DIY Laptop Skin

Hey there, I'm baaaack!

So I am leaving for university in two days. This is getting ridiculous.

In honor of this beloved back to school season, I've decided to show you how to make a laptop skin that costs barely anything and looks fly as heck. This would also work great for tablets, phones, or Transmutating Photon-Cloakers.

Here's what you'll need:

• A laptop, phone, or transmorgifier that needs some snazz
• Clear contact paper (If your device is black or a dark color, clear paper might not show up very well. You can use an opaque contact paper and draw directly on it, or try metallic or opaque markers.)
• A piece of paper larger than your device. (for my laptop, I needed ledger paper.)
• Sharpies in various colors- I would also suggest a fine-tip black sharpie for crisp lines.
• Ruler or magical Carpenter Square
• X-Acto knife or scissors
• A pencil
• An idea for a design you would like. Mine was sort of inspired by Mile Perry's graphic design work (see today's background!)

First, trace the outline of your device onto the paper:

*I know, I know, these pictures are super blurry. I had some exposure issues on my camera..

If your device has something you might need to work around, like a logo, mark where it is:

Next, draw a line 1/2" in on each side of the laptop's outline. If you want, round the corners on the new rectangle you have made:

For my 13" Macbook, the final rectangle is 12 1/4" by 8 1/2"

Now for the fun part! Use a pencil to draw any design you would like onto the paper:

All done!

Once you have a design you like, cut a piece of contact paper larger than the outline of the design:

Peel off the backing on the contact paper and stick it directly onto the design, making sure that the paper is free of lint or eraser guts and smoothing out any air bubbles:

Trace your design onto the contact paper with a marker. For the outlines I used a fine tip black sharpie. When I did this I was worried that the sharpie would rub off easily, but it actually stayed permanently as if it were drawn on regular paper!

Now you can go crazy adding color until you have a look you like:

Next, cut around the outline of the design, rounding the corners if you would like:

After you've cut it down to size, carefully peel the contact paper away and stick it onto the (clean!) surface of your device:

You can use a credit card to help squeegee out any air bubbles and, since this is contact paper, you can reposition it multiple times to get it lined up perfectly.

And you're done! 

Now your device will stand out in a sea of boring black, silver, and white! I've had this skin on my laptop for about three months now and it looks just the same as when I put it on, so it's pretty durable. 

This project is so versatile, I would love to see what you come up with! If you try it out, send me pictures and let me know how it goes!!

For more back to school projects, check out the five-part series I did last year.

Thanks for reading!

Saturday Top 10: TheFlyingOkapi School Supply List

Today we have a list of the required school supplies for TheFlyingOkapi class of 2014 (or whatever year you graduated or plan to graduate!)

Most of these things appear to be completely pointless, but they will be a big help in making this year not only bearable, but maybe even fun. So get some paper and a number 2 pencil and start taking notes!

My backpack is the Kelty "Tannen". I really like all of the fancy pockets it has. It easily fits everything I need!

Ipod and Panasonic RPHJE120R Earbuds

I have a 160 GB IPod Classic. It is so great! I never have to worry about not having enough memory, it's durable, and it's user friendly! Also, you don't have to be a technological genius to operate it.

My Ipod is definitely essential for making it thorough the school day. I like listening to it while I do work in math (it helps me concentrate) but not in Literature or Chemistry- It gets too distracting! I also listen to it while I'm walking to school. I usually listen to Stuff You Should Know on my way to class. It's a cool a podcast full of very interesting facts!

I love these Panasonic earbuds. I saw them ranked on CNET among a bunch of super expensive ones

(like $100-200!) And I figured I would give them a try, since they were only $6 on Amazon. I am not disappointed! They sound great and Maggie has had the same pair for over a year, so I think they'll last a while! I embroidery thread-ed them to keep them from tangling and to make them pretty!

Sketchbook

I find that during the school year, I'm not completely submerged in arts and creativity (instead of going out and sketching I have to calculate molar masses and such - blegh)
so it is important to keep a sketchbook around so I can jump on any chance to get some drawing in. This one is kind of boring (and slightly nibbled on by my dog) but it works!

Note-Always write your name and phone number on the inside cover of your sketchbook. If you lose it all the time like me, it really helps!



















Graphing Calculator

     This one is a little bit more like something you would actually find on a school supply list- but bear with me! It has been so helpful for me to have my own graphing calculator for my math and science classes. The school generally has enough for students to use in class, but it makes a difference when you can actually take it home to work on homework!
     I have a TI-84 Plus. It works well for me, but I know some of my friends like the Silver Edition better. I don't really know the difference. Mine is tricked out with a Lisa Frank kitten sticker, so...

