Removable Vintage Parisian Laptop Skin

 These days, most of my time is either spent in my garage working on projects, taking care of my family, or (sadly) on my laptop.  For just a moment, in the chaos, I take a second to remind myself of those things which are important to me and make me who I am.  Not to mention, most laptops are pretty dull looking, a little creativity couldn’t hurt. Buying a laptop skin is pretty costly.

A few months back I saw a creative post by Creative Carissa (now Creative Green Living). I loved the idea of having a decorative removable laptop skin I could personalize.   Since it is removable you can change it when you have a new theme such as a holiday or maybe just get tired of the old one. My plan was to make it a vintage Parisian Advertisement/postcard type arrangement, since I am into everything vintage Parisian now.  Today,  I am going to show you my tutorial of how I created my cover, but you can go to Creative Green Living and see a more in-depth tutorial from Carissa and how she did her version.

Carissa’s Creative Green Living’s Version of Removable Laptop Top Cover Tutorial

In the blogging world, we often use each other’s resources and inspiration. I went to my go to site for free high quality graphics, The Graphic Fairy.  I found most of my vintage  postcards and advertisements here.  I quickly downloaded them  and cut them out.

Vintage Clip Art – mostly from the Graphics Fairy Blog

Supplies I used:

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint – duck egg
White contact paper
Plain paper
Downloaded Color images (though Black and white would work just as well)
Scissors
Sand paper
3M photo light adhesive
Mod Podge Matte Finish
Small paint brush

I first cut a piece of white contact paper larger than the size of my laptop shape. Then I painted the white side with the chalk paint (it doesn’t matter which kind or if it is a home recipe chalk paint or not) I used Annie Sloan Duck Egg Chalk Paint that I had left over from past projects.  I used two coats to make sure it was completely covered.

Paint entire piece with chalk paint twice until covered.

Why did I use chalk paint? I tried spray paint and regular latex paint and both left the contact paper with a strange feel and it left creases and did not lay flat without wrinkles. The chalk paint applied easier, dried more quickly, and took the spray adhesive better.

Wait until completely dry.

At this point, you need to measure your laptop’s skin and account for any hinges or other design specific things that need to be considered when cutting out the contact paper. My laptop lid was really basic so I just traced it. In Green Creative Living’s tutorial she goes into how to account for those design issues. In any event, I then cut out my tracing on the contact paper.

Trace and cut out laptop contact paper cover.

Make sure the cut out cover fits the lid of the laptop.

Make sure the cut out cover fits the lid of the laptop. After that I tried to distress the painted contact paper to give it that vintage/shabby chic look. “Tried” is the optional word here.  Sanding was happening, chalk was flying but not much distressing was happening.  The lesson I learned is that contact paper doesn’t distress very well.

Using different types of sandpaper grit to distress

Apply photo spray adhesive to painted side of cover to help keep your arrangements in place until you apply the Mod Podge.

Finally, all vintage postcards, ads, and even a scrapbook paper Paris map are in place.  It is time  to separate the contact paper backing and attach it to the laptop lid.

Apply Mod Podge

This is the finished product and I love the results.

There you have it. A very inexpensive way you can make a skin for your laptop. You could apply the same idea to your kindle  and/or tablet as well.

My Personal Accent!

Angela

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Angela

Owner and Blogger at My Personal Accent

Thank you for reading my post, I am Angela, the owner of My Personal Accent, I am from the Portland, OR/SW Washington area. As a single mom with three beautiful daughters and an beautiful granddaughter, CiCi. This blog gives me an opportunity to do three things I enjoy most; involve my family (sometimes kicking and screaming), share my thrifty creative side and continue to be a life learner. I enjoy finding something unwanted for a deal (or free) and turning it into something new and useful. I invite you to learn and create something together.

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