Accessories Homemade Kindle DX Cover

clarter · 06-24-2009, 11:48 AM

So I got my DX just a few days after it came out and was looking for a cover. Every one of them looks like an executive portfolio cover. Not one has any real style (Unless you count Executive Portfolio as a style).

So I decided to make my own.

Also see the attached photos.

Looking around I found an old Dungeons and Dragons manual (Yeah I'm one of those guys) begging to to be cut up and re-purposed. The size was perfect so I ripped out the pages to get the book boards from it.

I re-covered the boards with a handmade mulberry paper from a scrapbook store, and used a fabric ribbon to make the spine.

The interior is made from black craft foam.
I lined the front and back covers with thin pieces of craft foam.
For the surrounding body I used two thicker pieces (each about 1/4 inch thick) and glued them together. Then when dry I cut it to fit the Kindle DX with a craft knife. Then glued that to the craft foam on the back cover.

Once that was dry I cut it down to allow access to the USB/Charging port and the headphone jack and power switch.

This has made a very sturdy cover that is also very light weight.
The foam holds it securely, and provides protection.
Plus I get the "book" experience when I use it instead of feeling like I'm carrying around a presentation I'm about to show to a CEO.

desertgrandma · 06-24-2009, 12:07 PM

Welcome to MobileRead, clarter.

Well done on your cover.

Enjoy the forums.......

301verbs · 06-24-2009, 12:25 PM

That's pretty interesting. Is the foam on the bottom edge strong enough to hold the Kindle up by itself, or is there also something else supporting it?

clarter · 06-24-2009, 12:42 PM

The foam itself is enough. It's cut to the curved edges of the DX so the corners, where it's just slightly thicker due to the curve, supports it quite well, and sends some of the support into the sides a bit. The foam does flex just a bit on the bottom (maybe 1/16 inch) but the glue that I used is specifically designed for craft foam (Craft foam glue from Beacon) and holds very well, it hasn't separated at all and is quite firm. The other edges I have not seen any flexing at all.

kevindorsey · 06-24-2009, 06:48 PM

That's as good as some of the ones on the market.

Ervserver · 06-24-2009, 07:35 PM

Thats a nice cover

fugazied · 06-24-2009, 07:38 PM

That's incredibly stylish. Also has the added benefit that people won't be inclined to steal it if they see it sitting on your desk!

demoric · 06-25-2009, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Looking around I found an old Dungeons and Dragons manual (Yeah I'm one of those guys) begging to to be cut up and re-purposed.

The blasphemy! Although your kindle does get a +1 bonus now. Seriously though it looks nice. Hope you enjoy your kindle DX.

Daithi · 06-25-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demoric

...your kindle does get a +1 bonus...

301verbs · 06-25-2009, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clarter

The foam itself is enough. It's cut to the curved edges of the DX so the corners, where it's just slightly thicker due to the curve, supports it quite well, and sends some of the support into the sides a bit. The foam does flex just a bit on the bottom (maybe 1/16 inch) but the glue that I used is specifically designed for craft foam (Craft foam glue from Beacon) and holds very well, it hasn't separated at all and is quite firm. The other edges I have not seen any flexing at all.

Cool, I hadn't thought about the pressure on the corners.

lovestoreadalot · 06-26-2009, 06:12 AM

*****

catsittingstill · 06-29-2009, 10:45 PM

Nice!

busy91 · 07-02-2009, 09:48 AM

Very nice indeed, it looks sturdy.

freecia · 07-07-2009, 06:02 PM

Oh! This gives me all sorts of ideas as I'm looking for a cover that I can fold back without cracking the hinge areas. Plus spending a whole lot less than the retailers are charging would be nice...

When cutting the foam, did you just lay the kindle out and trace, then cut? Or should I put the kindle 2/dx on the copier and make a cutout, then tape it to the foam for exact cutting?

clarter · 07-09-2009, 09:55 AM

I just traced around it with the craft knife. I didn't try to cut all the way through with it in place though. Once the foam was scored all the way around I removed the kindle then cut through. The craft foam seem to cut best using multiple shallow cuts. If I tried to cut too deep it tended to leave a rougher edge.

