How to Decorate a Hard Shell Guitar Case

Guitar cases are a blank canvas for artistic expression.

Musicians are an artistic bunch and often like to decorate their instruments, while others feel like they spent too much money to try to paint or otherwise alter the beautiful finish. Guitar cases, on the other hand, are the perfect vehicle for expression as you can spray paint them or otherwise decorate them in many different ways. Both types of decoration are easy to accomplish and can help you recognize your case at a big show when there are many cases just laying around.

Things You'll Need

• Stencil
• Spray paint
• Stickers

Instructions

Painting

1. Decide how you would like to paint your guitar case. Hard shell cases are made of plastic or thin wood, but can be painted. Depending on the style of design, you will need to visit a craft store for more involved art or simply go to an all-purpose store for spray paint.

2. Create stencils for your guitar case. If you have a cool band logo or just want to have fun with the case, create stencils that you can use with the paint you purchase. Draw the design on the thick paper, and cut out the design using a razor knife or even a pair of scissors. Create your own stencil or find them online and print them out.

3. Spray paint your guitar case using the stencils or freehand. Buy as many colors as you like, but place something that you can throw away under the case to catch any overrun, and paint out in the open or in a ventilated area to prevent the fumes from bothering you. Allow the paint to dry before adding another coat or any stickers or other decorations.

Stickers

1. Choose a theme for the stickers you put on your case to decorate it. Even placing random stickers on a guitar case can be considered a theme. Some metal guitarists will choose stickers for the national or popular bands they like. Other people will only place stickers of their own band or other local bands they admire.

2. Purchase stickers online or at shows of various bands. Visit local mom and pop record stores for certain hard-to-find items and ask friends if they are in bands to give you their stickers. It is free advertising for them, so they should be willing to give you at least one.

3. Create stickers and have them printed if you are in a band for your use on the case and for advertising your band. Keep a few for yourself, but hand them out whenever possible.

4. Consider a theme when placing your stickers. Maybe one side can be big bands that have influenced you, and the other side can be for friends' bands and other local bands that you play with around town. Place the stickers on well, so that they do not fall off as your guitar case is often subject to the elements and a lot of movement.

References

• Free Stencils to Download: Making your own Re-Usable Stencils