How to Turn an Old Book Into Tablet Case

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Turn an Old Book Into Tablet Case

How to Turn an Old Book Into Tablet Case

Create a vintage tablet case that looks like a book! It will fool anyone who sees it, into thinking its a simple book. It may also trick potential thieves!

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Step 1 of 25
Take an old book and make sure it's a suitable size for the tablet you'll be using. In my case, I'm using a 12" tablet and found an old book lying around that had some pages missing.

Take an old book and make sure it's a suitable size for the tablet you'll be using. In my case, I'm using a 12" tablet and found an old book lying around that had some pages missing.

Step 2 of 25
Measure to verify the book is large enough for your tablet.

Measure to verify the book is large enough for your tablet.

Step 3 of 25
Trace the tablet's shape inside the book. Youll be cutting along this lines and removing the pages.

Trace the tablet's shape inside the book. Youll be cutting along this lines and removing the pages.

Step 4 of 25
Using a sharp knife, cut deeply and carefully through all the pages until you reach the bottom of the book. Remove the cut pages along the way.

Using a sharp knife, cut deeply and carefully through all the pages until you reach the bottom of the book. Remove the cut pages along the way.

Step 5 of 25
Check to see that the tablet fits snuggly. Cut grooves to have access to the power and volume buttons on your tablet once it's in the case.

Check to see that the tablet fits snuggly. Cut grooves to have access to the power and volume buttons on your tablet once it's in the case.

Step 6 of 25
Once all the paper has been removed, use paper glue and a paint brush to glue the pages together.

Once all the paper has been removed, use paper glue and a paint brush to glue the pages together.

Step 7 of 25
After trimming the excess paper and gluing the pages, take fabric and a glue glun and glue the fabric inside the box. This gives the tablet a soft area to lay on.

After trimming the excess paper and gluing the pages, take fabric and a glue glun and glue the fabric inside the box. This gives the tablet a soft area to lay on.

Step 8 of 25
Take your time and fit the fabric in nicely, smoothing the glue underneath to avoid bumps. Afterward, cut along the edges to remove the excess fabric that may be sticking out.

Take your time and fit the fabric in nicely, smoothing the glue underneath to avoid bumps. Afterward, cut along the edges to remove the excess fabric that may be sticking out.

Step 9 of 25
I like the vintage look so I banged up the edges a bit. This is optional.

I like the vintage look so I banged up the edges a bit. This is optional.

Step 10 of 25
Take leather and glue it to the binding of the book. This gives the case an older unique look.

Take leather and glue it to the binding of the book. This gives the case an older unique look.

Step 11 of 25
Cut out 4 triangles out of the leather scraps and glue them to the corners on the book - 2 on the front, and 2 on the back.

Cut out 4 triangles out of the leather scraps and glue them to the corners on the book - 2 on the front, and 2 on the back.

Step 12 of 25
I took a knife and scraped the leather a bit to add a warn out look. This is also optional.

I took a knife and scraped the leather a bit to add a warn out look. This is also optional.

Step 13 of 25
Now for the inside: after lining it with soft fabric, add leather trimming to the top and the bottom for a nice effect.

Now for the inside: after lining it with soft fabric, add leather trimming to the top and the bottom for a nice effect.

Step 14 of 25
Cut 2 large leather triangles and glue them to the bottom 2 corners of the book. This will hold your tablet from slipping out of the case.

Cut 2 large leather triangles and glue them to the bottom 2 corners of the book. This will hold your tablet from slipping out of the case.

Step 15 of 25
Fold in the leather flaps into the book and using a glue gun, glue them securely in place.

Fold in the leather flaps into the book and using a glue gun, glue them securely in place.

Step 16 of 25
The binding should be glued tightly.

The binding should be glued tightly.

Step 17 of 25
Step 18 of 25
Step 19 of 25
Step 20 of 25
Now that the case is complete, we must create an effective way to keep your tablet case closed when you're not using your tablet.

Now that the case is complete, we must create an effective way to keep your tablet case closed when you're not using your tablet.

Step 21 of 25
Cut out a rectangular shape out of leather. Double that piece and glue them together to form a solid strong piece of leather. You will use this as a strap to close the case.

Cut out a rectangular shape out of leather. Double that piece and glue them together to form a solid strong piece of leather. You will use this as a strap to close the case.

Step 22 of 25
Using glue gun, glue it to the back of the case. I scraped the leather strap to give it an aged look as well.

Using glue gun, glue it to the back of the case. I scraped the leather strap to give it an aged look as well.

Step 23 of 25
Add a magnetic clasp to the strap and to the top of the case. This can be found at any art store. I actually recycled it from an old bag of mine.

Add a magnetic clasp to the strap and to the top of the case. This can be found at any art store. I actually recycled it from an old bag of mine.

