Or How to turn an old Suitcase into a picnic basket {Before & After}.
Oh how I got lucky at my last treasure/garage sale hunt 3 weeks ago! I bought an old suitcase for $15. I did not know exactly, what I wanted to do with it, but hey, it’s vintage, it’s a suitcase and it’s $15!
I knew, I wanted to paint it, most likely white {what a surprise;-)}, but no other plans besides that. Then Mr.T’s birthday came around, the weather got better and I saw this cute Birthday in a Box idea, and my picnic basket/birthday in a suitcase project was born!
But before it looked like this ↑, it had to go a long way!
Before/After:
You will need:
To re-do the inside of the suitcase, I bought
-Graham fabric (1yard)
-some rubber band
-ribbon
-welcro tape
- tea towls
Outside:
- White paint
- Krylon Primer/Sealer
I used mod podge and a staple gun to attach fabric on the inside. I attached the ribbon loops for the cutlery, plates, glasses, etc.. with a staple gun.
In the upper part of the suitcase I stapled square welcro pieces to hold the plates and popcorn box and sewed the opposite welcro square on the ribbon.
The two little jars on the left side are filled with balloons and confetti. The side pocket for the hot dog plates is a square piece of fabric, in which I have sewn a rubber band.
The little flags are made of felt and some left over fabric.
Don’t forget to make a little garland to hang up. This one is made out of bakers twine and felt.
{Everything has to match, lol}
Mr. T. really liked his picnic basket aka birthday in a box/suitcase! The weather is getting much better too, so we will soon make a picnic by the river!
If you have any questions or done a similar project, leave a comment or upload a photo!
Cheers,
Linked with Funky Junk Donna
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What kind of paint did you use for the outside?
Nicki recently blogged..The Soapy Caker
Multipurpose Latex Paint (indoor & outdoor).
Wow! This turned out incredibly cute. I love the little flags waving from the latch.
Melanie recently blogged..Spotted and hearted
This is just the cutest idea ever!!!! I love it!!!
I’d love for you to link this up to my link party, Your Whims Wednesday! http://mygirlishwhims.blogspot.com/2011/04/your-whims-wednesday-2-and-features.html
OMG!!!! That is just too stinkin’ cute! I want one. Now I just have to find an old suitcase. Who am I kidding? I will never make one. But I want to.
Kim @ Starshine Chic recently blogged..Its Bunny Time!
lol, you are funny! its not as hard as it seems;-)
SO CUTE! i love it! wow, what a happy birthday that would make!
meagan
What a clever idea. So incredibly cute and creative. I am your latest follower. I would love for you to come and check out my blog and follow me back at http://www.diybydesign.blogspot.com. Thanks so much.
Judy recently blogged..Swing into Spring – Its a Party 11
Sibylle, sorry for stalking LOL, but this is just so cute again! I’ve been looking into these old suitcases also as there are just so many great things that can be made out of them.
Elvi recently blogged..Ring a Ring o Roses giveaway
That is such a wonderful idea. Love it! Thanks so much for stopping by at Beach Cottage Good Life Wednesdays & joining the party!
it’s a pleasure, Sarah.:-)
OH MY GOSH! So adorable. I am totally going to make one of these for my “staycation” with my girlfriends at a local hotel. It would make the stay a little more homey and cute. Now off to find an old suitcase!!!
Wow! What an incredible redo!! I love how the picnic basket turned out! Great photography, too!
{nifty thrifty sunday}
I am hosting my first linky party today and would love for you to link up!
xoxo,
Vanessa
What an AMAZING transformation! So creative and adorable. What a talent you have! Love the red gingham, and so many details:)
thanks Sue;-)
Oh my word – this is SO cute and creative! Impressed!
wouldn’t you know I just sold the most adorable suitcase perfect for this project last week!! ok now I am on the lookout for another one!
Oops I forgot to ask if you would mind if I shared this fun project along with a link to you on my Saturday’s Discovering Beauty post?
mary recently blogged..one thousand gifts- a new journey
of course!
That is the cutest thing ever! You did such a great job on that. Thanks for sharing it at WUW.
So, so cute! So many suitcases out there and not everyone wants to stack them – that would make a cute gift. Love your creative blog!
Annie/Helen Hartman recently blogged..Im Running
yes, you are right, i am not stacking them;-)
Very cute! Red and white is so much fun!
Kelsey recently blogged..Progress and Patience!
This is FAB!!! just amazing.
ladeedacreations.com
this makes such a beautiful gift! thanks for the how-to!
lizzie recently blogged..marriage demons- jennifer of ms- not mrs
Now where do you go on these “treasure hunts” I’ve always wanted to try and find vintage treasures and items that need a lot of love to look good again but I’m never sure where to go!
Terri Ann recently blogged..No no no no no @designsponge – stop making me think I can build
Flea markets and second hand stores;-)
Oh my goodness…this has to be the cutest thing I’ve seen in a LONG time!!! I love love love it! I honestly have 4 old suitcases in my yard sale pile because I couldn’t think of anything clever to make with them. Well, they’re coming out of that pile and getting makeovers like this one because it is just darling! I’m so glad I found this post…too cute.
April@NaturalNester recently blogged..Inspiration Board- Playroom
This is so cute. How do you carrier it. The handle on the food would slide to the bottom. My suggest is take the handle off and attach to the top before lining it. If bad idea taking the original handle off maybe just add the handle.
and to think that I have been searching for the perfect picnic basket and I could make it myself. This is absolutely darling!!!
