How to Dress Up an iPod for Halloween

Paint a jack-o-lantern on your iPod case.

Dressing up your iPod for Halloween is a creative way to boost the spirit of the holiday. Constructing a Halloween-themed case will both add Halloween allure to the device without ruining the surface via paint or stickers. Make your case from cardboard and cover it in a paper mache coating. Paper mache provides the case with stability and an ideal surface for acrylic paint. Shade the case in black and orange colors, with any Halloween-inspired images you wish.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2-by-2 1/2-inch shipping box cardboard pieces (3)
• 1/2-by-4 1/4-inch shipping box cardboard pieces (2)
• Permanent epoxy
• 2 1/2--by-4 1/4-inch shipping box cardboard piece
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup flour
• Pot
• Small bowl
• 1-by-3-inch newspaper strips (multiple)
• 1-by-3-inch paper towel strips (multiple)
• Acrylic paint
• Paint brush
• 1/2-inch Velcro squares (2)
• 1/2-inch-by-3 1/2-inch orange or black felt strip

Instructions

1. Place a 1/2-by-2 1/2-inch shipping box cardboard piece onto a work surface. Adjust the piece so one of its long edges faces you. Stand a 1/2-by-4 1/4-inch shipping box cardboard piece on one of its 1/2-inch ends. Bond the 1/2-inch end of the 4 1/4-inch piece into one right side edge of the 2 1/2-inch piece with permanent epoxy to form a letter "L" shape. Bond one of the 1/2-inch ends of a second 4 1/4-inch piece into the left edge end of the 2 1/2-inch piece. The three pieces now form a letter "U" shape.

2. Lay the letter "U" shape down on so the bottom of the "U" is facing you. Place a second 1/2-by-2 1/2-inch piece flat atop the "U" shape. Adjust the piece so its top edge is flush with the top corners of the "U." Bond the piece into place with permanent epoxy. The second -- and ultimately a third 1/2-by-2 1/2-inch piece -- will prevent the iPod from falling out from the front of the case.

3. Place a third 1/2-by-2 1/2-inch piece flat atop the "U" shape. Adjust the piece so its bottom edge is flush with the bottom edge of the "U." Bond the piece into place with permanent epoxy.

4. Flip the case over so the back side is facing up. Bond a 2 1/2-by-4 1/4-inch shipping box cardboard piece to the back side of the case frame with permanent epoxy. The body of the case is now complete. The case contains a narrow opening at the top to slide the iPod in and out and a large face opening to view the iPod screen and controls.

5. Boil 1-cup water and 1-cup flour in a pot for three minutes to make the paper mache mix. Allow five minutes for the mix to cool. Pour the mix into a small bowl.

6. Soak a 1-by-3-inch newspaper strip into the mix. Press the mix into the case. Continue until the entire case is covered with one layer of newspaper. Avoid covering the narrow opening at the top of the case or the opening in the face.

7. Soak a 1-by-3-inch paper towel strip into the mix. Press the mix into the case. Continue until the entire case is covered with one layer of paper towel. Avoid covering the narrow opening at the top of the case or the opening in the face. Allow three hours for the case to dry.

8. Coat the case with acrylic paint. Paint a jack-o-lantern or skeleton design, for example, along the sides and back of the iPod case. Allow two hours for the case to dry.

9. Bond one half of a 1/2-inch Velcro square to the short end of a 1/2-by-3 1/2-inch orange or black felt strip. Bond the second half of the same square to the upper outside edge of the case. Repeat this step for the opposite end of the felt strip and the opposite outside edge of the case. Secure the sheath to the top of the case when the iPod is inside. Remove it when you wish to slide the device from the case. The sheath helps prevent the iPod from falling out from the top side while it is in the case.

References

• DLTK Kids: How to Paper Mache
• Apple: iPod Classic -- Technical Specifications