bottom leaving a small "tail" about the width of the spine and tapering off near the end. LEAVE the peices along the diagonal lines. depending on the overall look of the book i like to stain my pages so they look more antique or whatever, i like to use tea or coffee and then put it in the oven for a couple minutes....if anyone wants a more detailed description of that just let me know. if the pages start to crinckle up from the staining don't be afraid to iron them flat again. and (this is very important) you MUST seal the back of the pages. i like to use clear packing tape, just cover the back of the pannels (don't just stop at the folds though, be sure to tape over the folds because that's where it's likely to rip) tape it as evenly and as flatly as possible. this prevents the pages from tearing when the pures is opened and closed multiple times.
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6. next make your handles and clasp (this is a good tutorial for handles that inspired mine http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=103482.0 ) to glue them in i used ribbon loops and then sealed them between the last piece of loose paper
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7. now you have two plain "pages" (the back cover and the sandwiched pages with all your other gluing) this is important when gluing in your paper side pannels. gluing them in is pretty self explanitory, take your hot glue gun and put glue on the sandwich of pages, line up the diagonal line with the edge of your book and stick it down, and do the same on the other side (leave the little tail at the bottom haning out). then glue the cover down to complete the book sandwich.
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8. last thing to do is add the little touches that make it look complete and very neat. time to get rid of the tail. there are two ways to bind a book most old books ae bound with string and alot of more cheaply made new ones are bound with glue if it all possible it's better to use a string bound book simply because you are able to finish off the side pannels much nicer than with a glue bound book (if yours is glue bound then just cut the tail off) if it was a string bound book then there will be two layers of spine, the first is what the pages were attached to and the second is the outer shell of the cover usualy there is nothing sealing the two layers together so simply tuck the tail in between the layers. and the very last thing to do it to finish off the inside edges of the book. i like to use decorative cord, just fill the gap between the cover and the sandwich of pages with hot glue and press a nice cord into the glue, leave about an inch extra on each side and then tuck that neatly between the fabric lining and the paper side pannel just along the point where they meet along the book's edge and glue it in place
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and then TADA a beautiful book purse of your very own YAY!!!!