OK. I have to admit that even though I'm old-school with most things, I have ventured into the electronic-reader world — and like it.

My top reason is the convenience of it all. I have a library at my fingertips and can pick what book I want to read in the doctor's office while I wait. I really thought I would hate it, but I don't.

Accessorizing your e-reader can allow a little more expression than just the dull gray color of the device. Make a protective case out of a repurposed book cover with very few supplies and very little time. You can make your cover as classic or fun as you like for less than a few dollars.

The key to the success of this craft is finding the right-size book for your e-reader. I used a book that only had about 100 pages in it because my Kindle is one of the basic, smaller versions.

Removing the innards of the book allows a place for the e-reader to sit. It can be attached to the back side of the cover with a small piece of Velcro. One side of the hook-and-loop fastener gets attached to the cover, the other to the back of your e-reader. This will keep your e-reader from sliding around.

The cover's binding is created from a length of ribbon or contrasting fabric that has been cut and hemmed to be about 2 inches wide and long enough to fit along the binding and inside the cover.

Using felt to line the inside of the cover will help protect your e-reader and finish off the inside nicely. A little extra cushion never hurts. Keep the cover closed with a little ribbon looped around a flat-sided marble to complete your cover.

For this project, you will need a book cover (one that will fit your e-reader), fabric, complementary pieces of felt, matching or contrasting 2-inch grosgrain ribbon, a hot glue gun, spray adhesive, 1/4-inch ribbon, 1-inch piece of self-adhesive Velcro and one flat-sided marble.

Begin by removing the pages from your book. Place the book on top of the fabric and cut your fabric about 1 1/2 inches larger than the book cover on all sides. Cut two pieces of the felt to fit on the inside of the cover so that they are about 1/2 inch smaller than each side of the cover. Set these aside.

Apply a thin layer of spray adhesive to the outside of the book cover and place the fabric on it, smoothing out any bubbles or wrinkles that may form.

Turn the cover over and spray a thin layer of adhesive on the inside. Fold the fabric edges from the front to the inside of the cover, and press onto the adhesive. Make the corners pretty like wrapping a gift by folding the excess fabric diagonally.

Next, press one of the felt pieces to the inside front of the cover.

Trim a 6-inch piece of the 1/4-inch ribbon and use the hot glue to create a loop on the inside of the back cover, about half way up the side. Glue the ends of the ribbon close together so that the loop will be tight when secured around the marble.

Place the other piece of felt on the inside of the back cover. Depending how quickly you work, you may need to spray a little more adhesive on this area.

Use hot glue to secure the 2-inch ribbon around the binding on the outside and inside of the cover.

Hot glue the marble on the front of the cover so that the ribbon loop can fit around it. Finish off the project by attaching one side of the Velcro to the inside of the back cover, in the center, and the other piece on the middle of the back of your e-reader. Happy and fashionable reading!

cesbenshade@lnpnews.com