With the shift towards e‑readers, tablets and audiobooks, printed volumes are becoming relics of the past—but that doesn’t mean they belong in a landfill. In this tutorial, From Page to Treasure: How to Repurpose an Old Book into a Stunning Jewellery Box, you’ll learn how to transform a neglected hardcover into a functional, mixed‑media keepsake that celebrates recycling, reusing and repurposing.

Assemblage mixed media combines found objects and varied materials in one artwork, emphasising texture, depth, and contrast. It tells a story by arranging everyday items—metal bits, wood scraps, fabric, paper—and unifying them with paint, wax, or patina.

With World Environment Day on 5 June fast approaching, this month’s International Bloggers Challenge (IBC) invites us to create eco‑friendly projects that recycle, reuse or repurpose materials to benefit our planet. (More on the IBC at the end of this post.)

Before we dive into this tutorial, be sure to subscribe to my bimonthly newsletter to be the first to see my latest projects.  You can also follow me on Pinterest and Facebook, where I also include my unique mixed-media art projects.

How to Repurpose an Old Book into a Stunning Jewellery Box

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Materials Needed

• Thick hardcover book (no glossy finish)
• Sharp craft knife and ruler
• Mod Podge or PVA glue
• Clamps or heavy weights
• Self‑adhesive felt
• Texture paste and stencils
• Tacky glue & hot glue gun
• Assorted embellishments (bro­ken earrings, keys, studs, charms, buttons, book corners)
• Small jewellery‑box legs
• Black gesso or acrylic paint
• Metallic wax paste (or homemade)
• Decorative paper (e.g., Kaisercraft)
• Acrylic spray sealer
• Saran wrap

Find a Suitable Book

Choose a thick hardcover with a plain cloth or paper cover—glossy finishes repel paint and glue.

Cut Out the Pages

Mark a rectangle on the top page, leaving a 10–15 mm border for stability. Use a ruler as your guide and slice through a few pages at a time, rotating the book as you go.

Seal the Pages

Add a thick layer of Mod Podge to the inside of the cut-out pages.

Then brush on a second coat of Mod Podge along the exposed edges of the pages. Lay a sheet of Saran Wrap over the top page to protect the cover from stray glue. Spread a generous coat of Mod Podge along the outer edges of the pages to seal them together and prevent any shifting.

Finally, stack heavy weights or secure the book in clamps to keep the pages firmly in place until the glue dries.

 Line the Interior

No matter how carefully I cut, the pages along the spine kept shifting and left a jagged edge. Rather than start over, I trimmed a piece of self‑adhesive felt to fit snugly inside and pressed it into place, neatly hiding the uneven cut and reinforcing the jewellery box.

Add texture to the Jewellery Box

Position stencils over the cover and apply texture paste with a spatula.

. Layer different patterns for interest. Smooth down any peaks before the paste dries.

Embellish the Cover

Arrange and glue broken earrings, charms, studs, keys, buttons and book corners onto the textured surface. Build up layers for a dynamic 3D effect.

This is where the magic happens—and yes, it gets delightfully messy. At this stage, your book may look like complete chaos, but that’s exactly what mixed‑media is all about. Don’t be discouraged—keep layering and experimenting. You can attach almost anything: bits of broken jewellery, metal studs, vintage keys, buttons, trim and more. Below is just a sample of the treasures I gathered from around the house and workshop.

Take a look at these close‑ups to see the embellishments in detail. I secured smaller trinkets with tacky glue and attached the larger pieces using a hot glue gun. Layering elements on top of one another creates a striking three‑dimensional effect—feel free to experiment with different arrangements. For more tips on layering and texture, explore this mixed‑media tutorial.

Close-up view of embellishments used.

Attach Legs

Glue jewellery‑box legs into each corner of the lower cover using hot glue. Press firmly and allow to set.

Paint the Box

Cover the entire box in black gesso or acrylic paint.

Use a hairdryer to speed up drying.

Highlight with Metallic Wax

Gently rub silver wax paste over raised details and embellishments, leaving shadowed areas black to enhance depth. If you don’t have silver wax paste, you likely already have the ingredients to make some at home. This post shows you how.

For this step, use only your fingertip—lightly tap into the wax paste rather than scooping it up, then gently rub it over the raised areas. Too much wax will blur your details, but a soft touch will beautifully highlight the texture.

To make your charms and embellishments really pop against the black backdrop, apply the metallic wax sparingly—don’t smother every inch of paint. Let the matte black peek through; it emphasises your stencil‑pressed textures and adds depth and character.

Seal the Project

After 12 hours, apply two light coats of acrylic spray sealer to protect your finish.

Finish the Interior

To disguise the rough page edges, I lined the interior with thick Kaisercraft decorative paper.

After selecting a design, I measured and trimmed each sheet to size, then glued it in place for a polished, professional finish.

Here’s the finished interior of the jewellery box, all neatly lined and ready to use.

More recycled jewellery storage ideas.

I transformed these high‑heeled shoes into unique ring holders and adorned their exteriors with mixed‑media art techniques.

I transformed a vintage display cabinet into a bespoke jewellery box through creative upcycling.

About IBC (International Bloggers Club)

As you may know, I’m a proud member of the International Bloggers Club (IBC), a global collective of creative bloggers from Spain, South Africa, Australia, the United States and Canada. Every month, we unite around a shared theme and challenge ourselves to craft something extraordinary.

Last month’s Black & White theme yielded some truly striking projects. If you missed it, you can catch my wooden wall hanging— it was a crowd favourite! Below, you’ll find links to my fellow IBC members’ creations. I’d love for you to hop over, explore their work and share your thoughts.

1. A crafty mix |Kokedama fairy village
2. Raggedy bits |Upcycle old paddle paint pouring
3. Interior frugalista |DIY Eco-friendly rain barrel and compost. 
4. Northern feeling |Free abstract plant printable

If you’d like to find any of the items used in this project, we’d greatly appreciate it if you used our affiliate links. These links provide us with a small commission at no extra cost to you, allowing us to continue creating and sharing more inspiring projects. We’d also love to hear your thoughts—feel free to leave a comment or share this post!