3 DIY Eco-Gadget Covers

Technology is like a genie let out of the bottle. It now shapes our culture, economy and society. For better or for worse, technology is here to stay.

Some worry that the Internet has changed everything – even our brains. Information overload, an affliction associated to our addiction to technology is surely a byproduct of our access to information 24/7.

Nicholas Carr summed up this experience in his book, The Shallows:

“Whether I’m online or not, my mind now expects to take in information the way the Net distributes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles. Once I was a scuba diver in the sea of words. Now I zip along the surface like a guy on a Jet Ski.”

Many argue that information overload is better than information poverty…and certainly better than being passively entertained by television.

Whatever the good vs. evil mix, technology continues to advance at record speed. For the sake of this article, let’s put the debate aside and figure out ways to protect those expensive technological wonder gadgets. Why? Technology is not getting put back in the bottle any time soon!

3 Eco-DIY Gadget Covers

1.Tablet Cover

The tablet computer, with all those fabulous apps are often brought into the kitchen for recipes, and popped into pocketbooks and briefcases for easy transporting. This tablet cover from My Poppet uses leftover felt scraps. The tutorial shows you how to make the felted patchwork for the outer part of the cover and instructions give the directions on how to measure and sew up a cover of your own.

2. Smart Phone Case

Juice boxes are wasteful. This is a simple DIY solution to keep them out of the landfills. This smart phone case provides the perfect reuse for a juice box. Here’s the tutorial on Flikr.

3. Laptop Sleeve

When I travel, I carry a laptop. It’s my traveling office companion. When my laptop died, I needed a cover for the new one. I wanted to make a sleeve that protected with eco-style. I made this simple, free and amazingly light laptop sleeve from an old sweater. Here’s a tutorial from my Econesting blog.

Photo Credits: My Poppet, Zedomax via Flickr, Econesting

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Danuta W.

12:55AM PST on Mar 9, 2012

Thank you for the information

March 9
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Sheila Swan L.

7:33PM PDT on Jul 26, 2011

There are a lot of things our grandmothers made out of about nothing. If you really want to make an incredible quilt save the outgrown cotton clothes you have (or even the kids tees shirts) and put the pieces together. It will be amazing.

July 26
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Michele W.

6:24AM PDT on Jul 10, 2011

Thank you

July 10
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Jamie W.

10:56PM PDT on Jun 25, 2011

What great ideas, never thought about making things like this.

June 25
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Elena A.

4:08AM PDT on Jun 25, 2011

It looks so nice :)

Sheri P.

11:58AM PDT on Jun 5, 2011

Cool! I especially like the phone cases made from juice boxes.

June 5
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Hugh M.

1:49AM PDT on Jun 4, 2011

they are so eco-crunchy!

June 4
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Ernie M.

6:32AM PDT on Jun 2, 2011

Great ideas, now twist then to suit your own needs and supplies.

June 2
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Gwendolyn K.

10:11PM PDT on Jun 1, 2011

thanks.

June 1
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Robyn L.

5:17PM PDT on Jun 1, 2011

Now I want to design an iPad case that also has a pocket for the phone. Hopefully I can use a hideous sweater I have that shrank a bit too much in the wash.
Hideous, but warm. I'd like to see it have a new life.
Thanks for the ideas, AND the tutorials.