Thrift Store Upcycle – Faux Vintage Suitcase
Thrift store upcycle faux vintage suitcase made from an old silverware box.
Today I’m sharing a fun thrift store upcycle project. It’s a New Year and a new Thrift Store Decor Upcycle Challenge! We took a few months off for the holidays, but we are back to show you more creative ideas! This time we have joined forces with even more bloggers and have tons of thrifty upcycle ideas to get those wheels spinning!
Faux Vintage Suitcase
Whenever I’m out at thrift stores or garage sales I’m always drawn to crates and wooden boxes. They’re great for storage and I just love the warmth and character they add to a space. I came across this little gem one day for $5 and, although I had no idea what I would do with it, I scooped it up anyway.
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Fast forward 6 months and I spotted this cute little vintage suit case at Hobby Lobby. What a cute way to store things…
The set was $79.99 and it was on sale for %50 off but I thought, as many of us DIY’ers do, I can make that!! Turns out, I had the perfect piece to use! As soon as I got home I got the thrift store box out and started thinking about what I would need for this project including what materials I would use for the straps, rivets and a handle. Here’s what I came up with:
- Straps – 1″ black gross grain ribbon – perfect for the texture to show through
- Rivets – upholstery tacks
- Handle – old leather belt
- Hot glue gun
- Chalk paint
- Distress Ink
- Sand paper
I gathered all of my supplies for this thrift store upcycle and got going. First, I decided I wanted the box to be white so it would be more versatile. I gave it a couple of coats of creamy white chalk paint.
Now for the straps. I used a hot glue gun to attach pieces of ribbon where the straps would be, about 3 inches in from each side.
Then I added the “rivets” using a hammer.
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Somewhere along the lines I thought the black ribbon was too dark so I decided to paint it white to tone it down and match the color of the box. I wasn’t crazy about it but went with it because I wanted to see what it looked like all put together so I moved on to the handle.
The old leather strap was easy to cut with scissors and was also attached with the tacks.
Once the handle was on I realized I definitely didn’t like the white straps. It was just too plain so I painted them espresso brown. So much better! Not as dark as the black and matched the handle and the worn spots of the wood. It did look a bit too new, though, so I hit it with the sand paper in places it would “wear” and then with some Vintage Photo distress ink. It was exactly what I was looking for…
I love it mixed in with the globe, antique binoculars and old books. It’s got a vintage travel feel.
The Pottery Barn Inspired Shelf that is sits on was also a project and you can see that here. The key art just below was another thrift store upcycle and you can see that here.
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This thrift store upcycle went from an old wooden box that cost $5 to a faux vintage suit case. It adds personality to the space, is great for storing things and is versatile enough to be used in any season. I actually had the ribbon, the tacks and chalk paint on hand from other projects but it still would have been about $15 to make it if I had to buy everything. It’s not exactly “theirs” but it’s exactly what I wanted.
I hope this post gets your creative juices flowing! Do you see past what things are to what they could be? Do you have an upcycle project in mind? If so,
Happy DIY’ing!
Col
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The Rules:
- Upcycle an item(s) from a thrift store, resale store, or garage sale into a new piece of decor.
- There’s no monthly theme.
- There’s no budget to stick to.
Meet the Hosts
Amanda | The Kolb Corner Maureen | Red Cottage Chronicles Kim | Made in a Day
Dru | Polka Dot Poplars Erlene | My Pinterventures Colleen | Life on Kaydeross Creek Pili | Sweet Things
Shirley | Intelligent Domestications Ann | Duct Tape and Denim Debra | Shoppe No. 5 Marie | DIY Adulation
Chelsea | The Johnsons Plus Dog Jes | My DIY Envy Lindsay | Crazy Organized
Molly | Just a Little Creativity Ashley | 3 Little Greenwoods Kimm | Reinvented Michelle | Our Crafty Mom
Ali | Home Crafts by Ali Sue | A Purdy Little House Sara | Twelve on Main
Claire | Pillar Box Blue Chelc | Inside the Fox Den Kim | Farmhouse Made Victoria | Dazzle While Frazzled
Sherry | Savvy Apron Jennifer and Vicki | 2 Bees in a Pod Lora | Craftivity Designs Megan | C’mon Get Crafty
Denise | My Thrifty House Toni | Small Home Soul Deborah | Salvage Sister and Mister
Make sure you follow our board on Pinterest for more upcycled decor inspiration!
