My hubby ordered two iPad 2 covers. I made fabric covers for the original iPad but he gave me the spare one to alter. I used Zendoodles (also known as Zentangleing (tm)

Step 1: Test Your Markers

I tested out a number of markers on the hidden hinge area to make sure they would not smear or bleed

Step 2: These Markers Work Very Well

The Sharpies are the best as the stroke marks show less. The Bic and the Uni markers give a deeper, richer black but the stroke marks are very visible!

Step 3: Copics Work Too!

Copic markers (and I am guessing ProMarkers, but I didn't test those so do so before using them!) work well too. That opens up a whole world of colouring possibilities!

Step 4: DO NOT USE THESE!

They smear. The Micron pens are lovely for paper but not on the iPad cover! The Sharpie pens for writing smear too. Note the package says "Won't Bleed through paper" but not that they write on anything like a real Sharpie.

Step 5: Practice on Paper First

You can choose to treat each strip as a different area, as I did, or try treating the whole cover as one continuous area.

Step 6: Things That Will Help

There are books that will give you pattern ideas. Plastic templates will help you draw crisp lines or patterns if you are a bit ham handed like me! There is no way to "erase" a mistake. Real zentanglers embrace that. I didn't want to mess it up so I was more cautious.

Step 7: Another Tip! Use a Transparency

If you want to test out a pattern, you can lay a transparency over the area and doodle on that. That way you can test out your pattern first to make sure you are going to like it. Not very zen, I know. Can you also see how I mask off each area as I work? That keeps the dividers between sections clean. I then outline around each division.

Step 8: See the Stroke Marks?

I hope you can see this. Note the difference in the matt black of the Sharpie and the glossy black of the Uni pen - and see the brush strokes. I'll have to live with it but you can decide before you begin if that will bother you. also note the tiny accents in the orange Sharpie.

Step 9: And Now for Something Completely Different

If you don't fancy all that doodling, you can also use rubber stamps and Staz-on ink. Other inks may smear. Staz-on will not! Again, mask each section to keep the dividers clean.