A couple months ago I upgraded my iPhone to the 6s plus, and not only is it gigantic (which I LOVE), but the phone cases are pretty expensive and hard to find! I decided that instead of paying forty bucks for a phone case, I would DIY a bunch of CHEAP cases from Amazon and have options. After years of iPhone life the one thing I know for sure is that phone cases do not last forever. Even the fanciest ones I’ve owned have gotten worn out pretty quickly.
If you’re feeling these vibes and in the mood for some SIMPLE DIY, then this blog post is for you!
Step One: Find an inexpensive case (or three!) on Amazon or eBay. I used this case for my 6s Plus
. Any inexpensive, clear case will work.
Idea 1: Holographic Duck tape! Have you seen this stuff? I picked up this mini roll at the craft store and just used a couple strips of it to add a pattern to my case. SUPER easy, and removable too.
Idea 2: Googly eyes. I used a couple glue dots to adhere these eyes to my clear case. It’s kind of silly, I know, but I don’t know…I love it. Haha! Great for a kid’s phone too. I need to make one of these for my niece’s phone.
Side note—kids with phones these days! Am I right?
Idea 3: Sequins trapped inside. This is my personal favorite. I’ve been using my case like this since last week when I took these photos. It’s really cute and simple! And the sequins really do not move that much once they’re in there. I was worried they might try to slide out the camera hole, but it hasn’t been an issue.
So yeah, this is probably my favorite phone case in a while, and it was under 10 bucks to make!!
On a kind of related note, I’ve noticed that the kinds of D.I.Y. projects I am drawn to making lately are changing! I am in a place where I either want to do an epic home project (like a statement wall or some kind of huge customizing project) or something REALLY simple and quick like this. Where are YOU at with D.I.Y.?? I would be really interested to hear what projects (or recipes) you’ve made from ABM, if any!
Hope you guys are having an awesome morning! Our heads are still spinning from the A Color Story launch yesterday. Thank you SO MUCH for your support! 🙂 xx- Elsie
Credits//Author: Elsie Larson. Photography: Elsie Larson and Laura Gummerman. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess Actions.
53 Comments
These are cute! I am in the same boat with you, I either want to do an epic project like reupholstering & changing the shape of my couch or make a geometric clock in a few minutes. It’s funny how they can both bring a sense of accomplishment and practicality to our lives! It’s good to practice both big projects and small!
-Courtney
Alwaysrooney.com
You know, I just got a new phone myself and was looking everywhere for a case and yeah they’re a million dollars! And I wanted a clear one too because I finally got the rose gold Iphone and I wanted to see the pink. I considered making one (like this!!) but then ban.do came out with new cases with (wait for it) FLOATING SEQUINS.
If I had seen this first, I would have totally just made yours. Soooo long story short yours is fab and I wish I hadn’t bought my case (even though I am still really excited to get it. Ha!)
My favourite one has to be the case with the random sequins! They’re all simple yet effective ways to spice up clear cases 🙂
The second is perfect.
I really like the designs, and the goggly eyes are hilarious!
https://www.makeandmess.com/
Very cute! love those!
Selftimers Blog | Bloglovin’ | Instagram
They look so cute and so easy to make!
http://www.sprinkleofroses.co.uk
For Xmas, I made sequin & confettis gift wrap on the same principle but using it for a case is so nice !
A Color Story looks great, I’m much looking forward to be able to use it with Android. It’s a wonderful project, congratulations !
http://www.befrenchie.fr
$40 for a case is so expensive! I love the clear ones because they’re super inexpensive and so easy to customize. I love the sequins!
Monica – Mocha and Moccasins
I was just wondering about the backgrounds you’ve used in your photos. Are they just ‘cheat’ ones like how Emma used squares with tiles on? Dor do you change the background colour in photoshop? 🙂
My favourite is definitely the first one with the sequins! It’s so pretty and easy to do, I’m always looking for a new phone case but sometimes I find it really hard to find one I really want so this is a perfect idea!
I made the marble clay ring dishes! Well, I haven’t finished glazing/leafing them LOL so much for being Christmas presents… But they turned out so neat, I really need to get on that!
I am with you on my crafts, I really really enjoyed making the ring dishes and I am constantly tempted to rip up all my carpet or paint the wall in our living room. We kind of made a feature wall (dark teal, my fav) but it’s honestly too dark. But my boyfriend and I can’t agree on a solution so a year later and it still looks less than stellar. 🙁 Cant wait to see what you do with your walls!!
The sequins one is my favourite too! I’ve been trying to find a case for my new phone but can’t find anything perfect – maybe i need to get my DIY on too!
Steph – http://nourishmeclean.blogspot.com
so cute!
http://www.cherry-mag.com
One of the recipes I’ve been making over and over is Emma’s cranberry kale salad posted around Thanksgiving. I am a HUGE kale fan, and often try to sneak it in to recipes and convince everyone I know that kale is worth their love. I made that salad for Friendsgiving and it was a huge hit, so I made it again at Christmas and a week later my sister called asking for the recipe! Then when I got home from vacation I made it AGAIN to be my work lunches all week. I might be addicted.
This is such a great idea, I love the cute one with the eyes so much! I think I’m gonna try this…
I love the idea with the sequins, genius!
I made the fold over clutch last year and I love it a lot.
http://mädchenfürallesblog.de/en/foldover-clutch-reclaimed-denim-en/
The striped glitter case is SO cute!
Molly {Dreams in HD}
http://www.dreamsinhd.blogspot.com
I need to do this! I’m just getting into cutting vinyl with my silhouette and have a bunch of ideas for a phone case! Thank for giving me the nudge to make an Amazon order;) I haven’t crafted as much since the baby was born in October, especially with a 3 and 5 year old too but I’m slowly getting back into it. I tend to get in ruts and do the same sort of thing for a few weeks or so. Right now it’s all about the vinyl!