"Everything Folder"

I've always found that it's really helpful to have a folder that you can throw random sheets in when you don't really know where to put them. It also means that you don't have to bring an entire binder home for an assignment. Just throw in the papers and notes you need and you know exactly where they are.























Colored Pens

Even if your teachers don't allow you to turn in work done in color, this is a great way to make your personal notes or work more interesting. It's just one of those things that brightens my day!

Homework/Life Planner

If you are anything like me, you have to write things down or you will automatically forget them. A planner is absolutely essential for me to keep my life together.
This one is just the basic, school-issued homework planner, but I decorated it with some scrap paper and a kitten sticker. (Have you noticed the kitten trend yet? I would highly recommend adding some kitten paraphernalia to your daily routine)





Write everything down! Homework, club meetings, test dates, deadlines, ideas for ice cream flavors, EVERYTHING! It will really help keep you organized an on the right track. I like to draw a circle next to each homework assignment and then check them off as they are completed. If I don't finish an assignment that night, I draw a little arrow in the circle, transferring it to the next day.

Kleenex

I think it's important to carry tissues around all the time, especially during cold season! Not only are they useful for blowing your nose and such, they are also essential for making paper flowers in government class during those long lectures about the legislative branch.

I found these cool skull patterned ones at the drugstore. Nobody will want to mess with you if you blow your nose with one of these babies.




















C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve

You might as well call this the magical goop of the heavens. It can be used for lips, cuticles, dry skin, or facial glitter adhesive. And it smells like roses. I have had this same tin of the stuff for 5 years, and I'm still not out. A little goes a long way! It's especially helpful in the winter months when your skin gets super dry. I take it skiing with me every weekend in the winter, hence the beaten up tin. You can find it at Bath and Body Works.

Water Bottle

Stay hydrated, people! It's important to drink lots of water during the day, and carrying a bottle around insures that you are getting enough water. If you aren't a huge water drinker, you can make flavored water with powdered flavorings, a splash of fruit juice, or some fresh berries.

As you can probably tell, I've had this bottle for a very long time. When it was brand-new, I made the mistake of taking it rock climbing and it hasn't been the same since. It leaks a little and I should probably get rid of it, but I'm attached! Would you be able to get rid of a bottle that looks like such a fighter- I mean just look at that inspiring message!













Lisa Frank Stickers

Does anyone else miss when you used to get a sticker on your paper for a job well done?
Now you can still give yourself a pat on the back with these amazing rainbow-glittery-kitten-unicorn-dolphin-holywood bear treasures. I found these on Amazon and they were a little pricey (like $15) but so worth it. I am so nostalgic about Lisa Frank stuff. It's like a visual representation of the inside of a little kid's brain, full of butterflies and clouds and completely saturated with happiness. I've been using these on my school supplies (as you may have noticed) and pretty much sticking them anywhere I can, including onto people that seem too grumpy. Just because we are forced to go to school and fill our heads with non-unicorn related knowledge doesn't mean we can't bring a little of it with us.

Bonus List Item: A Positive Attitude!
It sounds cheesy, but attitude really does make all the difference. Come into each day with the mindset that you are there to learn and make yourself into a well-rounded human being. Excessive stress is just that: excessive. Focus on what you can do to stay positive and remember, it gets better! (or so I've heard-and I believe it!)

Also-remember to be kind. Sometimes there's not enough kindness going around the school, so make a point to leave a little happiness behind wherever you go. Talk to a new student, help a someone in a younger grade, or smile at a stranger. It will make you happier too!

End of Summer Finals

Did you pass?

So that's it. It's all over!! NOOO!

Well, on to the next adventure!

Since my next adventure is tackling my senior year of high school, you may be seeing less of me here in the coming months. But don't fear! I will still be posting, I just can't make any promises about how frequently. Keep checking back and I promise there will be new stuff.

I sincerely hope every one of you had a marvelous summer, and for all of the students starting school again I wish you the best of luck.

Back to school DIYs Day 4: Moto Pants

So one of my favorite trends for this fall is motorcycle pants. I love the interesting details and how they automatically make a regular top and jeans look 10 times cooler. But guess what? They are very expensive!

I love this True Religion pair, but $250?? Goodness gracious, I could buy, like, 100 gem sweaters at the thrift store for that much!

After realizing that I probably won't own a pair of these True Religion pants, I set out to find the next best thing. Which in my case is always a DIY project! So here we are, with a tutorial for some rad (and wallet friendly) moto pants.

This project it a little more challenging, but nothing you can't handle!