Such a super cute idea! Love your color choices!
That is sooooo awesome. I love the aqua and red too! If you don’t mind me asking, where does the food go? Can it fit in there along with the supplies?
Amanda @ Heart Tree Home recently blogged..Have you heard of the Downplayer
Rats! I was at a yard sale just a couple of days ago and mulled over a vintage suitcase I didn’t buy! I couldn’t think of what I needed/wanted it for. And it was only two dollars! I won’t walk away next time I come across one. Thanks for such a great idea!
This is just so cute and creative! I first spotted it on IShare Crafts and loved it! I just becmae your newest follower!
What a fun project, I love picnics!
kala recently blogged..Craftstravaganza 2011!
What a cute idea. I used to make giftbaskets and have done something similar to this, but I really like the idea of an old vintage suitcase for the basket part.
Deborah H. Bateman recently blogged..Tropical Chicken Salad
Wow, this is soooo cute ! I’ve been telling my kids I’d like to have a picnic basket in the car for all those tiles we don’t make it home in time and we just end up getting bread and stuff along the way and eating in the car. This would sure be great to have
And bonus, I just got an old suitcase from my grandma who moved to a retirement home.
Thanks for sharing
wow! this is really beautiful! what a make over!!
I love this! I’d like to invite you to post it on Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage. The link will be up all week, I hope you can join in. Have a nice week, Mary :O)
Sure I will;-)
OMG!!! I LOOOOOVE this project! I’ve been searching for a cute picnic basket, but this is too cute! I don’t think I’ll make one since I don’t know how to sew at all…but love the idea of making one!
Wow great use of the suitcase! I have a project where I have to upcycle an old item into something new and this kinda came to mind to have a picnic basket out of my old one and this is amazing!
Hi, Sibylle! I’m admiring all your creative posts here so can you please share them with us at the Creative Bloggers’ Party & Hop? Hope to see you there at the party
I have too many picnic baskets already, but now I want to make my own. Perhaps I can redo the inside of one of my others.
Tooo cute…Can you elaborate the rubber band in fabric?
You just sew a hem and pull the rubber band through:-)
I totally love this idea and it looks so cheerful and summery! I have been wondering how everyone is getting the stale, moldy, old smell out of these old suitcases before they do the cute stuff? I would love to make one, but have never found one that didn’t smell to high heaven! Great job on yours!
Great job – so cute. Thanks for letting us share on Dollar Store Crafts!
Love this! So cute to use it as a picnic basket! Going to feature this on my blog! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Heather! I’ll stop by:-)
This is perfect. I love how you made everything match. Great Job!
I’ve loved this since the very first time I saw it featured!!!
Thanks for linking it!
You know, I had pinned this and never stopped by to tell you how clever and chin dropping gorgeous this is! Now I am and I am so glad I got to see this entire post. You. Are. Amazing. This is just awesome.
I have been wanting to do this project for months and finally finished it a few days ago! Here’s a link to mine: http://edangerzone.blogspot.com/2011/06/suitcase-transformation.html
Thanks for the great idea!
This is way too cool it’s unbelievable!!!
Btw, totally love your site. it’s so inspiring!!!
This is such a great idea!! My husband uses those rigid suitcases for work, and the inside gets dirty and torn before the outside needs fixing.
I have no less than 4 of these just sitting on top of an armoir…guess it’s time to bring them down and give them a new life!! Probably have them in time for Xmas…(yes, I am an expert procrastinator…)
What a wonderful way to cycle up! Thank you for all of the step-by step directions. I have one question. Did the suitcase have a musty odor on the inside? So many “vintage” containers really smell bad when opened. Thanks!
hello!! you inspired me! i wanted to feature this project while also keeping with the theme of “hot & spicy” — so, you have been featured for our picnic date’s with the hubs on today’s post: http://www.fancylittlethings.com/2011/07/a-few-fancy-lil-things-2-picnic-date/ — LOVE this!!!
Just featured you today!!!
Check it out! http://threeyearsofdeath.blogspot.com/2011/07/feature-favs-4.html
Love this project!!
Thank you so much!!
This is adorable!!! LOVE this idea and love your blog! I am your newest follower. Would love for you to come check out my blog if you’d like
http://domesticcharm.blogspot.com
Katelyn
Such a great transformation and what a fun gift!! It’s absolutely lovely!! Michelle
This is so cute!!!
I love this! It is super cute. You have done an awesome job transforming it.
I’m a new follower!
Thank you so much!
I love this! You did such a wonderful job on the makeover. Where did you get those most wonderful straws???
GGUUUUAUUUU !!!!! ADORE!! MARAVILLOSO TRABAJO!! BEAUTIFULL!! I LOVE RED!!
I remember seeing this last year and never got to comment. I love this project of yours
Seriously, can you get any cuter?!? So inspiring!
Vanessa recently blogged..DIY Batman Mask + New Batman Printables Collection
I love a great upcycling project!
I have included them in a list of great tutorials to make for little boys and girls for Christmas.
If you would like to have a look you can see it here…
http://allysonadeney.wordpress.com/2011/11/28/handmade-gift-ideas-with-tutorials-kids-little-boys-little-girls/
Thanks for taking the time to put this together for us.
Ally on harrysdesk
harrysdesk recently blogged..34 Handmade Gift for Little Boys + Little Girls….. with Tutorials