I wanted a pink laptop...(3 fat pix)

[roccstarr75]

Ok, so all the pink laptops were really weak.  I guess pink=toy in the minds of manufacturers.  So what's a pink lovin' gal to do?  Enter: Spraypaint.

I was going to take my laptops cover off, but I did not want to risk messing up my built-in web cam, so I just very crefully taped it off.

The I sprayed a coat of white KILZ.  After that I put about 4 coats of a super high-gloss tulip pink.  1 coat of micro-fine silver glitter spray, and about 5 coats of clear.

I buffed the shine off my original cover to help the paint stick better, and I lightly sanded each paint layer before applying the next, this helps a LOT.

I am thinking about applying some super sparkly Swarovski crystal rhinestones to make an "M" on the front (For "Michele"), but not sure yet.  Its been done for about 2 weeks, so its good and dry now, but I think I'll let it cure a little longer before doing the stones.

Please ignore the chihuahua ear poking out of the blanket.  HAHA! you can't ignore it now!!!


Here is a close-up:



And here is an extreme close-up:



This picture is terrible, but you can see the size of the glitter in it.

If you want better instructions, lemme know!  It was fun.  Its also pretty durable, this is the second one I've done and the 1st is over 3 years old.  It doesn't have a single chip and only minor scratches in the paint.


C + C + Q welcome!

[Loli-chan]

This is really, really cool. I'd never have thought spray paint could be so durable! I just got a new laptop, so I think I'll be stealing your idea.

[Persephone Hazard]

This is very cool all by itself, but CHIHUAHUA EAR! Awh! The doggy is all snuggled up warm and cosy under the covers! Awh! Cosy doggy! I want to see the whole chihuahua now [grin]

[crendon]

I also decorated my laptop, but I had NO idea you could use spraypaint! did it make the hinges sticky at all? it looks super cute

[roccstarr75]

Karma Chick - Go ahead, I'll make a better tute if you want one.

Persephone Hazard - Ok 1st off, I friggin LOVE your hair, I have red too, but I can't get it that vivid!!!  Also I used to have 3 chihuahua sisters: Persephone, Calliope, and Daphne.  (RIP)  But here's the pic of Miley.



You can see how those ears don't stay hidden very well LOL!

crendon - The hinges never got sprayed.  Some laptops might be different, but my hinges were beneath the taped off part.  Again, I'll make a real tute if ya'll want one.  It really does make it more personal.

[Persephone Hazard]

Persephone, Calliope, and Daphne - best sister pet names EVER :-) And Miley is totally adorable. Yeah, red hair dye fades like a bitch - here's a pic of me with it only just dyed, to show how much it faded even between then and my avatar - from orange to red in a week!



I should totally bling out my laptop. I have some stickers on it, but it needs way more [grin]

[alixianervosa]

I love it!  Any other tips/tricks/suggestions for people wanting to do this?

[roccstarr75]

alixianervosa - The best tip I can give you is wait for the tute! 

I am trying to put one together,  but it will be generic in some areas, because laptops vary in design.  I will try to have it done by the end of the week for ya'll.

If you don't want to wait, the best tips I can give are:
1.  DO NOT SKIP the step of sanding your surface!
2.  DO NOT be impatient.  Let each layer/coat dry for at LEAST an hour (but no more than 4) between coats.
3.  DO NOT SKIP the primer.  Also, if you are going to do a light color and you use a primer that is not white, make your 1st coat of paint white.  Otherwise you can put 15 coats of the color and it will never look right.
4.  DO unplug your laptop and remove the battery prior to working on it.
5.  Do any homework or things before you paint it, as you will need to leave it for closed and taped up for almost a whole day, maybe 2 depending on how long you wait between coats.  Once the final coat is on, you can remove the tape and open it up, but I would wait at least an hour before putting the battery back in and plugging it in.  After that, you can work on it on a table or somewhere where the paited side won't get touched.
6.  DO make sure you like the color you pick because there is no going back.

OK - Look out for the tute, I will try to put some pictures in for ya'll, but I don't know how many!

[alixianervosa]

Awesome!  Thank you so much.  I will probably wait for the tute...I didn't even know one was definitely coming...so yay for that!

Again, this looks great!

[K3lly]

I LOVE IT!!!
You did a great job, and the sparkles are great too!
I'm doing my craft 'room' in pink and black.... well mostly pink, with some black.... that would go great inside of it!!
I hate the desk top....