DIY Cheap Laptop Skins

I made this after making lots of random stickers where I work. These have a nice coating of laminate over the top so they won't scratch the design and protect the laptop case. If you are worried about removal of the skin you can buy waterproof labels to reduce the mess left by them. However you need to use a laser printer for that. You can make these at home if you have a laminator. Otherwise you can easily go into a copy shop and get it laminated for around 1$.

Step 1 Materials

for this you are going to need the following: Avery or comparable labels (any size will work for best results use full page uncut), Hot laminating sheets 3 or 5 mil (I used 5), a good quality printer, a hot seal laminator, cutting utensils, a ruler and a graphic for your skin.

I changed mine last night because of the spelling error to the last one. I have a high resolution on Here that anyone can use if you do not have one or you just like resident evil like I do.

Comments

[retroguy]

That seems cool and all. But it's alot of work to make skins and honestly the material isn't that great. You can make your own custom skins cheap and put virtually any design you want on it. In fact I just made a skin for my arcade stick!

[jeoncs]

You're only other comments are suggesting to buy things in other people's instructables are you just trying to sell stuff?

[retroguy]

Ughh, no. I'm just saying. Just cause it's DIY doesn't mean that it's worth it. You can DIY and custom design a skin however lami sheets are expensive and rigid. I'm just being honest.

[jeoncs]

A color copy on label paper costs 2$ tops the laminate costs 1.50$ tops. 3mil or 5mil is not rigid especially since you're only using half so still trying to see your logic

[jeoncs]

1. its not a lot of work 2. The material after laminater doesn't wear like the cheap skins. 3. These are even cheaper 4.This is a DIY website for stuff to do yourself

[retroguy]

Oh, and the skins aren't cheap. There are some that are actually really good. Those were good.

[shad0w88]

afaik lamination is done on both sides.. so the backing will get covered up too, then how r we supposed to stick it??.. 

[jeoncs]

follow the steps and it will all make sense. It is on both sides but once you cut it down its not sealed on the edges then the back will peel off leaving the front with a coating of laminate

[sonyato]

cool, but it seems like such a hassle especially when you can get a custom laptop skin for $10 from here: http://sticviews.com/articles/custom-laptop-skins.aspx

[jeoncs]

It still ends up cheaper and main reason (and pretty much the reason for the whole site) is for a fun project to mess around with.

[Aichanrulez]

O3O SWEEEETTTT!!!! I love The Umbrella Corporation so this would complete my obsesion!! lol

[xenongamer]

what adhesive should be used?

[jeoncs]

The labels are the adhesive when you cut it the backing peels off and the laminate stays on the outside

[isign4u]

OH MY GOODNESS!!!! I totally understand how to do this now. I printed a skin for my laptop and just put double sided tape on it. No laminating b/c i didn't really want the skin THICK. but with labels.. OMG I can do this. I have a laminator and labels. Thank You so MUCH. Gale

[jeoncs]

hey post some pics when you get it done!

[bytehead]

I never though about laminating it. I'm about to do this myself, but laminating sounds good. Thanks for the tip!

[jeoncs]

I started working at a Staples and we carry in my store at least a sticky back laminate that might be worth checking out its only a few bucks

[bytehead]

I've already got some laminate from another project. Which I probably did buy from Staples. :)

[njdjs]

WOW neat idea now ya got me thinking, get some of the clear sticky plastic that you use for coating shelves, its got a sticky back. I could rearrange family pictures on the laptop and then put a coating of the sticky plastic. When I get bored with those pictures I take the whole thing off and put a new one on. Does that sound like it will work? I don't have printers to do it. So was thinking just get the photos.

[Juklop]

Holy crap, I have that same laptop. Doesn't have a battery though :( Awesome.

[Marble of Doom]

Wooh, Compaq!!!

[slimguy379]

do you or anybody have or know of a site or place to find cool laptop designs such as yours? much appreciated

[oblacone]

Decalgirl.com has great laptop skins but they can be a bit over done...

[jeoncs]

also costing 19.99$ which is why I made this instructable so you can get a personal one for about half that or less

[oblacone]

Yep its a great instructable but just that decalgirl has a few good designs

[jeoncs]

Thanks!

[oblacone]

BUt BUT BUT!!!!! Decalgirl has wrist things too :P for macbooks

[slimguy379]

as shown below, i had all my materials on hand so this project for me was free. again thanks and since my post, the sticker has stayed on there pretty damn well

[slimguy379]

took me 5 mins to make...thanks great idea

[lunchboxslayer27]

nice acer! :P

[Tobita]

GI Joe AAAAND transformers? my my, you are on a ROLL! all you need are the silverhawks, thundercats, conan, and the mysterious golden cities:P

[slimguy379]

thundercats, lol, check my other instructables

[Tobita]

I'm fourteen, and the only way i know those shows is because some of the tv in saudi sooooooooooooo late, i was watchin 80's and 90's tv shows from 1998-2003 :) but the channel went down :(

[slimguy379]

lucky, i cant find thundercats on anymore you have to buy the dvds

[Tobita]

I got all of season 1 of the thundercats last christmas :D!

[slimguy379]

i found the 1st few episodes on youtube , i downloaded them and burned them but AOL.comhas all the episode, but yet,.. no way to download them. again, your "lucky"

[Tobita]

You betchya! AOL won't work for me, they have my FAVORITE 80's cartoons and i can't watch it -_-' o well, and using flashgot, you can choose to download media, good luck with aol!

[marialoon]

Can these be removed and reapplied later on?

[jeoncs]

nah single use just any normal sticker

[jeoncs]

I bet if you searched for whatever you wanted as a high resolution desktop background it wouldn't work out bad. That said I make my own lol so I'm not sure of a site.