Autumn Inspired Vintage Suitcase Card Box DIY

 

While at the thrift shop last week, searching for the perfect quaint, revivable kitchen set, I, being the distracted person that I am, found the most adorable wooden suitcase for only five bucks!!! :) It had to be at least 50 years old....ok I have no idea how old it was, but it was fabulous. I actually loved it just the way it was, but of course, I, almost immediately (on the drive home....at red lights...because I don't text and drive...) rummaged through Pinterest for some pinspiration (I think I made that word up...I'm claiming it). What I found is that vintage suitcases make the most adorable card boxes for vintage, rustic weddings. Of course as a wedding planner I already knew this....

 

 

Step 1. (Sanding)

Let me just be clear, I am not a perfectionist...or even close to being one. I'm a tad bit lazy (ok maybe more than a tad) and the me two years ago wood have completely skipped the sanding part, but I am trying to be more of a professional and not skip the semi-important stuff. So I sanded it the best I could having no experience sanding anything. And I think I did a good job :)

 

Step 2. (Staining & Painting)

Once I finished sanding I painted the outside with a cherry stain I found at Michaels. It was about $11. I let that dry for about 15 min (even though the can said an hour) because I'm impatient, and then I painted the inside blue. Yes I got stain all over me trying to paint the inside while the outside was still drying. No I would not recommend you try that.

 

Step 3. (Decorating)

I added my embellishments using fabric glue. (I've seemed to misplaced my glue gun). I'm so organized and well put together. I had a lot of fun hand-gluing all of the decorative leaves, adding the sentimental wedding phrases, tying and stringing together the flag pieces, fixating the flowers in just the right places, etc. I really had a blast creating this card box and the autumn colors really gave me a warm, melancholy feeling while working on it.

 

 

 

All of the inside embellishments came from Michaels Arts and Crafts store and many of them came from the $2 bens. With everything combined I probably spent about $40 on this DIY and I will offer it as a Wedding Prop rental for any brides using Jacquelyne Edith Events, LLC coordination services...and I am willing to travel :)

 

As always I hope this was helpful or at least entertaining to someone out there. Until next time!

 

Jackie