Accessories for devices can be pretty cool, but also pricey. Here are three Do-It-Yourself (DIY) ideas you can try at home.
Homemade, Touchscreen Gloves
If you’re a smartphone owner, you know the hassle of dealing with the touchscreen during the winter. Trying to use your gloves to navigate around your smartphone is close to impossible without having to take off your gloves. However, gloves that are compatible with touchscreens are often on the pricey side, so why not try to make them yourself? You can turn any pair of gloves touchscreen friendly by sewing conductive thread into the fingertips. An easy Internet search will help you find an adequate amount of conductive thread for less than $10.
Custom Tablet Cover
Tablets, like iPads and Kindles, need a cover to protect them from accidental drops or crushing. Quality covers are expensive, so why not make something just as effective with a smaller price tag? By searching your local bookstore (or even Goodwill), you can find a book that’s the same height and width of your tablet. Once you purchase that book, which also needs to have a hard cover, you can cut out a tablet-sized rectangle in the pages. Once the pages are removed, use a paintbrush and apply glue to the pages to make sure they stay together. After the glue dries, your new cover is ready for use.
Gadget Screen Protector
Screen protectors are a necessity to keep your gadgets from getting scratches, scrapes and nicks. Unfortunately, manufactured screen protectors can cost over $10, which is expensive considering what you’re purchasing. Instead, head to your nearest fabric store and ask for their thinnest clear vinyl. A whole yard should only cost you a few bucks, and you can keep the extra for other gadgets your own. Once you have the vinyl, cut it to fit your device and cut out holes for the device’s buttons. After that, all you need to do is apply the film and use a credit card to push out any air bubble from under the plastic.
Want more ideas for DIY tech projects? Check out How Stuff Works.
