Between phones, iPods, and computers, it often seems as though we are simply navigating our way through a seemingly hazardous tangle of cords and wires. It’s no surprise that we were thrilled when we came across the idea of a DIY docking station – and even MORE thrilled when we realized it involved some of our favorite things, books! Contain those unruly phone cords with your very own Book Phone Charger. Talk about a “novel” idea!
What You’ll Need:
Two hardcover books of your choice (make sure they’re books you don’t mind damaging)
Utility knife
Phone Charger (preferably an extra)
Scotch tape
Pencil
Ruler
What You’ll Do:
1) Pick which book you’re going to use as the holder for the charger. Take the end of the charger that you plug into your phone. On the upper corner on the spine-side of the book cover, trace around this end. Don’t place the slit right on the edge of the book, leave some space as your phone will be docked here. From the outside in, you will be pushing this end of the plug through the hole you cut out.
2) Using the utility knife (and caution!), cut out the slit you just traced. This might take some effort since you will be cutting through a hard book cover. Make sure the end of the charger fits through this hole (from the inside of the book cover, outward). This will be where you “dock” your phone or iPod.
3) Now, you’re going to cut out the compartment that the cord will be “hidden in.” Open your book to the first page. Mark a rectangle that takes up almost the whole page – leave a ½ inch margin on each side.
4) Using the utility knife (as well as caution AND patience), begin to cut out the rectangle you just marked through the pages. You may have to do this a section of pages at a time, since the knife will most likely not cut through all of the pages at once. Continue cutting until there is a hollow deep enough to fit the cord.
*In order to keep the pages in place, I used a few piece of tape on the inside of the compartment.
5) Now, closer to the corner diagonal to where you placed the hole for the plug, you need to cut a small strip through the pages. This will be where the other end of the plug exits the book. Measure a small strip roughly the size of the cord width and cut. *Again, I used some tape to keep the pages in place.
6) Now, place the phone-end of the charger through the hole you cut. Within the compartment, wind the cord so that the majority of it is within the book. Allow the remainder of the cord (that will go into the wall) to wind out through the strip you just cut.
7) Place the second book on top of the first. You can either glue it or simply place it. Plug the cord into the wall, dock your phone or iPod and – voilá! – a new docking station.
Necessary? Maybe not – but it’s a pleasant alternative to having cords run everywhere! Try out this easy DIY for yourself. Have any tips or advice of your own? Post a comment!
Staying organized is one of the most important things a college student can do. Papers, tests, meetings – as the semester moves along, things can really pick up. Make your to-do lists a little more fun with this easy and inexpensive DIY! With just a few materials, you’ll have a new dry erase To-Do list right on your desk.
What You’ll Do: 
2) Now, place the glass front in the frame (wipe off any smudges first!). After, place in the scrapbook paper – the way that you would with a photograph. Then, put the backing board in place.
3) I decided to add a some studs to the corners, just for extra decorations.
4) Now, using dry erase markers, you can keep an easy to-do list right on your desk! Just wipe off the writing anytime you need an update!