First I did some googling to gain a little inspiration. The True Religion jeans are awesome, but it's kind of hard to see the moto details on them. So I found a few other photos to use for reference:

Materials

First off, you will need some jeans. Because of the way this project is done, the pants will end up considerably shorter (4 to 5 inches) than they originally were. To combat this, you can start with a pair that is way too long for you, or use two pairs of jeans. (Or of you would like them to be capri length, just use a pair of regular length jeans) I chose to use two pairs, because I found two identical pairs of almost-black skinny jeans at K-Mart for super cheap. You will also want to make sure they aren't super tight already, because they will get a bit tighter. A pair of jeans with some stretch will work best.

You will also need a sewing machine with a reamovable foot, sewing scissors, thread in a color of your choice, chalk, and a measuring tape 

Step 1: Marking & Measuring

Put on the jeans and mark out roughly where you want the seams on the pants to go

Take off the jeans and straighten any lines that are askew. The markings I first drew were curved, but I changed them to straight lines to make sewing later a lot easier.

Mine are set up so that there is one angled seam on the upper thigh and four seams straight across the leg, basically just like the example photos above. Feel free to diverge from this pattern to get other interesting designs!

Step 2: Cutting

Cut along your to marking (the angled one) on one leg of the pants.

Take the leg you cut off and lay it face down on the other leg, lining up the side seams and bottom hems of both pant legs.

Mark that line and cut along it. You should have a mirror image of the first leg, like this:

 Cut along the next line and repeat, using the same process, on the other leg:

Continue until you have cut along all of your marked lines. When you are finished, it should look like this:

I labeled each section with chalk so I wouldn't get any of them mixed up:

Note-If you are using two pairs of jeans, you will not use the 5L and 5R sections.

Step 3: Decorative Stitching *Optional*

If you want a horizontal stitching detail on any sections of your pants, now is the time to put it on.

Simply sew a series of horizontal straight stitches on the front sides of your chosen sections (I picked sections 1L, 1R, 3L and 3R), using the sewing machine foot as a guide to keep them straight. I decided on red stitching for contrast.

Step 4: Assemble!

Start by sewing the 1R and 1L sections (the angled pieces) onto the body of the pants.

This part is probably the most tricky because the pieces are angled, meaning there will be sharp corners in the seams.

Turn the 1L piece inside out and pin it onto the left leg of the pants, right sides together, like so:

Because this part is angled, it is easier to sew the pieces on one side at a time.

When you get one side sewn on, adjust your pinning if necessary and sew the other side. Be especially careful at the points where the two seams meet.

Repeat on the other leg.

When the sections are completely sewn on, turn the pants right sides out. It should look like this:

It's a bit awkward looking, but we will fix that with top stitching.

Step 5: Topstitch

The best way to do this it to topstitch each section as it is sewn on. 

Turn the pants inside out again and iron the seam allowance upward:

 Turn the pants right side out again and topstitch above the seam:

Repeat steps six and seven on sections 2L&R, 3L&R, and 4L&R:

Right sides together and pin:

Since the rest of the pieces are cut straight across, you can sew all the way around the leg in one shot.

Iron flat:

Topstitch:

It should look like this so far:

 Add sew and topstitch the next section:

And the next section:

this is what it should look like when you have attached pieces 1-4:

If you are working with long jeans or want to make capris, simply attach pieces 5L and 5R as you did with the other pieces.

If you are using two pairs of jeans, try on your pants as they are and see how much longer they need to be.

Use that measurement on your second pair of jeans, starting form the bottom hem:

I measured 15 inches at first, but I ended up only needing about 10 inches.

Make a mark at your measurement and cut straight across the pant leg.

Use the same method as you did when cutting the sections of your pants to ensure that the pieces are the same length:

Lay your new bottom piece against the leg of your new pants. The bottom piece will be much wider:

 Turnt the bottom piece inside out and mark how wide is should be to match up with the pants:

 Extend this marking down the leg, angling it so that it meets up with the seam at the bottom:

Repeat on the other bottom piece.

Sew along your marked line, making sure the piece is inside-out:

Cut off the excess and sew a zigzag stitch along the side seam to keep it secure:

Turn the bottom pieces right sides out. They should now line up with the rest of your pants:

Sew this piece on the same way as you did the rest of the pieces, iron and topstitch:

Because this last piece is so long and narrow, topstitching is a bit tricky. I cuffed the bottom of the leg and scrunched it onto the leg of the machine and worked VERY slowly.

And you are done!! Just wash out your chalk marks and you are ready to go!

So there you have it! A pair of moto jeans for less than $25. Vroom Vroom!

Side note-Would anyone like to see a tutorial for this super shredded sweater? let me know!

There are tons of variations on this project, like adding more sections or replacing some of the sections with stretchy faux leather or other stretchy fabric! Add more decorative stitching, embroidery, sequins, distressing (I can do a cool distressing tutorial of anyone's interested) , whatever you want!

And again, if anyone tries this project, I want to see!! Leave a comment below!