Super Easy, Super Cheap (under $3) DIY Kindle Cover…

There is much I can say about how I’m enjoying my Kindle… but that’s not the subject of this post. When not in my hand the Amazing Kindle resides in my favorite old messenger bag, a space it shares with my wallet, netbook, digital camera, digital recorder, Ipod and, on any given day, a random truck or boat part in transit to or from said truck or boat. It’s a simple fact of life that all things in my bag must all coexist and though there are separate compartments to prevent gadget scuffles, a bit of protection is good insurance. However, there were two things holding me back from buying one of those Kindle covers you see on Amazon: 1. I’m too cheap frugal, and 2. It just wouldn’t be me if I didn’t somehow come up with my own jury-rigged version, one more specific to my own use.

Simple, easy and cheap homemade kindle cover

As for that use, I dislike anything that bulks up some nice slim gadget — with the collection I carry ever bit of bulk adds up. And more important, all those lovely fancy covers attach in a way that, by all appearances, look as though it would obstruct me from holding the Kindle in my left hand and pressing the left side ‘next page’ button while cooking or holding a cup of tea/eating chips/whatever with my right hand. I came up with a solution using a rugged plastic 2 pocket folder I bought in Staples and some 3M Command strips.  Here it is – it’s simple, easy, sturdy, cheap and removable, and the whole thing cost less than $3.

Pretty, isn’t it? A bit too pretty, in fact, for my tastes but I’ll either live with it or cover it with bumper stickers. What you see here is one of those flexible plastic ’2-pocket’  folders you find in Staples. The next picture shows the remains of the original folder and the cover I cut from it. That wasn’t too difficult, I traced around the Kindle (adding in 1/2″, you can always trim it smaller once it’s around the Kindle) with a pencil and cut the folder with scissors. (For the Kindle 2, that’s roughly the size of a standard 8.5 x 11 paper folded in half.) Real tricky indeed.

It’s easy to make a Kindle cover!

So how did I manage to keep the Kindle within the cover? I considered Duct tape, but that can get a bit messy over time. I wanted something cleaner and more inclined to stay put… like those nifty little 3M ‘Command Strips’ that allow you to hang hooks on anything and then remove them. Four Command Strips tucked strategically between the Kindle back and the inside of the cover and Whala! (I know, voila!) we’re not going anywhere!

And here you are, a simple homemade Kindle cover!

And best of all, aside from being wonderfully sleek and exceptionally cheap while protecting my screen from scrapes and scuffs, is that the cover can be flipped completely around, as shown below, allowing me to read in the comfort of my left hand!

Your diy Kindle cover is good to go!

If you’re interested in something padded, you can check out my daughter’s fancier cover. She’s taken my idea a few steps further, and the results are beautiful. The Kindle case she designed involves a bit more work, but not much, it’s super pretty and fun to make.

For those of you trying to determine what I’m currently reading, it’s Donald Westlake’s ‘Get Real’, a book I highly recommend.  Westlake was a brilliant writer and one of my all-time favorite authors.

And if you’re looking for more cover ideas, my daughter has put together a few ebooks with her beautiful designs. Here’s a bit about them:
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Fun, Easy, (And Cheap) No-Sew Kindle Covers
For The Frugal Do-It-Yourselfer

by Evie Grundler

Would you like a beautiful new one-of-a-kind Kindle cover, but without spending lots of money, and without needing to sew? Then look no further! I’ve put together four super-cheap books that show, step-by-step, just how easily you can create your own stylish, one-of-kind covers, simply and inexpensively, using materials you already have and easy-to-find supplies. Make your covers as stylish, playful, elegant, or rugged as you’d like.

These covers are really quite simple and easy to create — all you need are the basic crafting skills you learned in kindergarten. Over 200 photos accompany detailed descriptions guiding you through every step of the process, and these covers can be as simple or complex as you’d like.

The possibilities are endless—your only limit is your imagination. And they aren’t just for Kindles — these customizable designs work for all models of e-Readers and tablets, so once you’ve made your own, you can create wonderful personalized and unique gifts for family and friends as well.

VOLUME 1 – THE SUPER-EASY COVERS, guides you through every step from start to finish to make A Super-Simple, Ultra-Cheap DIY Kindle Cover, A Duct Tape Kindle Cover, The Padded Placemat Cover, and The “Phone Book” Stealth Cover. Only $0.99

VOLUME 2 – THE SLIGHTLY MORE CHALLENGING (BUT STILL SUPER EASY) COVERS, guides you through every step from start to finish to make The Upcycled Hardcover, An Old Jeans Ipad (Or Other Device) Sleeve, A Durable Yet Elegant Fabric Cover, and A Stand-Up Cover. Only $0.99

VOLUME 3 – THE SILLY AND ADORABLE PLUSH KITTY-CAT COVERS guides you through every step from start to finish to make a Kindle cover like no other. And if you’re looking to give a younger Kindle reader a one-of-a-kind gift, what could be more amusing and unique than their own plush cover. Instructions show how you can add a strap, so it can be carried like a shoulder bag as well.

And finally, for only $1.99, you can get all the tutorials listed above in NINE DESIGNS – LIMITLESS VARIATIONS.