Hello beautiful friends! I’m back with a $5 yard sale suitcase makeover to share today! I just love these little vintage suitcases and pick them up when I find them.
This one started out like this:
It wasn’t until I got it home and took a closer look at it that I realized that one side was a bit bashed in…
That made that lock difficult to open and close.
So my first order of business on this makeover was to see if I could get that out, and I did that with this maul hammer. A few good whacks worked pretty well:
Clean
Next, I cleaned this suitcase with White Lightning:
I usually use that more on wood items, but this had a couple of stickers on it that left residue, and the White Lightning took care of that.
Remove the Innards
The interior was in great shape and I could have left it, but I like to add a coordinating fabric instead.
The insides came out really easily with a slight tug:
Paint
I was now ready for paint! I wasn’t sure where I was going exactly when I started and the green wasn’t letting my imagination do its thing, so when that happens, I often start with a simple white.
I painted this piece in a coat of Fluff, a vintage white from Dixie Belle:
And then some ideas started coming, so I gave it another coat and decided to keep it white…
Look at that blank canvas!
I did sand lightly to smooth and then distressed the hardware a bit.
Digging through my fabric stash is a great place to start because that often gives me ideas, and the fabric I found led me to the leftover pieces I had from this Overflowing Love transfer:
This one has lots of pieces that can be cut apart as well as one long piece that flows together:
I have used bits and pieces of this transfer on a few smaller makeovers, so I had random pieces left over.
And I found a few that were perfect for this case!
Seal
I love how wax does on these vinyl cases, so I sealed with Best Dang Wax in Clear, applying it with my Best Dang Brush:
And buffing it off with a clean, soft cloth.
$5 Yard Sale Suitcase Makeover Reveal
Here is how this cutie pie suitcase looks now:
I wouldn’t be loading this onto the belt at the airport anytime soon, but it’s super cute as a storage piece you can leave right out in the open!
And the other side is sweet too…
The Inside
Here is how the inside looks now:
I knew when I started digging through my fabric that this would be so fun on the inside. Would you believe it’s another shower curtain I found at the thrift store years ago:
(I recently upholstered a bench with a thrift store shower curtain HERE.)
You can see how I lined the interior and another cute suitcase makeover HERE!
It’s a fun surprise when you open this one up!
You can see here too that I added pieces from this transfer on the top also…
And I only distressed the latches and the handle a bit as those edges would likely start to wear naturally anyway.
I hope you enjoyed today’s suitcase makeover!
That was fun!
I’ve redone several more suitcases HERE, HERE, and HERE if you’d like to see more!
Another piece crossed off! I am loving this smaller haul!
See what you’ve missed so far below:
Shop News
I completely SOLD OUT of the transfer I used on last week’s decoupaged table makeover, but it’s available again HERE!
UPDATE: See how breezy this piece looks now HERE!
Have a fantastic week!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
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Mary Kaiser says
Oh it is adorable now!I love the transfer, so soft and pretty. The fabric for the inside was a perfect match! It looks like it would hold at of stuff for storage! It turned out amazing!
Christy says
Thank you so much, my sweet friend! I have been holding onto that fabric for ages and when I saw it in my stash, I knew it was the one! XOXO
Janice Redden says
Christy, a totally different subject, the Cerulean Blue transfer is shown on a beautiful dresser when you click on the image; do you know what color paints (the blue and the trim color are)…
Christy says
Hi Janice! It looks very similar to Bunker Hill Blue to me. Look at the night tables in that listing and see what you think: https://theserialdiyer.etsy.com/listing/706944443 XOXO
Cheryl B Acampora says
OH! I think I’m in love! I had the blue set of that luggage in my college years. The shower curtain just makes it so special. And, I keep my maul hammer handy to keep the old guy in line…LOL!
Christy says
Ha ha! Sometimes they need to be kept in line! ???? And funny that you had this set…I see this color the most often! Thank you, my friend! XOXO
Janice Holt says
Now how cute is this. Love everything about it; inside and outside. Have a great 4th of July and stay safe.
