Suitcase Makeover for a Booth Display

I found this sturdy suitcase in my favorite shopping spot: next to a trashcan.

The lock was broken and I had to pry the clasps off to open it. A lovely rust orange greeted me.

My first makeover involved ripping out the orange fabric and Mod Podging maps into the inside. For durability, a couple more coats of Mod Podge were painted over the maps. The outside was given a couple coats of DIY chalk paint in grey. I thought it was done but I just couldn't gel with the look. For almost two years this sat in my basement looking just like this. 

The grey wasn't bad...but it wasn't great. I went through a season where I used what I had on hand and the finished product was the finished product. Lately, though, I've become more selective and decided that I need to LOVE what I make. Time to take my skills and apply them to creating pieces that spark passion. In this case, passionate pieces are more often than not turquoise, teal, or covered in relcaimed wood. 

the final color

Recently I fell in love with the color produced by staining over paint. The color produced is so lovely that I've used it on a mini dresser makeover, frames, a buffet (yet to be posted), a garden planter makeover (yet to be posted), and now this suitcase. 

 The lighting doesn't do it justice.

The Kingfisher blue paint was lightly applied over the grey paint. Then the Espresso stain was added. The two paint colors under the stain add a nice dimension to the color.

Curious about the photo's background? Check out this post on my re-upholstered chair. 

  

storage & display

As a booth display... 

  I like it too much to sell it. 

This suitcase is fantastic for use as a craft fair display piece. Maybe I'll add a length of twine to stretch across the top lid to hang the ornaments on.

   In the offseason, this will double nicely as storage. 

Like the ornaments? Available in the Etsy shop.

Now to finish off the hardware. 

Originally, when I was painting this grey, I'd painstakingly covered the clasps and locks in painters tape. The second time around, I didn't. 

Most of the brass is lightly painted/stained over. My sister thinks I should let the brass shine through. I'm not a fan of brass. (Anyone else floored that brass is making a comeback? Noooooo! I worked hard to remove all the brass from my 1985 home.) I am thinking of purchasing a patina paint or using a copper paint to spiff up the hardware. 

Of course...that will be another year or two! hahaha I know copper is big now but I do love me some patina. Guess I'll let the idea marinate for a while before deciding. I only do craft fairs in the fall/winter so there is time to decide. 

What do you think is a good color for the hardware? 

Brass? Copper? An aged patina look? 

 Pin Friendly Picture