As useful as the iPad is for business applications and personal use, few would deny that one of its biggest appeals as a piece of consumer electronics is as a fashion statement. Apple has been successful pitching their products as symbols of a certain kind of high-tech lifestyle. While the sleek metallic gray finish we’ve all grown accustomed to is quite eye-catching, there might still be some out there who wish to accent their iPad with a personal touch. That’s were GelaSkins come in.

GelaSkins are removable adhesive covers that you can stick to your iPad. They don’t offer the full protection of a bona fide case, but they are made of a durable material that prevents scratches from everyday use. Utilizinge an advanced adhesive from 3M allows them to be applied and removed and reapplied several times without leaving any residue or unsightly bubbles.

While the protection element is definitely part of the GelaSkins equation, the real attraction is the ability to apply one of their stunning pieces of original artwork on your iPad. Their website features over one thousand pieces of art from international artists ranging from the banal to the brilliant to the just plain awesome. No matter your aesthetic inclinations, it’s a fair bet that there is something on GelaSkins that will catch your eye.

Even better, GelaSkins offers the ability to make your own custom print. You can use one of the existing designs and tweak it using their layout editor. If you are more technologically and artistically adept, you can create a new design from scratch. Draw your own design or use a picture of your pet or spouse; everything is fair game. Something simple and timeless is more likely to look good in this context, but it’s totally up the user and his or her tastes.

GelaSkins are not without their flaws, of course. Applying them can be something of a hassle, especially if you choose to use a print on the front of your iPad as well as the back. The adhesive makes it easy to reapply over and over again, but actually lining it up with the edges of the iPad is harder than it looks. Once you smooth out all the bubbles, you’ll often find that one corner or the other is askew. It’s a pain, but once you have it all smoothed and correctly-oriented, the result is really stunning.

GelaSkins for the iPad cost $29.99 each and can be purchased from the GelaSkins website. They come highly recommended.