How to Decorate Diaper Wipes Cases

If you are a new mom, or an expecting mom, I am sure you've seen all of those cute little diaper wipes cases with pictures of animals and popular cartoon characters. Many places even offer to customize your wipes case with your child's name or initials for an added cost. While these are very cute, they are often also very expensive. And they are quite easy to make at home if you know how.

There are a couple of different ways you can decorate your wipes cases. It just depends on what supplies you have and just how creative you want to be. There are several supplies that you will need.
These include:
Wipes case(s)
Small piece of sandpaper
Clear gloss (minwax has one that works well for this)
Small natural bristle or foam paint brush
Stickers and/or wallpaper, construction paper, and pictures
Scissors
Glue

These supplies are all very easy to find and can usually all be bought in a discount or department store. You can use any brand and size of wipes cases, but I usually use Huggies because there aren't any stickers to peel off first, and you can buy both the full size and travel size hard cases at Walmart. I like to make a matching pair when I do them.

The first way to decorate them that I will describe is the way that the one in picture is done. It is the easier way of the two because it's done with only stickers. You don't have to worry about cutting anything out.

To decorate a wipes case like this, simply pick your theme and gather appropriate stickers. We chose the Air Force theme for my son along with his name. Once you pick your theme, get creative with the layout of your stickers. I would highly recommend waiting until you are sure about the layout before removing the backing from any stickers. They are very hard to move without tearing or creating bubbles.

Once you have decided on your layout, go ahead and apply the stickers to your clean wipes case. Be very careful to avoid leaving any bubbles in the stickers. Bubbles will end up being rubbed off in a future step. This will leave your picture with something missing.

Now that you've got your stickers on your case, many people would quit. The problem with this is that stickers can peel and leave your case looking less that perfect. Also, baby might discover that he can pull off stickers and eat them. It's always best to go ahead and put a few protective coats of gloss over your case.

When you apply your clear gloss, you will need to do it somewhere that is very well ventilated. If you are currently pregnant you may also want to have someone else apply the clear coat. When I use the clear gloss I do it outside when its warm enough, or in the garage on cooler days. Where ever you decide to do it, make sure you have somewhere that you can leave your case out to dry for a few days.

Before you apply your first coat of gloss lightly sand your case. Do so very lightly so that you don't rub the picture off the stickers. While sanding, pay extra attention to the edges of the stickers to smooth them down for a more even surface. Gently remove all the dust and make sure your case is completely clean. Apply a thin coat of clear gloss using your foam or natural bristle brush. Allow it to dry for at least six or eight hours. Once it is dry, sand lightly again. Pay careful attention to not rub too much of the clear coat off, especially over the stickers.

Once you have sanded the case again, remove all the dust and apply another coat. Continue sanding and applying clear coat alternately until you have a smooth surface. It usually takes three to five coats to complete. Once you have your smooth surface, apply one last coat and let it stand for at least 24 hours. Once it is completely dry you are done.

To decorate a case using the other method, follow the same basic steps listed above. The only difference is you can get a little bit more creative at the beginning by cutting out your own shapes and designs. You can glue them on by themselves or in combination with some stickers. You are only limited by your own imagination.

I would recommend doing more than one wipes case at time since they do take so long to dry. I like to do them in sets. I do one travel size for the diaper bag and a full size for home. If you have several friends having babies, go ahead and do them all at once. It saves time and they make great gifts.