Christy says
Thank you, Janice! The girliest of pieces are the most fun for me! Have safe and happy fourth also! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
It turned out so sweet, Christy. You make it look so easy, I want to do one myself! But I know it’s much more than I want to take on, so I’ll just keep admiring your amazing work ????
Christy says
Aww thank you, Marcie! You know I appreciate that so much, and you could totally do this! XOXO
Denise Zdziennicki says
Stink’n adorable my friend. Love it! XOXO
Christy says
Thank you so much, my friend! And happy belated Canada Day!! XOXO
Caye says
It’s really cute! Perfect transfers too. I’m glad that you don’t always have a great idea of what to do with a piece until you start it. I’m the same way. Good job, as always!
Christy says
Thank you, Caye! I’m always happy when I can use up transfer leftovers! And yes…most of my projects evolve as they go lol! XOXO
Ellen Shook says
This one is too cute for words! Now I have a question for your expert input, please. I have a new set of luggage which is actually pale pink. I am going to France pretty soon to meet my first grandchild! I would love to doll up my new pink suitcases with some of the pretty transfers. They will not be painted first, obviously. Wondering if I were to apply the transfers and then seal them with the regular sealer first and THEN apply Gator Hide if it would have a better chance of staying on throughout my travels? What do you think? BTW, I used those pretty rose ones I got from you on the walls in my bathroom, and they look great. I did not seal them since they are on the wall. Any surface differential is pretty much undetectable when you run your hands over it, and it just looks like the roses are painted on. Plus I used two small clusters on two of the doors in the adjacent MBR (and they are somewhat textured), but they went on perfectly! Now I am looking for other things all over the house to stick transfers on. Hahaha! I might have become addicted.
Christy says
Thank you, Ellen! Transfers are SO fun to play with! I would be hesitant to add them to the exterior of a suitcase that will be handled by the airlines since they can be really rough on them. Enjoy your trip and that precious grandbaby! France is on my bucket list! XOXO
Charleen says
BEAUTIFUL!!!!!LOVE IT. Tasteful, not overdone. You have an eye for design. Happy 4th and take care.
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Charleen! These feminine pieces are always so fun to work on! Happy 4th to you as well! XOXO
Cheryl Atkinson says
Hi Christy! This would be a great storage for so many things. Barbie clothes for a little girl or journal goodies. Soany options and I love that shower curtain. So shabby chic.
Christy says
I LOVE it for Barbie clothes or doll clothes! Thanks, my friend! XOXO
Rose Lefebvre says
I would use it to store memorabilia-old photos, letters, etc. It looks cute!
Christy says
Ooh yes that would be a great purpose for it! Thank you, Rose! XOXO
Michele M. says
Christy, that is sooooo adorable now! Gracious it is a sweetie. Well done.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Michele!! XOXO
Cecilia says
I love how it turned out! Love roses so the transfer is perfect. How cute is the shower curtain lining?!? Love it.
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! I love all the girly things lol! XOXO
Cyndi says
That is SO cute! That interior is gorgeous! Good job!
Christy says
Thank you, Cyndi! I was so excited to have a use for that shower curtain fabric! XOXO
Addie says
Sooooo pretty!!!! LOVE the inside shabby. It would be great for a little girl to put doll clothes in…..do little girls still play with dolls?….I am a boy mom!!!
This makes me remember the days when it was common to see little girls being out and about and always carrying their “baby” with them!!! Sadly I never see that anymore. The redo is great!!!!
Christy says
Thank you, Addie!! I would have loved this for my doll clothes or Barbie clothes! I’m a boy mom too ha ha, so I have no idea! My niece loves her dolls still though! XOXO
Virginia says
Amazing suitcase redo!! So pretty!
You really have special skills. The colours you choose for each project, the fabrics. ????
Virginia
Christy says
I appreciate that so much, Virginia! Thank you!! XOXO
Cathy says
I have a set of that exact luggage! I got it for a high school graduation present in 1975. Love this.
Christy says
Oh I love that! The sure don’t make luggage like they used to! Thank you, Cathy! XOXO