You need:

• Book board*
• 2 sheets scrap paper
• 0.5 m (20 inches) cotton fabric** (approx 110 cm/44 inches wide)
• Waxed paper
• 1 m (40 inches) black elastic (3 mm/1/8 inch wide)
• Pencil, ruler and scissors
• Coin or small bottle cap (optional)
• Craft knife and fabric shears
• Yardstick
• Paintbrush
• Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) glue
• Weights (such as heavy books)
• Sharp darning needle

*Book board is heavy-duty cardboard, about 3 mm (1/8 inch) thick, available at art supply stores.
**Amounts are approximate. You might choose to use more than one fabric.

Take a closer look inside this fun and functional craft.

To make:
1. For Template A: With pencil, trace shape of e-reader onto scrap paper. If desired, align coin with top right and bottom right corners; trace to round corners. Cut out.

2. For Template B: Repeat Step 1. Use ruler to measure and mark line 1 cm (1/2 inch) outside traced outline on all four sides. Cut out.

3. For templates C and D: With ruler, measure length and depth of e-reader. With pencil and ruler, draw two rectangles: Template C rectangle measures length by depth; Template D measures length plus 2 cm (3/4 inch) by depth. Cut out.

4. Trace templates onto book board, making two each of templates A and B, and one each of templates C and D. Cut out.

5. Cut fabric in half; place, right side down, on work surface.

The inside cover:
6. Make inside cover: On one fabric half, leaving about 10 cm (4-inch) border of fabric at top, bottom and sides, and using yardstick to align, arrange book board pieces A and C from left to right, with 1 cm (1/2-inch) space between pieces, as follows: one A piece, rounded corners facing left; the C piece, short edge at bottom; and the second A piece, rounded corners facing right.

7. Using paintbrush and working quickly from left to right, apply thin layer of glue to wrong side of each piece of book board. Place glued side of book board onto wrong side of fabric, pressing firmly. Flip over and smooth out wrinkles, if necessary. Replace, right side down, on work surface.

8. Working quickly and starting with corners then proceeding to sides, brush thin layer of glue onto wrong side of fabric border. Fold glued fabric over book board and press firmly. Mitre corners if necessary for neatness.

To make the outside cover:
9. Make outside cover: Repeat steps 6 to 8 with remaining fabric and book board pieces B and D, leaving at least 10 cm (4 inches) border of fabric at top, bottom and sides, and 6 mm (1/4 inch) between pieces.

10. Layer glued covers between sheets of waxed paper on flat surface; cover with heavy weights. Let dry completely.

11. From elastic, cut four 10 cm (4-inch) lengths and one 25 cm (10-inch) length.

12. Place one short length of elastic diagonally across each corner of right panel of inside cover. Using darning needle, push two elastic ends through fabric approx 1-1/2 inches (4 cm) from top and bottom of inside edge. Place long elastic vertically along right edge. Affix all elastic ends to back of book board with dab of glue.

13. Apply glue to wrong side of inside cover and place atop wrong side of outside cover, aligning centre pieces and ensuring border is even. Layer between sheets of waxed paper; cover with weights. Let dry completely.

This story was originally titled "By Its Cover" in the September 2012 issue. Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue!