here are the DIY plans to make a NOTEBLOX on your own

leave a comment below if you're successful or if you have issues

my guess is that it will take you 2 hours and cost more than $20 but if you're a DIYer... this is all you need to know. we do have a patent pending with the United States Patent Office, but it applies to commercial products only. If you care to make a NOTEBLOX for yourself here is what you need to know...

MATERIALS LIST

magnets, tape, poster board, blank notebook, spray adhesive

MAGNETS

magnets are available online from K+J magnets. they have a great selection and you might find a whole new way to utilize the super strong neodynium magnets and come up with something else amazing

http://www.kjmagnetics.com

you'll need the following...

1/4" x 1" x 1/16" bar magnet (qty = 4) ( http://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=BX041-N52 )

1/4" x 1/2" x 1/16" bar magnet (qty = 8) ( http://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=B841 )

TAPE

duct tape or painters tape both work well. painters tape and duct tape work well together for different applications. get a roll of each. get the 2" painters tape. duct tape is now produced in lots of fun colors and patterns ( see. http://www.tapebrothers.com/ )

POSTER BOARD

craft supply stores have most of everything else you need (and "duck tape" too). choose a cover stock product that is approximately 1/16" thick, so that the magnets are integral with the covers.

BLANK NOTEBOOK

moleskine makes a pretty close match to the iPad its called the "XL" http://www.moleskineus.com/moleskine-soft-xl-squared.html

any notebook will do. you can get an appropriately sized "composition pad" at wal-mart for $2

PLANS...

cut poster board using the plans below as a reference, but the dimensions will have to be adjusted to match your paper pad.

1) cut your 2 pieces of poster board the same size as your blank notebook (front + back cover)

2) cut 1 skinny piece of poster board the same thickness as the width of your notebook (the spine)

3) take the front and back cover pieces that you just cut and remove the area where the magnets will seat (see diagram below) the opening will be 2" x 1/4" do this to both the front and back cover

4) trim the back cover by cutting the edge off this will create the necessary fold so that the ipad can tuck in.

5) lay everything out as illustrated below, leaving about 1/16" between all of the parts.

6) tape it all together, but just from 1 side.

7) flip it over so the tape is exposed in the area where the magnets will go.

8) get you ipad

9) place the magnets you bought and position them on the iPad. they will snap into their exact position on the edge of the iPad.

10 remove the magnets from the iPad one at a time and place them in the corresponding opening and position in the back cover, remembering to keep them facing the same direction. stick them to the tape.

11) flip the cover over and test the connection. if it doesn't lock in you need to reposition them.

12) once you've got the magnetic polarity and positions correct, put the magnets in the front cover, but flip them over. when the binding is closed the magnets will line up.

13) tape the whole thing together.

14) use the spray adhesive to mount the notebook to the front cover

15) done

( click images to enlarge, dimensions in millimeters )