3 Simple Ways to
Share What You Make

With Instructables you can share what you make with the world — and tap into an ever-growing community of creative experts.

PhotosPhotos

Share one or more photos of a project, recipe, or whatever you've made, quickly and easily.

Step by StepStep-By-Step

Share your step-by-step photos with text instructions of what you made so others can do it too!

VideoVideo

Share your how-to video. You'll need your embed code from a video site such as YouTube.

Recycle a Book into an iPad Stealth Case

Recycle a Book into an iPad Stealth Case
Sometimes you don't want everyone to know you are carrying around your iPad.  No one will notice that you are carrying a book, especially if it is a 1970s ex-library copy of "New Zealand in Colour."  With a hobby knife, a paper clip, and a bit of patience, you will be able to recycle the very thing you are replacing into a case for its replacement.  That could have been said simpler but you get the idea.
 
Remove these adsRemove these ads by Signing Up
 

Step 1Find the right sized book

Find the right sized book
Take your iPad to a second-hand book shop or thrift store and find a book that  is the right size.  I found the best size was when you set the iPad on the pages of the book, there is about 20mm (3/4") to 25mm (1") all around it.  Too small is a problem because the paper won't be strong enough to hold the iPad in and too big is fine, if you like carrying alot of size and weight you don't need.  The perfect thickness is when the pages of the closed book are the same or slightly thicker than the iPad.  I also chose a book with lots of photos because the pages were thicker which meant stronger and less to cut.

On second thought, why not breath new life into that old Masters thesis as a personalized iPad case?  You're probably not going to read it again are you?
« Previous StepDownload PDFView All StepsNext Step »
65 comments
1-40 of 65next »
Sep 16, 2011. 6:35 AMddebets says:
For the iPad 2 you can add magnets to the bookcover, this will put the iPad in sleep, when you close the book. Same method as the smart cover :)
Mar 3, 2012. 12:07 AMgallo1993 says:
How so if you please
Mar 28, 2012. 4:01 PMbuilding king says:
All you would have to do is find where the magnets have to go and then cut and place them into the cover. It shouldn't be too hard.
Dec 13, 2011. 7:24 PMpeggyzoewong says:
Hi, I just re-discovered Instructables. I was browsing and saw this. Great to see up-cycled projects. I did something similar back in Sept 2010. Just wanna share with you. http://clothwithpegs.blogspot.com/2010/09/ipad-case-by-booked.html
Now that I am a user here also, I hope to be able to share some projects here too. ;)
Dec 14, 2011. 2:25 AMpeggyzoewong says:
I didn't sell these ... I'm still using it though. You sell yours?
Nov 24, 2011. 12:03 PMstartrees says:
I liked this it was pretty easy I didn't glue the pages or anything but it still worked out well. I added a "sidebar" or a little extra space for my smart cover, great instruct able thanks!
Jun 5, 2011. 12:43 PMflosco says:
Awesome! a New Zealand touch. Am a bit gutted about the book though. Will need to find my own copy to make all the paper things I was thinking of, with the retro tourist photos that are cut out. Love it!
Oct 23, 2011. 12:18 AMrug says:
its great to see new Zealanders on this site, i thought i was alone :(
Oct 23, 2011. 11:15 PMrug says:
i know, it was a really intense game, but we won in the end so yaaayyyy :D
Jun 5, 2011. 2:32 PMflosco says:
Ha, cool. I would.
Am in New Zealand so would be happy to pay ya for the postage. Hey, did you just have another Earthquake? A 5.5?
I'm not on Twitter. Are you on Facebook?
Oct 1, 2011. 8:22 PMcraztheking says:
started cutting up a book and realized my desktop dosent fit
XD haha
Sep 13, 2011. 6:21 PMducktape.mac says:
I like it!!! Giving new meaning to iBook!!
Sep 7, 2011. 12:25 AMinowits says:
Great Idea and make the things organic. Use reCycle and save nature
Sep 1, 2011. 9:08 AMFrozenIce says:
might do it with my ipod touch :) thx
Jun 4, 2011. 4:23 AMuberdum05 says:
Instead of an iPad, a bookPad...
Aug 5, 2011. 3:59 PMfinton says:
Or use a bigger book to hide your Notebook laptop running Windows Notepad on one side (i.e. Chapter One) and your iPad on the other (Chapter Two) and you'd have a "bookNotebookNotepadPad".

