Funky Pin Up girl christmas Suitcase♥See the process

Finished project

Funky pin up girl suitcase-

I had previously wrote  about my process in making a Halloween suitcase and have decided now to try to blog most of my creations. One of my reasons is that my sales on etsy.com are going up, I sold two suitcases last week , one which is a custom order. I have found that when I am posting to etsy.com I can only have a total of five pictures which is really not enough to show all the facets of the suitcase. Therefore,  I thought that if I posted each cases process, I could then direct those looking at my suitcases to the link of the post and they can see for themselves how it was created and view more pictures. 

I really like doing Christmas suitcases for they serve several uses. Primarily ,the hard shell  suitcases are durable and are a exceptional  alternative for storage to the flimsy plastic tubs we purchase from the local "World-mart" This is a green option , which is fun to create and will last the test of time.   

I keep the case out during Christmas , often I will store in it the home decor items that I have to remove to replace then with my holiday cheer. I set the case near the tree , it is the first treasure I place under the tree where it patiently waits the other packages for the festive season. 

After  the hectic Holidays I use my case to store my most treasured Christmas items, mostly my handmade stockings, linens and ornaments. I can place the suitcase under my bed , knowing where it is and clearly what it contains . 

STEP 1 : Find your suitcase

Choose your vintage suitcase, it can be dirty, scratched up, the inside does not need to be in good shape, however this case has a great inside. I choose red because I wanted to use the red elements of the case in my design. Later I will show how you can choose and recycle any color suitcase.

STEP 2: chose papers/fabrics/trims

Select your papers and think out your over all design. I was inspired by two vintage cardboard cutouts that I found at a thrift store for ten cents each. I wanted to make a funky, retro kitsch  Christmas and for me, nothing says funk better than good ol zebra print . I have used  zebra issue paper which  I love to use tissue , as it has a transparent element when mod poded on, is easy to work with  and for the most part is inexpensive.

In addition, I found some vintage Christmas cards and was inspired from an artist book that has vintage women with funny sayings .

I search for old catalogs which I have in my collection to pull images from

 STEP  3: Layout

layout your design . Get a feel  for what  look you are going for. View this like a base coat as other elements will be applied later. Once you are satisfied, remember the placement and begin to apply with Mod Podge. The heavy cardboard pieces required another artist glue to secure.  

I applied the tissue paper first, it is important to keep in your minds eye what the design was in your layout, take a photo that you can go back to , to refresh your memory. sometimes it may be necessary to make markings of your placements.

never forget any side of your suitcase

STEP 4: Mod podge all sides
After the one side has been completed, while it is drying I address the top of the suitcase, bringing in design elements from the front to insure that the overall look is cohesive.

  

Here is the other side of my suitcase atfer I have applied all the tissue paper, candy-cane vintage cardboard decoration, , images of women in  nightgowns/ slips from the WARD catalog, and other cutouts I found. I added the Santa hat (vintage sticker )  to the man. 

Don't forget the sides bring your design around the edges

STEP 5 : Paint

Choose your color platter of acrylic paints,I recommend acrylics especially when doing a vinyl case. Oils work nicely on leather and cardboard, but nothing beats acrylics on the hard shell suitcase. I prefer to use GOLDEN, They are the most vibrant color you can find. Remember when choosing your colors you want both highlights and low lights to bring the paper images into a seamless state. 

crimson , lime green ,cobalt  blue, yellow and opaque gold

I used a fair amount of Crimson red to brighten the entire red suitcase, I painted out scratches and other imperfections. The cobalt blue was used for shadows, green and yellows for highlights, on edges for example and the gold iridescence (fine) gave the suitcase a lovely shimmer.

Paint the edges of the papers you have applied

Believe that the application of paints is one of the most important steps to a beautiful finished recycled work of art. I blend or scruff in all the edges of the papers. As you can see in this close up I matched the edge of the image with the paint and brought it around the evergreen leaf with is placed in a frame like fashion. I love this step it is relaxing and one can really utilized their painting skills here if they would like. You can extend the image, paint new pictures if you like, be creative! have fun .

Step 6: Apply glitter .

I mix my glitters like paint, using Martha Stewart's fine glitter line and mod podge as the fixative or base, take your time when misting being careful to get the right consistency, remember you can add water to water based mod podge to thin it our.

Mixing  glitters to give depth, use them like paints!

