Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Trash to Terrific!

Want a good time without callin' that number on the wall in the Ladies Room?

Then jump on over to Sanctuary Arts Make-over Day and visit the blogs signed up on her Mr. Linky. Get motivated by all the exciting projects linked there and be sure to leave lots of comments!

So here's my make-over for Jen R.'s Mr. Linky.

Ever since Emily Interesting showed me her decoupaged suitcase, I've wanted to do one. I decided right then and there to search garage sales until I came up with the perfect suitcase to decoupage with some of my M-I-L's old things. She has a ton of stuff, as you can see.

I got lucky at the only garage sale I had time to stop at Saturday. There sat two suitcases just like I wanted. In order for this project to work the suitcases had to be old, they had to have trim around the edges, and they had to be priced right.

Cost: five dollars for both. Don't you love it when a plan comes together? And I also love the make-do handle on the smaller suitcase. Apparently, it's seen a lot of traveling.


So I dug through all of M-I-L's stuff and, after figuring out what I wanted to use, I laid it all out in an interesting arrangement on the flat surfaces, making sure none of the old blue covering showed in the gaps between the items.

Next I decoupaged everything down. When dried, I covered the whole thing again with decoupage. This step is important because I wanted to make sure everything was coated, otherwise the next step wouldn't give me the effect I desired.


When the piece dried again, I rubbed it down with burnt umber craft paint until I had an aged effect. Then I painted around the edges of each item to simulate shadows. You might like thicker or darker shadows than I did.


For a finished product I added another layer of decoupage.


Here are both finished suitcases...


...ready to stack in the guest room for visitors to set their drink or book on.


Anybody want to come visit me? Hmmm, I could rent out my spare rooms for Warrenton.....

27 comments:

  1. Very creative, Cher! The craft paint was a nice touch!

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  2. Well, aren't you clever...for a woman who works in a swimsuit!!!

    Obama lovin,
    Malisa

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  3. Makes me want to pack up and go somewhere...anywhere...maybe just to your guest room so I can sit my bourbon on your groovy new suitcases!

    Malisa

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  4. Wonderful!! Love those suitcases! Great job! Have a ncie day!

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  5. Oh, yes, I'll come for Warrenton!!! I actually have an old suitcase that I might just use this idea on! That looks fabulous!!!

    Suzanne
    I'm another TX girl from the Houston area.

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  6. I love that Cher! It's looks great! I love how you collaged everything! That must have taken you forever! Great job! Thank you for joining the party! You always add something fabulous! Jen

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  7. Those turned out really really cute!! I'm going to have to try it myself sometime. They would look great in my family room :)

    rue

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  8. Those look FABULOUS! I have a couple old train cases here from my grandmother's house that I want to decoupage--thanks for the inspiration!

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  9. I love how you put the collage on the suitcases, they look fabulous!

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  10. They came out great! Very nice job.

    -FringeGirl

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  11. Very nice:) And so creative. I am ready to book a ticket on any airliner......

    I like your name:)

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  12. These are cute, and fun to do, I have done some. I sure am messy with old modge podge though! Yours look so neat. I really like the extra painting around the edges, makes those things pop!

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  13. Those turned out so cute! You got a great deal on those suitcases. I love a good deal!

    Lisa

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  14. Love these!!!! Very inviting...
    :-)
    BB

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  15. These suitcases are FABULOUS! You did a great job, and I love the items on the suitcases, very creative! Angie

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  16. These look amazing! I like how your going to use them like a table.

    Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today and leaving a comment on my table makeover.
    Blessings...

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  17. Oh, wow - those are fantastic! You did a wonderful job!... Donna @ An Enchanted Cottage

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  18. I like them! Very cool indeed! When are you writing another story???

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  19. I love those. I don't have any old suitcases but I betcha I could find some. Those would look really cute in my sewing room.

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  20. Oh' I love the suitcase makeover. I've never done a decoupage, but I just may have to after seeing these beauts.
    Kris

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  21. Oh! That looks awesome! There's a little suitcase that I've been eyeing at my favorite antique store. I think it's $5. I'm going to go buy it now, thanks to your awesome idea! This looks great. :)

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  22. WOW, these are great.....I need to store memoirs from the fifties that I can't part with.....and you have given me the idea!....some on the outside and some on the inside!!! Thanks!

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  23. OH, I want them! I want one of them. They are perfect Cher. Find me a suitcase. hurry! ~PJ
    Close the gate, Sherry was here...

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  24. Of course I want to come visit! I think we'd have a blast... we'd laugh - show you my new tattoos - just got them last night - Chinese letters - one for "survivor", 2 for "inner strength" .... I love my hubby but he doesn't like skin art...hmmmm what to do. I mention I'm getting one, or two and he notices them one day and asks "is that rub on? when did you get that!" I always reply "told ya you don't pay enough attention to me..." last years was on my left boob. You can come to see me too - we live near Gettsburg, DC and Baltimore. Jennifer

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