CorkiPadSleeve.pdf(720x864) 199 KB
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Signing UpStep 1: Materials
Things you'll need:
a) Enough 1/8" rolled cork to make two 10" x 11" (approx.) rectangles. You can get this at most office supply stores. I've found not all rolled cork is the same. I prefer some I found at Staples. It uses slightly smaller particles of cork and is a little smoother than others I've seen.
b) Cotton fabric for backing the cork. Something like a bed sheet will do (enough to make a couple of 9" x 11" (approx.) rectangles. If you buy the fabric new, make sure to wash and iron it first to remove sizing. It'll stick better to the cork that way.
c) Fleece. Not too thick. Enough to make a 10" x 24" rectangle. Folded over it makes the inside pouch.
d) Template PDF (included with this instructable).
e) Fusible web. This is available at fabric stores. It's basically a thin sheet of hot-melt glue. With an iron, it's used to fuse the fabric backing to the cork to give the cork a little more strength. Get the heaviest variety of fusible web you can.
f) Iron, ironing board, and ironing cloth (anything to cover the fusible web when you're ironing it -- it'll really help save your iron from becoming a sticky mess).
g) Xacto knife (sharp blade) and a ruler/straight edge
h Wood glue and brush. Elmer's *wood* glue works fine.
i) Needle and thread (to sew the fleece into a pouch)
j) For gluing, a bunch of 1-1/4" wide Binder clips and about a dozen "hobby" sticks (I used sticks that were 1/4" wide and about as thick as popsicle sticks).
k) Sand paper for finishing. I used 180 grit for rough sanding and 400 wet/dry paper for finishing. The later leaves a very silky surface.
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Love this minimalist taste …
i also found that the fusible web I used may have been less than ideal. It was pretty thin and didn't stick too terrifically when I first applied it to the fabric and then to the cork. the other side I put all three layers together and ironed at once and it seemed to work pretty well.
Some glue managed to get on one of the popsicle sticks and it got stuck... It took a chunk out of the cork.
I think I'm going to decoupage some newsprint over the cork or something because it's imperfections really show
I have an idea about repairing the cork. I haven't tried this (i.e. you might want to test it first before using it on your case), but, it might work to crumble up some extra cork (quite small crumbs would probably work best). Then, you could add the crumbs to a small amount of wood glue (perhaps diluted just a smidge and not too much glue ... just enough to be a binder between pieces of cork). If you use this resulting paste to fill the gouges, it's possible that you could carefully sand it down and it might blend reasonably well.
Like I said, I haven't tried this, but it might be worth a go. And, if you do try it (or find another solution), let me know how it turns out.
The decoupage/newsprint not only covers any imperfections, but also adds a certain amount of rigidity to the whole thing.
BTW, what did you use as an adhesive for the newsprint? And, did you paint adhesive on both sides of the paper (as an adhesive between paper and cork and on the outside to seal it)?
People use it for all sorts of neat stuff like this map covered chair: http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.7629435.jpg
You put it down on a surface and then stick something on it, then apply more decoupage on top. In the end it comes out only slightly less flexible than the original and with a plastic-like coating.
But is it possible to be a minimalist and own an iPad??