Step 7: Apply the varnish 

Use several layers of thin coats of water based varnish to get the durability you need. By adding this to the case it will be easy to clean with a damp cloth. I put varnish on before I add my trim. Sometimes if I use a thin lace I will varnish over it , you need to decide how you want the overall look to be achieved. there are many varnishes available to chose from and I have used them all, including oil based.  (love oil but you must be very careful with application as if it is done improperly it will yellow...yuck!, however it can be a nice look on Halloween suitcases! ) Find the varnish that works best for you and is in your budget.

Step 8: Apply the Trim

Vintage Trims are especially nice to use on the recycled suitcase project. Keep your eye out at thrift stores, garage sales , grandmas attic , where ever you can for they are precious and give a look that you can not find with traditional store bought trims.

Step 9: Finish the inside

The inside of the case, especially for Christmas if you wish to store ornaments is important. I like to line mine with fabirc, in the past I have added cotton batting to give the case extra softness. I used a rather heavy faux fur zebra print fabric to line this case with. I love how it really ties the entire case together. You can simply use a glue gun for this process. Be sure however that you use the hottest variety, but be careful it burns! Turn the edges over while gluing in the fabric. I added a touch of feathers and a tiny sequin beaded Christmas package to finish it off.

 In this lovely vintage 1960s hard shell case it had the flap to divide the case, which was prefect. I lined both sides as you can see. Think about what you want to use your case for in regards for storage before you begin. I am able to really jam this case full with decorations, with the certainty  that they are safely protected. It is so charming to simply grab the case at the beginning of the season , pop it open and tackle another frantic yet rewarding Christmas season with something that you created for your loved ones. It becomes an heirloom that will be gladly accepted when you choice to gift it.

Painting a large fabirc couch making it GROOVY

ANIMAL SMELL ON YOUR FURNITURE? Paint it.

Taking an old couch that stunk of dog pee ( a reality for any pet owner, I'm just brave enough to state it) into a fun and funky outdoor couch! Yes paint gets rid of smell!

Last spring I took out of family couch and began a big project. Presently it sits outside(yes in the snow, the cats love it) waiting for spring again when I will finish it up. It weathered great all summer, repealing rain with its strong dose of the magic Gesso. I did not get to put the glitter and poly on , truthfully I got burnt out on it, but I will finish up this spring. Read below to see the process I used.

Allot of paint and gesso primer !
laying out the design

Fabric couch made plastic
This was one of the only pieces of furniture that my husband
and I have ever bought. Our home has been furnished with hand
me downs, inheritance or from the curb side clean up days that I so
often had cherished finding chairs that others threw away. I felt
compelled to add a dog into the equation, thinking rather
romantically that it made our home even happier. The girls
loved the idea. He, the dog, no longer with us, decided to claim
it as his own,which in his world , meant voiding that which
is meant for the sides of trees. Meant for anywhere in fact,
but on our new couch. I lost the battle, but so did he
(he went to the pound,let us hope he found a good home)
Our beautiful new couch was peeded on no matter what we did.
Late at night, while at the grocery store, with our backs turned, we
never saw him do it.
Indoor couch made into outdoor furniture
The couch smelled horrible. After getting rid of the dog, I
asked my husband to take the couch out onto our sunny
side outdoor deck. Our option was to throw it away. In the past,
when searching the streets for great findZ, I had found this charming
shaped chair that was ripped and covered in dog hair and it also stunk.
I thought I'm going to try to paint this, what can it hurt? After all it is fabric.
Just the other day while I told a friend that I was painting a couch,
he said"I didn't think you could do that." I said "Canvas is fabric,
so is the couch." Suddenly it made sense to him that of course
it could be done.

PAINT AND POLY eliminate pet smells!
Well, I dug in and painted that chair, I didn't use my good
paints and was hesitant and cautious at first,
but afterward, I was amazed at the transformation. The
smell was gone, the chair was made new. Up-cycled at its best.
In fact that chair is in my bedroom right now.
I covered the chair in poly and this is what I believe was the
ultimate order ELIMINATOR!
I told my husband that I was going
to try and paint the couch and see if it too could be saved,
otherwise we planned to take it to the dump. This thought did
not settle well with me.
Gesso, a must in this project.
This time I covered the entire couch in GESSO first.
This was a necessary step, albeit expensive.
This was a laborious task and not much fun at all. It
took nearly a full half gallon. White paint would not have
worked as well.
I purchased quarts of red,orange, yellow, black, light purple
and chartreuse from my local paint store. They were thin so
I let the sun bake on them and thickened them up a bit. The
beers I added for a bit of inspiration. I only paint on a nice
sunny day so I can get a bit of a tan,plus the paint drys faster.
I put the stereo up load with my favorite music, currently
TEEN DREAM. (you must check it out)

