Liz Landis

Pretty Pocket Tutorial

How to: Make your own Pretty Pocket 3DS case

This is a fun, easy project that anyone can do with a little patience and craftiness! Add a little 80-90's girly flair to your 3DS and bask in the nostalgia.

Before you get started:

Visit my Shapeways Store and decide which logo you want to purchase. 

These are your options:

a. The Pretty Pocket Decoration for 3DS

b. The Pretty Pocket Decoration for 3DSXL

c. The Pretty Pocket Logo Only

 

And here is how they all look on top of cases:

image_3.jpeg

a.  Full decoration on a 3DSXL

b. Full decoration on a 3DS

c. Just the logo on a 3DSXL

d. Just the logo on a 3DS

 

When buying from shapeways you can also decide what material you want it to be printed in. My suggestion for this project is the plain white strong and flexible because it is the cheapest and you’ll be painting over it anyway. It will probably take a couple of weeks for you order to be printed and shipped to you so you will definitely want to do this first!

 


Other Things you Will Need:

A Cheap Plastic 3DS or 3DSXL Case like the ones pictured above. I used this one and this one.

And also all of this stuff:

photo (2).JPG

 

a. Krylon Fusion spray paint in whatever color you want. I used watermelon.

b. A gloss finish. 

c. A craft paint for plastic, such as Martha Stuart Multi Surface in gold for the logo detail. If you are using the full decoration you should also get a secondary color for the ribbon. 

d. Detailing paint brushes

e. Adhesive felt circles. I got pink ones to match the paint job. This is optional, some cases fit too snuggly to use them. 

f. Plastic glue or epoxy. I used Gorilla Epoxy

g. Fine grit sandpaper.

You may also want:

-Painter’s tape or masking tape. If you are like me and bought the case with hinges, you probably don’t want to paint those, and putting tape on them will also help the case lay flat and not overlap itself.

-A face mask for when you spray paint

-A Cardboard box (for spraying in) 

-A ruler


Step 1: Sanding

-When your 3D print arrives look at it closely for any imperfections that you might want to sand away. Due to the nature of the 3D printing process no two prints are exactly the same, but luckily they are easy to polish up. 

-You will also want to lightly sand the plastic 3DS case you bought so that the spray paint adheres to it better. After doing so, thoroughly clean it and make sure there is no dust or fuzz left behind to get trapped under the paint. 


Step 2: Base Color

-You will need to do this step with both the plastic case you bought and the 3D print. It's easiest to do them at the same time. 

-Tape any areas that you don’t want to be painted, such as hinges.

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-Go outside with your cardboard box and place the object to be painted in it. 

Use these tips from the Krylon website:

  •  Shake your Krylon spray can vigorously for two minutes after the ball within the can begins to rattle
  •  Test your spray paint and painting technique on a piece of scrap material until you have achieved a satisfied result  Hold your Krylon spray can 6 to 8 inches away from project surface
  •  Spray project using several thin coats of spray paint instead of one thick coat
  • Begin and finish your spray pattern off the object, releasing the tip at the end of each pass
  • Use an even side-to-side motion
  • Overlap your spray pattern by about one-third with each pass
  • See more at: http://www.krylon.com/how-to/faqs/#sthash.djdfLNoK.dpuf

-It will take about an hour to dry. After which, you may want to apply another coat until it looks even and feels smooth. You may or may not choose to paint the inside of the DS case or the back of the 3D prints.

-This is the hardest part, but allow the cases to dry for 7 Days so that the paint is fully chip resistant. Trust me, this is a good idea, you don't want to ruin all your hard work up to this point! In the meantime you can finish working with your 3D prints. Since the prints are more porous and adhesion isn't really an issue, you don't have to wait the full 7 days to work with them.

Even the box is pretty now!

Even the box is pretty now!


Step 3: Details       

-Make sure your 3D print is completely dry and you are happy with the base coat.

-Grab your small detailing brush and your gold paint and carefully paint in the letters and boarder around the logo.

-If you bought the full decoration, carefully paint the bow in the color of your choice.

I mixed a blue and pink to make a sort of hot 80's purple.

I mixed a blue and pink to make a sort of hot 80's purple.

-Allow it to dry completely.


Step 4: Shine up the prints

-You may want to add a gloss finish to the 3D prints because even after painting they tend to feel a bit grainy. 

-Do this step outside in a box just like the base coat step and follow the directions on the Rustoleum can. 

 


Step 5: Adhering the logo

-After everything is dry and fully chip resistant, go ahead and adhere the logos!

-Get your adhesive ready as per the instructions on the package.

-Place your 3d print where you want it on your DS case, preferably in the center. Use a ruler to help!

-Once you know where you want it, it might help to make a small mark on the case.

-Apply your adhesive in that spot and stick the 3D print to it.

-Allow to dry completely. 


     Step 6: Finishing up

-Remove any tape from the cases.

-Optional: Stick on some felt circles to the inside of the case to prevent rubbing.

-If you didn't paint the inside of the case you might want to sand away any over spray that got in there as it feels a little grainy and might rub off on your 3DS.

-Put it on your 3DS!

-Bask in the cuteness of what you created!

-Optional: Send me a picture of the final product! I’d love to see it! lizlandestroyer@gmail.com

-If you have any questions or requests, let me know! Check out my accessory shop for prices and buying options. As of now, I do have one finished regular sized 3DS and One XL case available for purchase.

 

3ds xl with full decoration

3ds xl with full decoration

3ds xl with logo only

3ds xl with logo only

3ds with full decoration

3ds with full decoration

Thanks for reading, hope you had fun!