06-24-2009, 11:48 AM	#1
clarter Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 72 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Kindle DX	Homemade Kindle DX Cover So I got my DX just a few days after it came out and was looking for a cover. Every one of them looks like an executive portfolio cover. Not one has any real style (Unless you count Executive Portfolio as a style). So I decided to make my own. Also see the attached photos. Looking around I found an old Dungeons and Dragons manual (Yeah I'm one of those guys) begging to to be cut up and re-purposed. The size was perfect so I ripped out the pages to get the book boards from it. I re-covered the boards with a handmade mulberry paper from a scrapbook store, and used a fabric ribbon to make the spine. The interior is made from black craft foam. I lined the front and back covers with thin pieces of craft foam. For the surrounding body I used two thicker pieces (each about 1/4 inch thick) and glued them together. Then when dry I cut it to fit the Kindle DX with a craft knife. Then glued that to the craft foam on the back cover. Once that was dry I cut it down to allow access to the USB/Charging port and the headphone jack and power switch. This has made a very sturdy cover that is also very light weight. The foam holds it securely, and provides protection. Plus I get the "book" experience when I use it instead of feeling like I'm carrying around a presentation I'm about to show to a CEO. Attached Thumbnails

06-26-2009, 06:12 AM	#11
lovestoreadalot Connoisseur Posts: 92 Karma: 32 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: none	***** Last edited by lovestoreadalot; 09-12-2010 at 06:49 PM.

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06-24-2009, 12:07 PM	#2
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Welcome to MobileRead, clarter. Well done on your cover. Enjoy the forums.......

06-24-2009, 12:25 PM	#3
301verbs Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 12 Join Date: May 2009 Device: none yet	That's pretty interesting. Is the foam on the bottom edge strong enough to hold the Kindle up by itself, or is there also something else supporting it?

06-24-2009, 12:42 PM	#4
clarter Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 72 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Kindle DX	The foam itself is enough. It's cut to the curved edges of the DX so the corners, where it's just slightly thicker due to the curve, supports it quite well, and sends some of the support into the sides a bit. The foam does flex just a bit on the bottom (maybe 1/16 inch) but the glue that I used is specifically designed for craft foam (Craft foam glue from Beacon) and holds very well, it hasn't separated at all and is quite firm. The other edges I have not seen any flexing at all.

06-24-2009, 06:48 PM	#5
kevindorsey Evangelist Posts: 488 Karma: 258 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: kindle	That's as good as some of the ones on the market.

06-24-2009, 07:35 PM	#6
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	Thats a nice cover

06-24-2009, 07:38 PM	#7
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	That's incredibly stylish. Also has the added benefit that people won't be inclined to steal it if they see it sitting on your desk!

06-29-2009, 10:45 PM	#12
catsittingstill Guru Posts: 643 Karma: 551634 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle 1.0.8, iPod Touch, Kindle Keyboard	Nice!

07-02-2009, 09:48 AM	#13
busy91 Connoisseur Posts: 79 Karma: 264 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NYC Device: Kindle 2, Nook Color	Very nice indeed, it looks sturdy.

07-07-2009, 06:02 PM	#14
freecia Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 378 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: CA Device: kindle 3 3g+wifi, kindle 2, kindle 1	Oh! This gives me all sorts of ideas as I'm looking for a cover that I can fold back without cracking the hinge areas. Plus spending a whole lot less than the retailers are charging would be nice... When cutting the foam, did you just lay the kindle out and trace, then cut? Or should I put the kindle 2/dx on the copier and make a cutout, then tape it to the foam for exact cutting?

07-09-2009, 09:55 AM	#15
clarter Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 72 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Kindle DX	I just traced around it with the craft knife. I didn't try to cut all the way through with it in place though. Once the foam was scored all the way around I removed the kindle then cut through. The craft foam seem to cut best using multiple shallow cuts. If I tried to cut too deep it tended to leave a rougher edge.

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