Step 24 of 25
Step 25 of 25
After you glue the strap and clasp, try it out! This is the finished result :D

After you glue the strap and clasp, try it out! This is the finished result :D

Start Over

37 Comments
Supplies

An Old Book

Glue Gun

White Paper Glue

A Sharp Knife

Leather Scraps

Soft Fabric Swatch

Renz Hernandez

This is awesome! Can't wait to make this one for my upcoming tablet :D

Renz Hernandez 2 months ago

Elsa Sveen

Awesome!!! I think I will try it with a smaller book for my iPhone

Elsa Sveen 3 months ago

Chelsea Meyer

I'm excited to try this for a valentines gift :)

Chelsea Meyer 4 months ago

Sara Hansen

This is so amazing :D i just need an iPad

Sara Hansen 4 months ago

Chanel Bravo

wonderful !

Chanel Bravo 4 months ago

Monique Herbert

Very smart

Monique Herbert 4 months ago

Nkosa Max

Now i have a project for my spare time.

Nkosa Max 4 months ago

Gina Day

That is brilliant. I might use this for my ipad. Thank you for sharing it!! :)

Gina Day 5 months ago

Raymond Morones

Would this work for an iPhone

Raymond Morones 5 months ago

Mohammad  Mohaghegh

So gonna try this

Mohammad Mohaghegh 5 months ago

Alec Trotta

Also, how long does this take to make

Alec Trotta 5 months ago

Alec Trotta

This looks amazing. I want to make this for my grandma fro christmas. It needs to fit her kindle fire hd. Her favorite book is gone with the wind so im going to find an old copy and use that. The only thing I am worried about it the clasp. Is that a specific need or if it goes without will it make a big difference

Alec Trotta 5 months ago

Leah Blachaniec

I am looking to get a new iPad case, and I recently discovered Domeo Products. I found their website, domeoproducts.com, and it looks like they have some great cases. I was wondering if you have heard of them, or what you think of them?

Leah Blachaniec 6 months ago

Sayjal Bhambra

AWSOME THANKS!๐Ÿ˜

Sayjal Bhambra 7 months ago

Jordan Arvin

I've heard of this new company starting up in November called Domeo products. They make these awesome iPad cases that are unlike any cases I have seen before. The website builds iPad cases that are great for home or office use. The case I am looking forward to the most is the one that raises up to your eye level. It would be so great for cooking in the kitchen or office use. Like I said, this company does not launch until November, but I would highly recommend checking them out! They are so awesome! Can't wait! Definitely check out domeoproducts.com.

Jordan Arvin 7 months ago

Megan Shepherdson

Love!

Megan Shepherdson 12 months ago

Sulaiman Abdul

Nice idea :)

Sulaiman Abdul last year

Stephanie Assouline

Ariel, yes you could definitely do that. I think I'll be making one for my iPhone. Same concept works for an iPod or Kindle

(author) last year

Aaron Loyd - Artist

I just made 1 4 my iphone 3Gs

Aaron Loyd - Artist last year

Megan L

Oh cool neat thanks a lot

Megan L last year

Ariel Evelyn

Yeah it was pretty funny. I was thinking, you could get a small book, like a bible or a children's book, and do the same for a kindle or IPhone, couldn't you?

Ariel Evelyn last year

Stephanie Assouline

Nice! :)

(author) last year

Ariel Evelyn

Done! We use IPad at school now and it was so convincing that my teacher told me off for bringing a textbook to class and not my iPad! Lol

Ariel Evelyn last year

Stephanie Assouline

Thank you!

(author) last year

Aaron Loyd - Artist

I love this idea! Your very creative!

Aaron Loyd - Artist last year

Stephanie Assouline

Mind you, I wouldn't mind making one like that :) i could make a guide to that if you'd like

(author) last year

Stephanie Assouline

Megan, you could use a small book instead of the large one I used. If you have a hardcover journal or something like that, you could use my guide and make one for your iPod.

(author) last year

Megan L

Any ideas on how I could make one for my iPod touch?

Megan L last year

Shahid Islam

Great job

Shahid Islam last year

Stephanie Assouline

Thank you all :)

(author) last year

Bill McCartney

Looks nice!

Bill McCartney last year

Kelly ๐Ÿ“ถ๐Ÿ‘€

What a great idea sweet๏ผ๏ผ

Kelly ๐Ÿ“ถ๐Ÿ‘€ last year

Helen Rowland

Wow

Helen Rowland last year

Megan L

Cool

Megan L last year

Daniel Raffel

This is awesome!

Daniel Raffel last year

Janeth Lopez

I LOVE this!!! I can't wait to try it out. Thank you so much for sharing.

Janeth Lopez last year

Kat K

Absolutely love this idea. Thank you for sharing it.

Kat K last year

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Tine Christensen

Good job ! :)

Tine Christensen last year

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Maybelyn Plecic

Very nice and creative way of reusing an old book. Awesome guide!

Maybelyn Plecic 5 months ago