Actually... fitting one's tablet and smartphone into the same book might not be such a silly idea. Hidden in a boring book in the bookshelf, no thief would ever find them. I'll have to try it whenever I get both/either device (currently have laptop and iPAQ HW6965).
Jul 18, 2011. 9:39 AMTALKTALKER says:
I HAVE IPAD 2
Aug 5, 2011. 3:42 PMfinton says:
Dude, you also have your Caps Lock on. Unless you're warning us of danger, you don't need to "SHOUT"! Cheers.
Jul 27, 2011. 12:58 PMZachintosh says:
I'm sitting here reading this, and I respect you for cutting out all the pages with a knife. However, wouldn't it be a lot faster and easier if you use a Dremel rotary tool with a cutting disk on? That just makes a ton more sense to me.
Jul 18, 2011. 9:38 AMTALKTALKER says:
DOES ANYBODY HAVE INSTRUCTABLES FOR IPAD2
Jun 22, 2011. 12:28 PMNinzerbean says:
I used a picture book so the pages were kinda heavier than a regular book. I glued the cut pages together with PVA glue and had no wrinkles. I also did not have to use the dremel to smooth out the corners. Thanks ever so!
Jul 2, 2011. 8:41 PMX3R0X77 says:
Teacher : What are you doing?
Me : "Reading."
Jul 4, 2011. 9:03 AMwonderdog01 says:
Haha that's funny!
Jun 17, 2011. 2:54 PMcincymikeb says:
Love it ,did it
a few couple comments,
I used a glue stick to glue pages together individually just 3 sides say 1" wide along perimeter.
this made the pages a littl rippley but not bad . make sure you smooth them out . close book often so pages are lined up .
i cut with exacto knife then the drum sander which worked great .
2 problems
I made a small half circle cut out in the center by the binding with the drum sander to aid in removing the i pad .
this worked great but this area was not glued so when sanding it bulged this area making it thicker . should have possibly cut out with knife first or glued along binding .
also i ran out of glue sticks using white liquid (elmerrs ) seemed more ripply in that part .
Next project the magnet .
Jun 14, 2011. 5:44 PMstubbsonic says:
A few suggestions:

1. I don't know if the rounded corners to the opening are especially necessary-- but I guess they don't add too much difficulty.

2. To keep the pages stacked properly during cutting, perhaps a person could use some combination of ratchet claps and some metal with a straight edge.

3. A sharp blade will make short work of the cutting. The depth of the cut could be restricted either by inserting some barrier below the bottom page of the cut.

4. I suppose if a person wanted to keep their iPad plugged in while in the book, that would require some additional engineering to accommodate the plug-- (perhaps that was addressed already).
Jun 10, 2011. 9:31 AMtdrama says:
i'm going to make one for my iPod nano will probably find one of those small notebooks or a novel that is about 2 and 1/2 inches by 4 inches !

It will be awesome !!

Thnx a lot for this idea
Jun 5, 2011. 8:32 AMBOMB_CRAZY says:
nice! Im Going To Try This With My Ipod 4G
Jun 9, 2011. 10:15 AMZanaji says:
I have a nook color that needs something just like this :) Time to go book shopping.
Jun 5, 2011. 5:01 PMbryandhispup says:
My thoughts exactly for my Androd Phone!
Jun 5, 2011. 7:02 AMfrq says:
If you have a iPad 2, you can also insert a magnet in the cover, so it will turn off when the cover is closed. Just check for the right position puting the magnet over the iPad (it is 2 or 3 inches below the top right corner).
1-40 of 65next »

Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

All Steps Viewing
View all steps of an Instructable on the same page when you're a Pro Member.

Upgrade to Pro today!
42
Followers
17
Author:tewharau
In my free time, I like building and repairing almost anything especially with found or recycled materials.