25 Creative Ideas for Customized Skins

Last year, we introduced our new "Create Your Own Skin" tool. It's something customers had been requesting for some time, and we were happy to oblige. You probably have seen skins and cases around with photos of people's kids or dogs or favorite foods - well, this is how they do that. But family photos are not the only images you can use to wrap your devices. Here are 25 creative ideas for images you can use to create a truly unique skin for your phone, laptop, tablet, or vaporizer.

For Parents

1. Your kid's artwork

[caption id="attachment_629" align="alignright" width="300"] Love the happy family your 5-year-old drew? Turn it into a skin![/caption] You know those nifty drawings you're always clipping to the fridge and then cherishing forever? Run one through a high-quality scanner or take a photo with that fancy new HD camera on your phone to create a file we can make into a skin.

2. Your kid's team or school logo(s)

Soccer mom or dad? Football family? Get digital files of your kid's club team or public school logo (make sure it is not trademarked first). If your kid plays more than on e sport or you have more than one kid, you can put several images into a collage maker like PicMonkey and show your spirit all day long.

3. Photo collage

Speaking of PicMonkey, why just have one photo of your family? Look through your Facebook page or iCloud photos and find some shots of the family in action. Then throw them into a collage maker (BeFunky even lets you add effects) and be reminded of the memories of that vacation to Maui and the visit with Grandma, instead of that time you spent 3 hours in a studio while a photographer talked to you like you were children.

For Entrepreneurs

[caption id="attachment_647" align="alignright" width="200"] Proud of your product? Display it on your device with a custom photo skin![/caption] 4. Company Logo A phone or laptop skin with a company logo can be a great little gift to welcome a new employee. You can also use customized company logo skins to distinguish company devices from personal ones. 5. Product images If you have a business that sells something beautiful, like jewelry or even custom furniture, use your professional proprietary photos to make the back of your laptop a display case that you can carry with you.

For Everyone

6. Fancy up your photos

Use online photo editors like fotor or pizap to give your photos some original pizzazz, add a a border, or make a meme to create your custom skin.

7. Quotes/ Motivational sayings

Use quote makers like or pixteller or recite.com to turn your favorite quote into a unique skin-able image.

8. Old Maps

The U.S. The Library of Congress has made many of its maps available as digital files. Though not all of the collections are in the public domain, if you like the look of old maps, you're likely to find something that we can use to make you a skin. Generally, works published before 1923 or created by U.S. Government offices are in the public domain and fair game. Cornell has produced a pretty helpful guide to copyright and public domain.

9. Public domain vintage photos

Google "public domain photos", or just go to a site like public domain archive, and find a photo that speaks to you.

10. Vintage drawings

There are several great sites for finding old photos and prints that are now in the public domain. Vintage Printable and the British Library's flickr page are some great places to score cool and unique images that are free to use. [caption id="attachment_631" align="aligncenter" width="411"] Vintage images in the public domain proivde millions of potential subjects for a totally unique skin.[/caption]

11. NASA photos

Into space? Check out the NASA image gallery. As a government agency, NASA generally does not copyright the images it produces, so as long as there are no astronauts or NASA logos in the photos, they can be used to personalize your gear.

12. Photograph interesting textures

Newer smartphones have awesome image resolution. Take advantage of the detail to photograph interesting textures (cobblestones, an interesting knit, the highlights in your girlfriend's hair) up close.

13. Nostalgic patterns

Love that old wallpaper in your grandma's kitchen or the weird tile pattern in the bathroom at your family home? Take a picture and bring it with you everywhere. It's like carrying a batch of fresh-baked cookies in your pocket, only without the calories!

14. Monogram

You've heard of monogrammed towels and luggage. Why not monogram your devices? You can use sites like flamingtext.com to easily generate a unique monogram in a downloadable file that you can send on over to us.

15. Band logo

Trying to make a name for your band? Why not get skins for your equipment that display your band's logo. You can even get a bunch of them for band members and fans.

16. Public transit map

Anyone who lives in the big city knows how helpful it is to have an easily accessible map of the public transportation system on hand. Instead of trying to access it online in the subway tunnel (good luck), why not send us the image and stick it on your phone or e-reader. That way it's always available when you need it. [caption id="attachment_646" align="aligncenter" width="775"] Get around on public transit? Why not put the rail map on the back of your tablet for easy access?[/caption]

17. Caricatures

Have a caricature artist (or someone you know) draw you or your loved one (or both together!) and get their permission to use the image for your device skin. Then scan it and send it to us to really personalize your devices (and make it easier for people to return them when you leave them lying around.

18. DIY showcase

Into arts and crafts? Get double the fun from your latest project by photographing it and turning into a skin.

19. Photograph nature

Everyone should have a favorite outdoor space. Why not carry your happy place with you? Just take some photoes next time you're there, choose the best one or make a collage from several, and send it on over.

20. Original Art

Are you a visual artist yourself? Send a digital image of one of your pieces and make your device a showcase. Or, better, yet, contact us to talk about large quantity orders - open up a whole new revenue stream and get your art out there!

Just for Fun

21. Screen shot trick

Make the back of your phone look like the front of your phone - take screen shot and send us the image and we'll make a custom skin out of it.

22. Face photo trick

Have a friend take a photo of the side of your face (with your ear) and adjust the image to scale. Then, the back of your phone will blend in to the side of your face. Like an invisibility cloak!

23. Escape artist

Instead of the photo of your kids sitting in a photo studio, get one of them trying to climb out of a device-shaped window or doorway, then crop it so your skin will make it look like tiny people are climbing out of your phone.

24. Paired skins

Use your favorite photo app or software to split a photo in half. Use one half for one skin and the other half for the other. This makes a cute couples gift for anniversaries, but can also be a cool effect for things that naturally come in pairs like game controllers.

25. Special events

Custom skins make great party favors. Get your bridesmaids personalized "Bridesmaid" and "Maid of Honor" skins - it will help your bridal party keep track of their phones while they're running around taking care of you and show you thought of them specially. Our skins remove easily and with no mess, so when the event is over, their phones can go back to normal.

However you choose to customize your device, make sure that the images you send fit the following qualifications:

• Maximum File Size: 10MB
• File Types Accepted: JPG, PDF, TIFF, PNG, AI, EPS
• Resolution of 300 dpi
• Minimum image size of 1200 x 1200

NO COPYRIGHTED IMAGES: We can't reproduce copyrighted material like logos, TV and film stills, or artwork that is not in the public domain (unless, of curse, you are the artist and give us permission). We understand the appeal, but it's just not legal. Other than that, go crazy! We can't wait to see what you come up with!