Amazing friends, welcome!! I am always so thrilled when you stop by!
Today I’m back sharing what I did with the other vintage suitcase I scored on my last thrifting trip:
They were both a steal at $4 each. You can see what I did with the first suitcase HERE. I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
This one took a different direction…
I decided to keep it pretty simple…
Sometimes simple is good, right?
Before painting this suitcase, I gave it a quick coat of satin black spray paint using my small spray shelter:
This is so that when I sand a little here and there after painting, black will show through instead of the green.
I used my favorite white, Bit of Sugar by Behr made into DIY chalk paint (Recipe HERE) for the base. For the stripes I used Sunken Pool and an oops paint I recently found that is an exact match for Loft Space, both by Behr and made into DIY chalk paint.
I used FrogTape to add the stripes:
I just love this combination of colors!
My favorite though might be the inside:
Right?
I’ve used this fabric before to line drawers and decided it was a great fit for this pretty little number as well. I found it at Hobby Lobby.
Want to see how I did it? I decided to take pictures as I went this time instead of sending y’all to an old post. See how much I love you?
The first photo in this set of course is the before:
1. The first step is to remove the old lining. It is usually pretty easy, especially when compared to the insides of those dang flatware boxes! It might be hard to tell with these small photos, but the inside is actually cardboard. Can you believe that? How did this survive actual airline travel??
2. I decided to line the top and bottom with a layer of batting since my fabric is very light and I did not want to paint the insides. I hot glued it in place across the bottom and all around the bottom edge where the sides and bottom meet. This is NOT a required step.
3. Cut your fabric just a tiny bit larger than the bottom and hot glue that in place as well all around the bottom edge where the sides and bottom meet. I have this hot glue gun. It’s cordless and it’s awesome.
4. Cut fabric for the sides. I used my rotary cutter and straight edge set to cut fabric strips to line the sides. I cut them about an inch wider than the sides.
5. Fold the fabric strips on the top and bottom to fit the sides and iron in place.
6. Hot glue the ironed strips to the sides. There is usually a lip all around the top edge of the suitcase. Start attaching the fabric there, then hot glue it also at the bottom edge where the sides and bottom meet, I like to work in 6-8″ sections at a time.
And that’s it! I do recommend a darker fabric as it hides any imperfections.
I sealed the outside with Annie Sloan’s Clear Soft Wax and that was that.
I probably wouldn’t use this for travel, but it could hold so many different things.
I hope y’all enjoyed this pretty makeover today!
There isn’t much left here to make over…
If there’s any you missed, you can catch up here:
Drop Leaf Repurposed (Corbels)
How to Recover a Tufted Footstool (The Cheater’s Way!)
$30 Thrift Store Coffee Table Makeover
And if you liked this makeover, you’ll love what I did with this dresser:
See what I did with it HERE!
I’m going thrifting with my blogging bestie, Nancy from Artsy Chicks Rule today and I’m sure I’ll find a few new things! We might even try to do a FaceBook LIVE while we’re out! (UPDATE: We did it! See our FB LIVE on my FB page HERE!)
I’ll be back on Tuesday sharing what I did with this picture:
Have an awesome weekend!
UPDATE: Check out what I made out of this frame HERE now!
XO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
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Mary Kaiser says
Adorable, so bright and fresh now! I love how that turned out, and just want to know if your keeping that for your collection, or selling it. Looking forward to seeing what you pick up at the thrift store with Nancy, you two are such a hoot when your together, I sure it will be a good time, I wish I lived by you two so I could join you two in your quest!! That would be a blast!!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! This one might be my favorite, but it will be heading to the booth. Nancy and I found a few things today, and yes it would be fantastic if you could join us! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Heather Taylor says
Hi Christy,
The suitcase is gorgeous and the fabric is so pretty another successful upscale:-)
I have been inspired by you to do a makeover on a suitcase myself and it is not as easy as you make it look! Do the catches work after you have painted them because mine dont 🙁 LOL
Christy says
Thank you, Heather! I love that you have been inspired, but what a bummer about the catches! Mine still work, but I do try to go easy on them when I’m painting. I wonder if you could use a little paint thinner on a cotton swab to get them working again? XO
Lorraine Castellon-Rowe says
I love this suitcase!! The colors are beautiful and the fabric is the perfect girliness!! I’ve done a couple of suitcases but I have to ask, what paintbrush dis you use? I can NEVER get my edges as clean as this. The sides of your suitcase are perfect where the blue meets the white. Please share your secret. Thanks a bunch. Love your blog and each and every one of your projects!
Christy says
Thank you, Lorraine! For the blue parts, I used a smaller one inch craft brush instead of a regular paintbrush. I also went back with an even smaller brush to get a few spots that the larger brush couldn’t quite get. I appreciate your sweet words so much! XOXO
Mimi says
I think I have said this before, but I’ll say it again,….I LOVE your format. How you show an item,…you tell about it, then you cross it off the photo. This way if we see something we missed,…we can see what you have done in the past and what is coming up! ????????????????????????????????
Christy says
I am so glad you enjoy the format, Mimi! Thank you!! XOXO
Olga says
Its absolutely adorable!!! The color combination is just perfect, and inside fabric made me start drooling over the whole piece! 🙂
Christy says
Thank you, Olga! That pretty fabric gets me going too ha ha! XOXO
Christina in SW FL says
Super cute suitcase makeover Christy! You are right, the fabric works with the beautiful outside colors perfectly. 🙂 What great decorative storage!!
Christy says
Thank you, Christina! Isn’t that fabric so dreamy?? Have a super weekend! XOXO
Paula says
Great makeover for this old suitcase! I love the colors you used and the fabric. Have fun with Nancy today.
