Creating a Painted Vintage Suitcase has been on my agenda for quite some time…
I have quite a collection of the these darlings, and it’s high time I began to redeem them!
Hello, Graphics Fairy Friends! Heather from Thicketworks here. Today we’re going to take this musty old relic and transform her into a Glamorous Traveling Companion!
This post was sponsored by the wonderful creative team at Heirloom Traditions Paint
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Here’s our sad little subject – and yes, it had that smell!
(but not any longer!)
With the help of a few choice ingredients, we’ll work some magic on this old thing!
Supplies:
- Heirloom Traditions Chalk Type Paint: Mocha, Row House & Espresso
- Heirloom Traditions Aurora Staining Gels: Copper Mine & Goldilocks
- Heirloom Traditions Spray Wax: Dark Umber & Clear
- Stencils of your choice
- A few sponges for stenciling
- Washable containers for Paints and Staining Gels
- Assorted paint brushes, including a flat artists brush for detailing
- Paint Daubers
- A Sharpie Paint Pen: Gold
- Wrapping Paper of your choice
- Spray Adhesive
Optional:
How to Create your own Painted Vintage Suitcase:
The first task is to remove all the musty old lining material.
It’s a yucky job, but if you do it outside the Yuck Factor is greatly reduced.
Once you’ve disposed of the lining, wipe the interior clean. Add a drop or two of essential oil in the corners to freshen. Allow the case to dry completely.
Line the interior with a lovely wrapping paper. I find it very accurate to press the paper in place, crease the edges with a fingertip and then cut along the crease. No measuring…yay!
Use a spray adhesive (working outside) to attach your fresh new liner.
Select your base color of paint.
Mocha was used as the base color in this project:
Apply one coat of paint over the entire exterior surface, and along the interior edges of the case.
Allow to dry.
Select a contrasting but harmonious color for the ‘field’ of the case exterior. Row House, a lovely greige was used here.
Note: I applied one layer of stencilled motifs and didn’t care for it, so a fresh coat of Row House obscured the first attempt! 
Scumble (softly paint with an almost dry brush in a swirling motion) a loose border of Mocha to create a ‘misty’ effect around the area to be stencilled.
Once dry, use a dense sponge to apply Mocha through your favorite stencil(s).
Note: the surface of this case is slightly textured, which creates a less ‘crisp’ stenciled motif.
Perfection is not necessary: as we layer on pattern and pigment, the overall effect will be lovely.
Create additional motifs on the reverse side of the case:
Once the main motifs have been stencilled, scumble a bit more Mocha in a gentle ‘halo’ around them.
Loosely combine Goldilocks and Copper Mine Aurora Staining Gels in a ‘palette’.
Use a sponge to dab the combined color through repeating geometric stencil designs around the edges of the central motifs.
Stencil the same shapes with a few areas of darker paint, such as Espresso.
This helps to create a sense of harmonious design. Repetitive shapes have a way of unifying a piece, even when multiple colors and patterns are at work.
Use various round Paint Daubers to accent the dominant motifs with the rich metallic pigment of Aurora Staining Gels:
Once the layers of stencilled pattern are in place, we can begin to deepen the color of the border. Here, Espresso is used to create a sense of drama:
Complete the look by stenciling some appropriate text over the top of the designs, using your darkest color.
Use a loose mixture of Goldilocks and Copper Mine Aurora Staining Gels to highlight the banding. A flat artists brush makes this a simple task.
This creates a sense of depth:
Detail of our layers so far:
To harmonize the entire piece, a mixture of Dark Umber Spray Wax (2/3) and Clear Spray Wax (1/3) is applied.
This reduces the intensity of the contrast between the lights and darks:
You can see the original layer peeking through…because the motifs are so similar, I’m still happy with the effect.
To add emphasis to your motifs, you can outline them with a paint pen:
As a final touch, bits of bling add sparkle and dimensionality:
Let’s head to the City of Lights, shall we?
(maybe someday…)
Wherever we’re bound, we’ll go there in style!
(Even if it’s only to the nearest Hotel!)
Lori says
So beautiful, Heather!! Just awesome! So much detail! I love it!
Heather Tracy says
Hi Lori! I’m so glad you like it…that just makes me happy as can be! xox
Foods says
Sweet Rupa! Yes, it must be the photo…the actual paint is a warm, lovely grey/beige. So happy that you like it!.
