DIY Laptop Cover - Personalized Deoupage

One of my favorite crafty activities to is cover something in paper and glue-otherwise known as découpage. This DIY laptop cover was super easy to create and it's all about the découpage!

 de·cou·page - the art or technique of decorating something with cut-outs of paper, linoleum, plastic,or other flat material over which varnish or lacquer is applied.I’ve been searching for a cover for my laptop for well over a year, but couldn’t find anything I liked at the price I wanted to pay. A few weeks ago while browsing in Best Buy I came across a clear cover I liked. It was $50 which was still more than I wanted to pay, so it stayed in the store and I went on my way.That cover stayed in the back of my mind, until one day a few weeks ago I was at a Starbucks and I saw a woman with the same case in pink. Seeing it in action I got an idea for a craft project.I came home and searched Amazon and came across this clear case and instantly I knew, if I couldn’t find a case I liked, I’d make one! The best part, it was only $20.When it arrived I was momentarily disappointed because though the description said “crystal clear” it wasn’t. It was sort of foggy, I thought I’d have to return it, but a quick check proved that it would be suitable for my idea and I went about gathering the items I would need to craft a personalized lap top cover for my Mac.Supplies:

1. Lap top cover. I used this one from iPearl.
2. Mod Podge I like the matte version.
3. craft scissors I use these by Martha Stewart
4. flat paint brush – a good size for this is about 1 inch.
5. Paper, photos, post cards, what-ever you fancy, so long as it’s paper.
6. A printer if you'll be printing the images you use.

What I did…

I scoured the internet for phrases or little vintage photos I liked and printed them out. Then I gathered a few of my favorite Instagram pics and printed those out too. Add in some pretty scrapbook paper and pages from an old book and I had more than enough paper to cover my lap top sleeve.

I cut out or tore some of my pictures then got a lighter and burned the edges to further give it a vintage feel. I sort of had this image of an old foot locker with stamps from someone’s travels in my mind for inspiration-though it doesn’t really look like that.

Next I arranged the papers to get an idea of placement since I’d be working upside down I had to lift it up to see if I liked how the images meshed together.

Once I was ready, I laid out the paper on the table in front of me as close to my mock collage as possible.

Next, I slowly glued the papers overlapping them to create the collage. A little glue goes a long way -so it’s best to start out sparingly and add as you need. Please be sure to straighten out your papers to ensure there are no air bubbles otherwise your papers will be lumpy and that’s never a good look. Continue until you’re satisfied

Take your time around the rounded edges. I used my fingers to flatten it out and make it look even.

Then be sure to seal the outer layers -the ones on the inside of the cover with more Mod Podge.I suppose one could use any lap top cover they chose, if they decoupaged on the out-side, but for this project I wanted all of the crafting done from the inside.If you’ve never decoupaged before check out this tutorial. Here is a tutorial specifically for reverse collage -which is essentially what this project is. It’s also a good idea to practice on something first, to make sure you’ve gotten a feel for the technique, before you begin work on your cover. The good thing about this -if you’re not 100% satisfied with the end result, or you eventually get bored, you can soak your cover in a bit of acetone.

 SaveThese are the products I recommend for this project: In case you’re wondering what/why I chose the things I did. I’ll tell you.Comic book strip -For it’s melodrama and color. There are three references to my favorite book, Pride & Prejudice. Swans are probably my favorite bird, and it’s got some meaning to my first novel. Rhett Butler & Scarlet O’hara, because these two characters, are probably among the best ever written. That little mirror graphic with “Yes you’re the fairest of them all.” I love Snow White, and I think it’s a good thing to look in a mirror and like the person you see. A snowy owl, I also love owls-but the vintage kitschy home decorating type. This one is to pay Homage to J.K. Rowling. Unicorns to remind me of magic. Freckles…because I’ve got them. “Corner of awesome…” -because I am. “Tell you’re story” and “you’re a writer”-just because. Finally, my husband and I-because he is my very own, story book, Prince Charming, come to life, romantic novel, drives me crazy, love at first sight, leading man.