The Barbie Box: a camouflaged case/ boom box for your mp3 player

Step 4 Final touches

After you have installed all of the components into the case, the final step is to add padding. I chose to use pink soft packing foam, both on the inside cover and below the mp3 player. Once this is in place you can give your new case a test run. Hook up your headphones and give a listen, then flip it over to boom box mode. I found that with my case, it works best to turn the volume up high or all the way on boom box. Also, because the speakers draw more than headphones, I find that my battery life is only 4-5 hours as a boom box on full charge, but I still find this more convenient than separately powered speakers. As an added bonus, if you used plastic for your case, you can get the creepy possessed Barbie effect when the back light is on and you close the case in the dark. You now have a sturdy case for you mp3 player that can blast music into your retro headphones, out built in speakers, and does it all while looking like an old tape player.