Is your skateboard plain and boring? You can change that. There are many ways to decorate your skateboard, which will give it some flair, in turn making it a real eye catcher.

One great way to decorate your skateboard is to cut an intricate pattern in the grip tape. This can be done easily with a sharp x-acto knife or other kraft knife. You can get creative and cut cool shapes in your grip tape.

I've seen some people carve their state's shape out of their grip tape. This is easy with a state that's not too complex, like Colorado or Wyoming, but may be a little more difficult when the states get more complex, like Texas or California.

If you have a deck with a graphic that's on the top layer of veneer, then it's easy to cut around that image through the grip tape. This is easier to do with a simple logo, if your logo isn't square, you're likely to have a difficult time with this idea.

If you don't feel like cutting holes in your grip, you can try decorating it with paint pens. One excellent thing about paint pens is that they're easy to use. They also tend to last much longer than other solutions.

The downside to paint pens is that they're quite expensive. If you aren't interested in cutting shapes into your grip, however, they may be your only option. Although paint pens are expensive, they allow you to do intricate things like lettering more easily.

Spray paint works well on grip tape, too. You can make some really neat stencils if you have the patience. Stencils are a wonderful art medium because they can be done quickly and on the cheap. If you do make a stencil, don't spray the deck down too much.

If you put too much spray paint on your grip tape, it will seep down into the deck. The spray paint is unlikely to dry if this happens, and will make your skateboard heavier, along with leaving a trail of spray paint wherever it touches. Be careful not to put too much spray paint on your deck.

If you're not feeling too artsy, and you don't have paint pens, a craft knife, or spray paint, you can resort to markers. Markers with a felt tip don't show up as nicely as a paint pen will, but can do the job in a pinch.

Felt tip pens are likely to rub off, as well. Most skateboard decorations come off after time, but regular markers come off much easier than something a little bit more permanent, like a paint pen or spray paint.

If you care about your skateboard art, you should put a protective coating over whatever art you've done. Some varnish or lacquer should do the trick. Anything with a clear coating will probably save your artwork for a little while.

So now that you know how to decorate your skateboard, you should go out and try it. Again, I recommend that you use permanent solutions, like cutting a hole in your grip tape, or using acrylic paint markers or spray paint to do your art with. These options will keep your skateboard decorated for years to come.