And now for more thrifty goodness! Check out what my fellow upcyclers created below!
This is such a great idea. I have the perfect box to try this with!
Thank you, Denise! It was so fun and something you can make your own to match your decor. Have fun!!
Hi Kippi! Thanks so much!
Gorgeous! Thank you so much for sharing at Homestyle Gathering! Hope to see you next week, too! Pinning!
Thank you, Julie! See you next week.
This is such a creative project! I love that it looks so fresh on your shelves, and can also serve as some hidden storage. Great find and upcycle!
Thanks for linking up with Hello Monday! Tanya – The Other Side of the Road
Thank you, Tanya!
Brilliant up-cycling 🙂 It looks great!
Thank you, Loretta!
Hi! I’m one of the co-hosts from the Welcome Home Wednesdays Link Up. I absolutely love the DIY upcycle of the vintage suitcase. This is so fun and pretty. I can totally see using this idea in a guest room! Thank you for sharing!
Have a wonderful weekend!
So beautiful, I love what you did with this box! That shelf is also styled beautifully.
Thank you, Megan!
That’s such a brilliant idea!! I love the straps espresso too 🙂
Thanks, Kim!
This is a really awesome project. I recently saw a bookshelf that looked like a bunch of suitcases stacked upon each other.
Thank you, Alexis!
That was seriously so smart to turn it into a suitcase, it reminds me of the valises you’d see in old movies. Love it!
Thank you, Toni!
That is adorable!!! I love how it turned out. I really like the leather handle you added. It looks so cute styled on those shelves.
Thanks so much, Chelsea! I thought about using a thicker leather belt but then my husband said, “Wait, I have this old leather strap”, and it was perfect! I love that he is just as much a DIY junkie as me!
Oh my gosh, this turned out awesome and it’s so very clever 😀 Pinned & sharing!
Thanks so much, Angie!!
Nice to know I am not the only person that collects things for future upcycle projects. This is box turned suitcase turned out awesome and looks great on your shelves. Thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks, Denise! I have so much stuff, I had to turn an area in my basement into a “future project” section. I just can’t turn down a good deal!
I want this! It would look fabulous in our home office and would hide all my husband’s old hunting magazines.
What an awesome thrift store upcycle! Thanks so much for the DIY inspiration!
{BIG hugs}
~ Ashley
Thank you, Ashley!!
This is SUCH a cool idea. I always love how these look in stores — but yes the prices! Too much!
Very cool project. Loving the leather belt for the handle. Pinned!
Kim
Thanks, Kim!
I am in love with this makeover. Genius!
Thank you, Dru!
This is so charming on that gorgeous rustic shelf. Beautifully done.
Thanks, Sue!
That looks so awesome! When I saw the picture I honestly thought that it was already a suitcase and that you gave it a makeover. Then I read the tutorial! You put so much detail into it and I’m just amazed! Gotta keep my eye peeled for a box I can transform!
Thanks so much, Chelc!
This is genius, I like to collect boxes also so I will need to give this project a try. Great job.
Thank you so much Debra!
This is so clever! You have definitely turned this piece into something totally different.
Thank you, Sherry!
Wow! That is amazing! I love the new look and it’s so nice that you have a beautiful storage piece.
Thanks Erlene!
This turned out great!! Love how it looks on your shelves!
Thank you, Michelle!
That is really gorgeous. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!! PINNED
Thank you, Deborah!
What a great idea! The end effect looks really good.
What a fabulous makeover!! I agree it looks great on your bookshelf with the rest of the travel accessories.