I haven’t tried any of your DIY’s yet, but I have a lot of them pinned and plan to do them! I have a little one at home, so my projects have to be quick and easy to do projects. This one is right up my alley – I’m a generation behind but am always looking for cute phone cases, so a DIY one makes total sense!
We’re on the same page with projects. Anything little has to be simple and quick… Anything else lately is a bigger and more impactful house project. 🙂
I love the striped metallic case! It’s super cute!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
The googley eyes!! LOL. What a crazy fun idea. Probably not something I would do, but funny nonetheless! I really like the sequin one though. 🙂
http://www.xfallenmoon.com/
Loving the googly eyes. That’s the one for me 🙂 I just need to get my hand on some as I already have a clear cover.
Loving the sequined one! Great post, so creative!x
http://bayleybloom.blogspot.co.uk/
in a world of perfection and completely black deserves a little escapade, I love
Really like these ideas, especially when I have seen so many “floaty” glitter cases in the media having burned the user the last few weeks. Love your take on a sequin case!
P.S. I think you mean DUCT tape not DUCK tape! 😛 *quack*
Those are so cute! http://www.hannamarielei.com
I gravitate toward simpler DIY projects just because they’re easier to finish! I have lots of other epic projects going on in my life so when I DIY I want it to be easy and relaxing! Ha! I haven’t actually done any DIY projects from your blog but I use it as a source of daily inspiration! This is by far my favorite blog so thanks for being so awesome!
Oh, I have tried some recipes and this is one of my favorite cocktails now!
http://abeautifulmess.com/2015/06/my-favorite-homemade-cocktail-and-mocktail-too.html
We love the ramen soup recipe – it’s now on the permanent rotation of recipes in this house. Still working on getting the quantities right for here people including a teenage boy. Single recipe too small, double way too much! We will get there! Always tastes fantastic though
I love the sequin phone case!
To be honest I haven’t made any diys yet (thought I have a lot on my to do list). Just haven’t found the time yet, so I love seeing quick ones on your blog.
The third case looks lovely! I’ve actually made my phone case too! Love digs, so easy and affordable!
I’m glad you relate!
xx- Elsie
:)) Love Ban.do!
-Elsie
That sounds so cute!!
xx- Elsie
Oh yeah, these are just foam boards from the craft store! Almost all my walls are white. :))
xx- Elsie
Walls are so much fun!
I get it though, Jeremy HATES repainting more than anything. So I feel a lot of pressure to get it right the first time. But that doesn’t always happen!
xx- Elsie
YUM! I love that salad too!
xx- Elsie
YAY! I love that one too.
People like you are SO interesting to me, Kaelyn. Loyal readers who haven’t made any projects. It really makes want to think outside the box about content that would be useful to you. But also it’s fun to know that people enjoy reading ABOUT projects even if they don’t have time to don’t want to actually make them.
xx! Elsie
Awesome to hear!!
xx- Elsie
I love this idea, I love creating new things but for me its food not cute cases I create fun food with a twist! I will have to try making ones of these even thought I’m not crafty!
http://xoxobella.com
Love the sequins case!
Thanks for getting the song stuck in my head. (:
I’ve done sharpie mugs, marbled ring dishes out of clay (favorite project ever!), and the grilled cheese with apple recipe Emma posted maybe a couple of months ago.
What I love about your posts though is that while I don’t always make exactly a project you post, I love reading them and they usually inspire me to create other things. For example, these phone cases are super cute. I already have a case but the ideas have given me a slightly different idea to add some gold washi tape of some sort to make some stripes on my case that I have. I can’t wait to get the tape!
http://www.patagoniastoreonline.com
Love reading your blog. Have a nice week.
Honestly, I don’t really like were your DIY’s are going. The big DIY projects, like furniture, are most of the time cool to see but are way too specific and big to make. I mean, when I see a closet or table you made, I don’t really feel like making that exact same piece of furniture. These big home projects just don’t always fit each house.
And I’m always in for cool little DIY’s, but I don’t think you can really call this a DIY anymore (I mean it’s just: put the sequins in the cover you bought). And that’s the feeling I have on a lot of DIY projects lately. I sure think ‘I can do this’ but it’s nothing cool or creative really, so I usually don’t.
I don’t mean to insult you or anything, just letting you know what I think (:
I really hope you give the DIY’s a boost, because I still think that that’s what lies at the core of your blog.
I’ve been reading your blog for years now and the last months were just a little bit disappointing for me. I’m sorry for saying this.
Not a huge fan of phone cases, but then again I don’t own an Iphone 😛
I have made the ring dishes mentioned earlier too, together with a friend. I have also tried some recepies, the almond butter with figs was fantastic! So thank you! Then I like to look up and try some of the shops you feature.
Next project will be photorelated, covering my exchange semester in Paris!
These are all so cute! I especially love the sequin one 🙂
http://alicesjournal.com
My husband (at my request) and I have both made a bunch of DIY projects you guys shared! Your dining room table, the honeycomb shelves, and a hand-stamped wall are my favorites. Keep ’em coming! I’m always inspired. (Side note: I miss Josh’s projects! Maybe someday you’ll reunite for some new tutorials?) xox.
I’m so accident prone I HAVE to have those ugly, chunky cases. But, these are adorable and a girl can dream right? (;
Amazing! Love this idea!
These are so cute! I especially like the sequin one. Sophie xx
http://stylestarsandsparkle.com/
I love your blog, I had already add it to my bookmark. Thanks for helping me to know the wonderful ideals to customize phone case.
This is really cool and informative post! I have this Blue Sperm Whale Silicone Case looks really good as well! Can you make a post for an underwater theme phone case ? Thank you! Looking forward to it!