How to Make a Removable Laptop Cover

Once upon a time, I was a supervisor in a customer service call center. To make it easier for supervisors to remain connected to the borg, er, their team, each of us had a laptop. The laptops were standard issue black bricks which could probably withstand being dropped off the roof of a building.

And they were all the same. **YAWN**

So I did what any self-respecting crafter would do - I made mine way cooler.

Because the laptop wasn't actually mine, I needed to make sure the cover could be removed in the event I needed to switch laptops or stopped working there. You can make your own laptop cover, too, for less than $2 (assuming you have Mod Podge on hand).

Supplies Needed:

• Laptop (this will work best if yours does not have a textured lid)
• Surface cleaner
• 1 roll white contact paper ($1 - from dollar store)
• Coordinating scrapbook paper (on hand or about $0.25 each sheet)
• Drinking glasses or other round object to use as a tracing guide
• Pencil 
• Scissors and/or exacto knife
• Mod Podge (I used matte finish, but use your fave finish)
• Brush or foam applicator to apply modpodge

Step 1: Clean the laptop

Clean your laptop to remove dirt, oil, etc and ensure that the contact paper will adhere well.

Step 2: Cut contact paper

Lay the contact paper over the laptop and trim to the right length and width. Be sure to leave enough extra to wrap over the edges. Remember that you can always trim away excess but you can't add more later.

Step 3: Fit contact paper to laptop

Use a small pair or scissors or an exacto knife to carefully cut notches as needed for any moving parts. My laptop had hinges on the back as well as an unlock slide on the front edge that needed to be cut around. Once the contact paper is nice and smooth on the back and wrapped around the edges, trim away any excess to make it pretty.

Step 4: Cut out paper

On the back of your pretty paper, trace circles in varying sizes using drinking glasses or other round objects from your home. Cut out your shapes and set aside.

Step 5: Arrange and Adhere

Play with your shapes until you find an arrangement that you like. Once you're happy, use your Mod Podge to glue your pieces down starting with the lowest layer and building up (new to the 'Podge? Check out my friend Amy's video tutorial here for how to use modpodge [although I don't use a brayer - sorry, Amy!])

Make sure you coat the whole thing at the end to seal all the edges and give it a uniform finish.

Step 6: Let dry and enjoy!

Let your laptop dry at least overnight to cure. When you're done you can enjoy working in style.

I'm sharing this with:

* Get your Craft on at: Today's Creative Blog*

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Easy Burlap Candle Holder (or vase)

I love decorating for fall. Pulling out the pumpkins, candles and leaves each year makes me so happy. If you're looking for some new decor but don't have the budget, you could do this project for FREE with things you have around your house. And if you don't happen to have everything, you can pick these supplies up at your local dollar store or thrift store.


Supplies Needed:

• Two glass cups or candle holders (one needs to be small enough to fit inside the other)
• Burlap scraps. Cut yours into strips if they aren't already.
• Candle - fake or otherwise

Three Super Easy Steps:

Step 1: Insert small cup

Step 2: Add burlap in the gap

Step 3: Add a candle

or add water and flowers:

That's it! Now sit back and be impressed with your frugal fall crafting self.

This project was featured on Thrifty 101

I'm also sharing this project with...

* AKA Designs: Fall Link Party * The Artsy Girl Connection: Pin-spirational Thursday * The Shabby Creek Cottage: Transformation Thursday * Thrifty 101: DIY Thrifty Thursday * Yesterday on Tuesday: Crafty Soiree * House of Hepworths  *

Make Cute Alphabet Magnets!

We love magnets as a learning tool in our house. My son got a great set of animal magnets for his first birthday and they've really helped him learn the names of lots of different kinds of animals. He's beginning his journey into the alphabet so I wanted to get some ABC magnets for him.

Problem: Many alphabet magnets are plastic and have tiny magnets that fit into that back and pop out and become choking hazards. Also, we just aren't fans of plastic.

Solution: Make your own!

There are a few different great ways you could do this (a quick search of "Alphabet Magnets" on Pinterest turns up lots of fun options). Instead of starting totally from scratch, I decided to get a head start with the alphabet magnets they have at the Dollar Tree (they have number magnets in the same style right now, too!). I like these because the magnet covers the full back of each letter and cannot detach. Jazzing them up with paint gave me the opportunity to use more colors and also make them with interesting with patterns.

If you have older kids, this would be a fun project to get them involved with...especially if you have tactile learners!

Here's How You Do It:

Gather your supplies. You will need: 2 packs of full back coverage alphabet magnets from Dollar Tree  (I got two so I could spell things with double letters) and an assortment of craft paint and paint brushes. You'll also want newspaper or something to cover your work space.

Prep the magnets. Cover your workspace in newspaper. The magnets can get a little banged up and dusty from their trip overseas. Make sure you wipe them down as you lay them out so that the paint has a nice clean surface to adhere to.

Choose your base colors and start painting! The set I bought came in four colors: red, yellow, green and blue. I tried to paint over similar colors (using blue magnets for the ones I wanted to paint purple or yellow magnets for the ones I painted orange, etc) to avoid weird show-through and not needing to use as many coats of paint. I also painted the sides instead of leaving them raw as they came.

Add some patterns once the base coats are dry. I used a mix of dots, lines, squiggles, hearts, glitter and more. Really the sky is the limit! If you want them to all be shiny at the end, you can top them off with a glossy acrylic sealer.

That's it! Once they're dry, throw them on the fridge and enjoy!

 

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I'm sharing my project with these great parties:

* Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog * Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Designs * Mad Skills Tutorial Party at Mad in Crafts * Time to Shine Party at A Diamond in the Stuff * A Pinteresting Link Party at Tutus and Tea Parties * Ta Da Tuesdays at Mommy by Day Crafter by Night * What We Wore and Made at Rae Gun Ramblings * Tute in Tuesday at Oops I Craft My Pants * The Inspiration Board from Homework * Pinsperational Thursday at The Artsy Connection * Shine on Friday at Happy Go Lucky * Feature Friday Linky Party at Blissful and Domestic *