REQUIRES allot of paint and some beer
I am not finished. It is taking allot of paint and requires multiple coats.
I choose a very bright and hippie 1960s style. At my age I should be
ashamed, but ever since a young girl growing up during this colorful
and fantastic time, I have loved the colors and style of this periods
psychedelic art.
I plan to outline everything in black, apply highlights with my
finest paints, apply lots of glitter and at the
end but on multiple coats of polyurethane. The couch will become
like a plastic couch, it will have a fair amount of waterproof qualities,
and it will wash up easily.
I intend to keep it outside on the deck as an outdoor piece of
furniture. In the winter I will just cover it with a tarp. It will be
a wow conversation piece for our family. Already I receive
comments from the neighbors walking their dog. The children in
the neighbor hood think it is "really cool"
I am not finished yet, but I will let you know how my process is going.
So far I have about 30 hours into it. Difficult to believe. I thought I could get
it done in one day if I worked hard enough (and drank enough beer)
As with all art it takes time. But I am confident that this will pay off.
DAUGHTER helps as artist assistant .

My wonderful and very talented daughter Miranda has been
assisting me in this work. In fact she made the Happy face and
drew the peace birds. She helps in reapplying coats and filling
in large blocks of color.

It has been raining for days. I am anxious to get back to work.
At this time, I have all the color laid down. Now I get to do the
really fun work.

Learn how to take a vintage suitcase and transform it into a recycled Christmas storage case

Why make a Christmas suitcase? Several reasons:

S T O R A G E - R E C Y C L E - GIFT GIVING

These are the handiest of all my creations. Making a Christmas suitcase from an old useless suitcase into a storage unit for your most valuable ornaments, hand made stockings, linens is a must. The plastic containers sold in department stores do not last or hold up, they crack with time. These hard shell suitcases, such as the Samsonite, are nearly indestructible. I store my best ornaments , in them. I take them out and set them around the tree or fireplace while they are empty. I have sold them to mothers who have wrapped all their individual packages and placed them all in the suitcase and used it, as part of their gift and it replaces the bag.

This is a process that takes only 4-5 hours , any one can do it! For those of you who might be intimidated by complex design elements that I have used on my suitcases why not try this first? Instead of using papers , you can use fabric and just do a simple cover on front and back, apply glitter to the sides,a couple of die cut accents and trim out. Use a medium size hard shell suitcase any color. Step 1: pick out your fabrics. I used a precut Christmas quilting bundle , they were the prefect size. These fabrics had glitters incorporated in them. The color of your suitcase does not really matter, this is a good time to use one of the duller cases because you will be covering it entirely. STEP 2:First lay down the fabric, there is no need to iron it as you can smooth it out, I choose different but complimentary fabric for the front and back but you can use the same on both sides if you wish . Use Modpodge

STEP 3:I mixed up a THICK paste of glitters to apply to the sides.This is a quick fix and adds lots of Christmas sparkle!

STEP 4: Make any repairs in the inside with the ever faithful glue gun. In this case the inside side lining had come undone. I simply reapplied it with a extra hot glue stick and gun. STEP 5: Apply a matching fabric to the inside front bottom. I painted glitter on the sides, and added this cute clear die cut rain deer accent. (glue is drying)

STEP 6:Pick out your trim and apply to edges to finish off your look, I used a charming vintage green loop trim on the edges and added a new red green trim to the outside center.

STEP 7 : Now comes the funnest part, adding your embellishments. You can really add anything, rhinestones, plastics gems, sequin patches. For ease, I put die cut candy canes on the top and three cute Christmas trees on. Step 8: Once a thin coat of varnish is applied we are finished! I suggest even adding a varnish to fabric as it can be easily cleaned and will hold up much better. However you do not have to add varnish to fabric if you don't want to. This is a fairly simple process. Now you can store your Christmas stockings in this years to come Going to grandmas house for Christmas?, Take this case and be the hit of the party! STEP 9: yes sign your work and date it, you are an artist , this is YOUR CREATION, BE PROUD OF IT

Finished inside Buy this suitcase here