Christy says
Thank you, Paula! Nancy and I had a good time today and even found a few things. We even did a FB live…lots of fun! XOXO
Cecilia from Georgia says
What a jewel! Love the colors and the inside is icing on the cake. You and Nancy have fun and I’ll check FB when I can to see you in action. Thanks for all the hard work you do to bring inspiration and fun my way. XOXO
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! We had a ball today and even found a few things which is always a plus! And you are SO welcome…thank you for all the encouragement! XOXO
sharon austin says
Ooooh so cute! I could totally see this on a stand (or attached to legs) in a bedroom with decorative scarves and such spilling out of it! Love the interior!!
Christy says
Thanks, Sharon! Ooh yes this would be great as a table, and isn’t that fabric so sweet? XOXO
Rebecca - Knoxville, TN says
Love the suitcase makeover. Have to admit the photo of your thrift store finds with X over the completed projects thrills me. A bit weird I know, but I tend to get ahead of myself with projects and this gives such a sense of accomplishment and organization. Maybe I’ll make a big ol’ list of my projects as I’m pretty sure I’ve forgotten about some 😮 I admire your efficiency and thank you for the inspiration!
Christy says
Thank you, Rebecca! I am loving this tactic as well…it is keeping me focused! I have yet to share what I still have stacked in my storage room though ha hah…that will be soon! XOXO
Becky says
Beautiful! You make me want to find one of these so badly! Cute as all get out!
Christy says
Thanks, Becky!! XOXO
gwen says
i really like the suitcase, but i LOVE the lining even more! the fabric is darling! i’m thinking it could go in a guest room with little supplies for their stay! well done!!!
Christy says
Oh my goodness I LOVE that idea!! Now if I only had a guest room lol. Thanks, Gwen! And yes…that fabric is so dreamy!! XOXO
Charleen Adams says
What an absolute charmer!!!I have one like this in blue. We use it, but it would look so awesome in this configurnew to enjoy and challenge me.ion. Love your blog,always something to
Christy says
Thank you, Charleen!! Yes maybe yours would enjoy a little update too! XOXO
Robyn Wright says
Hi Christy, Does the paint cause the latches to stick?
Christy says
Hey Robyn! I had another reader say that her latches didn’t work after painting, but I have never had that issue. I just try to go easy over the latches and not let paint ooze into the holes. XO
Angela says
The suitcase looks fantastic. You are very talented and always make old things look amazing! Thank you for taking the time to share.
Christy says
Thank you, Angela! I appreciate that so much! XOXO
Kimberly says
The suitcase is so cute and I am SO jealous of your and Nancy’s thrifting trip!
Christy says
Thank you, Kimberly! Nancy and I had a great time today and even found a few things! We did video a bit LIVE one Facebook while we were there which you can see on my FB page. I linked to it in the post! XOXO
Cate says
What a perfect job you did, inside and out! Brilliant!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Cate! XOXO
Sherry Stuifbergen says
I hope you DO make a video of thrifting with Nancy. I love watching that because I thrift too, and I love seeing what you are seeing. You do good work. Bet your booth is thriving!
Christy says
Thank you, Sherry! Nancy and I did a little lIVE video that we shared on my FB page if you want to see it! I linked to it in my post! As for my booth…I’ve done well with the smalls, but I need larger furniture pieces which are hard to come by at the moment…always keeping a lookout though! XOXO
Lizzy Leff says
From ugly to amazing. I love it!
Christy says
Thank you, Lizzy! XOXO
Cindy Hathaway says
Wow!!! That’s so beautiful!!! I’ve got to try this on my old suitcase. You know, the one sitting under my worktable collecting dust. I need to get with it. Thanks for the inspo. You’re the best!!!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Cindy! Ha ha the last two that I found curbside sat in my garage for forever before I finally did something with them! Glad I was more timely this go round! Have fun with yours…they even look fabulous with just a coat of white paint! XOXO
Debra A Wise says
Love the suitcase makeover. It’s so gorgeous. That fabric is beautiful!
Christy says
Thank you, Debra!! I love this fabric too! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
This suitcase looks like it was in good condition to start, not like the dirty, smelly ones I normally find! I’m surprised it didn’t get a little Frenchy accent, but it’s nice to have different styles to appeal to different buyers.
The suitcase lasted so long because it probably never saw the inside of a plane. Flying was expensive and most travel was by car or bus back then, so you didn’t have to worry about your bags being tossed around as much. No doubt this little beauty won’t be doing any traveling after it goes home with its new owner!
Christy says
Yes it was in excellent condition, and yes you’re right…less people flew back then I’m sure. I am always tempted to add a little Frency flair, but I resisted this time ha ha enjoy your weekend! XOXO
Carole Larsen says
I really want this suitcase; it would be perfect with my decor. I actually had a very similar, if not the same, fabric when I was a girl (many Years ago) that I used to make a coverlet for my bed. I really miss it now; maybe I can find a similar one somewhere.
You do the best work!!!
Christy says
Aww thank you, Carole! I bet your bed was so dreamy…I love this fabric!! XOXO
zefi says
I love it. It looks amazing!
Christy says
Thank you, Zefi! XO
Cheryl Lawson says
Hi Christy, What an amazing job you did on this suitcase! I love the “Before and Afters” you feature on your blog. (Where do you find the time for all of these projects? ) Count me in as a fan! Happy St. Pat’s Day, Cheryl
Christy says
Thank you so much, Cheryl!! Happy St, Patty’s Day to you too!! XOXO
Theresa says
In LOVE!! That turned it fantastic! What color did you use for your blue?
Christy says
Thank you, Theresa! This blue is a Sunken Pool by Behr. ????