Rupa says
The first glimpse of this beauty screamed “Paris”! Love the transformation. Tres chic! The greige (grey/beige I suppose?) is lovely. Seems to have a hint of lavender somewhere but that could be the monitor or photo only.
Heather Tracy says
Sweet Rupa! Yes, it must be the photo…the actual paint is a warm, lovely grey/beige. So happy that you like it!
JaneEllen says
Can hardly wait to try this technique, been digging in my stencils for ideas how I want train case to look. Excellent tutorial Heather, thank you so much. If this project doesn’t get me back to creating, don’t know what will.
Have to tell myself to ignore “other” chores to be done, concentrate on making this. Can remember one time years ago my favorite Aunt came over to show me how to sew some things, I kept jumping up to do one thing and another. She finally said she didn’t come over to watch me do housework, if I was going to sew then sew, period.
Good advice for any personal creativity. My Mother always told me had to get my work done first before I spent time doing personal things, shoot would never get to sew or create or read, etc. Might be why I wanted to move away where she couldn’t check on me, nag. She told me if I did things for myself I was selfish. Had 4 small kids, when would I get to do any personal creating, when I was old? Ideas of her generation I guess but Aunt was her older sister, where did she get advanced idea for that time?
I’ll be 76 in few days but don’t say those things to my 2 daughters. Tell them what they need to do will be there, enjoy themselves. Happy week
Heather Tracy says
Dear JaneEllen…I can’t tell you how moving this ‘glimpse’ into your creative history is. Yes, there has so long been a kind of ‘shame’ attached to creative play…as though it is somehow immoral to allow ourselves the deep pleasure of creating. I’m of a different belief, my friend: if we don’t attend to the need for personal/creative fulfillment, how can we ever hope to be kind and generous to others? We can’t give away what we will not allow ourselves to have in the first place!
I’m beyond delighted to hear from you, both here, and on Thicketworks. You’ve made my day so much brighter with your cheerful and enthusiastic spirit. It’s wonderful to know that you allowed your children to explore creatively…that is a precious gift that you gave them!
Linda says
Thank you so much for this week and every other week ideas , although this week is my favorite. I love anything French country I have 2 suitcases I will try this on, however I am also going to try this design on a one of the large round pieces of wood from an old spool I was saving for a wall clock.
graphicsfairy says
That sounds lovely Linda!!
mare williams says
BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL, SPLENDID, OUTSTANDING JOB, HEATHER!!!!!!!! WOW – HOW I LOVE IT NOW!!!!!!
Heather Tracy says
Hi Mare! Thank you so much…this was such fun to create. 🙂
Debby Nodine says
Absolutely gorgeous and so SMART!!! Upscale Class All the Way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Heather Tracy says
Hi Debby! I’m so happy you like it. I hope you give it a try: so fun!
Phyllis Muscolino says
I spray my musty smelling things with VINEGAR. I keep a separate spray bottle with vinegar in it as I do a lot of make overs with antiques. I hope this helps someone. I love your choice of colors, just beautiful.
Heather Tracy says
Hi Phyllis – vinegar is a wonderful non-toxic deodorizer! Thank you so much for sharing – I’m certain it will help those of us with musty things! Thank you for your kindness.
Rosalie Dieteman says
My old suitcases are vinyl. Do you think the paint would stick to that material?
Heather Tracy says
Hi Rosalie! The short answer is YES! However, I would use a stippling (pouncing) motion for the first coat – this gives better coverage than ‘stroking’ the paint on. This suitcase had some kind of weird plastic coating, and it worked beautifully. Have fun!
cath says
Isadora would love this. So do I. Really inspirational as I clean out my mother’s very musty house. Painting scarf de rigueur. Happy Bastille Day.
Heather Tracy says
Hi Cath! You make me chuckle, my friend. Happy Bastille Day, to you as well. I’m sorry that you’re engaged in such an onerous task. I know exactly how that feels, and it’s hard. Keep your scarf at the ready! 🙂
Gracie says
Love, love, love!!! And have at least 2 buried in a closet…
graphicsfairy says
That’s awesome Gracie!! Have fun 🙂
Randi Miller says
Very nicely done!
graphicsfairy says
Thanks Randi!
Betty Bakk says
Gorgeous – you pretty! Thanks for the tutorial.
Heather Tracy says
Hi Betty! I’m so glad you like it. Thank you.