Shabby Chic-ish Decoupaged Vintage Train Case

I really like the way this one turned out except for the obvious line on the back side where I screwed up and didn't match the patterns.  An easier way would have been just to have the line on the bottom but by the time I figured that out, it was already stuck on.  Oh well, live and learn.

I used assorted scrapbook papers from Hobby Lobby with this one.  I also spray painted it with Rustoleum Americana spray paint in Heirloom White but I don't recommend this at all.  The Krylon I used on the last case was fine.  The Rustoleum didn't stick, stayed tacky and peeled off so I slapped a couple coats of Mod Podge over the top and called it "shabby chic".  It's all good!

I haven't done the inside of this yet.  I did rip out all the plastic lining and will spray paint it with the Heirloom White because I know that will stick to the wood interior.  Then I might line it with scrapbook paper or leave it depending on what it looks like. 

This is a very addicting hobby!  I'm loving how these turnout and actually this one is more my taste than the paisley one.

Another Suitcase Makeover

Wow, I can tell I'm getting bored!  I redid another suitcase today using Mod Podge and some retro-licious fabric I found at Walmart.  It's called Santa Fe Paisley.  The 2 fabrics (inside and out) do coordinate and there was a third one to the set but it was brown so I decided not to get it.

I bought a vintage Samsonite suitcase with that lovely beige marble covering at Salvation Army along with a matching cosmetic case (square train case) that I haven't done anything with yet.  After removing the lining I was surprised to find that these old suitcases are actual wood inside.  Wow!  I then used Krylon spray paint in Bahama Blue and sprayed multiple coats to cover the outside. 

I was going to leave it blue and just paint dots or something on it to coordinate with the fabric and even went and painstakingly picked out coordinating colors of acrylic paint at Hobby Lobby but today decided to use the patchwork and instead just Mod Podge it to the outside.  It reminds me of those 70s patchwork hippie skirts.  I'm going to spray paint a coat of clear on top to give it a more smooth feel.  The Mod Podge did seal the fabric but it feels kind of gritty.

For the inside I cut the turquoise paisley, ironed a 1/2 inch hem around the pieces and glued them in place.  For the piece that goes over the two sides, instead of using butcher paper like the original, I just used fusible webbing and 2 scrap pieces of fabric to make it stiff and glued that into place.

I kind of like it.  My daughter said, "What are you doing this for?"  When I told her she could take the suitcase to college, she informed me she doesn't like retro so no.  That's okay, I'll use it to store my collection of vintage linens or something or maybe I'll carry it off to college myself ... just kidding.

Vintage Train Case Makeover

Finally finished revamping the old Samsonite train case I got at Salvation Army.  I had originally done this with Girl Scout stuff but hated the way it looked so I ripped all that decoupage off the case, cleaned it and sprayed it with Rustoleum vinyl spray paint.  That stuff is amazing by the way.  I used it in the camper to spray the old vinyl seats to refresh them and it worked like a charm! 

I decided to use pages from the book Wonders of Nature with illustrations by Eloise Wilkin ... I adore her drawings ... they're just so wonderful.  Got the book at a thrift store and had no problems cutting it up.  It was a big Golden book so the pictures were oversize.

Decoupaged them on the case with Mod Podge and when it warms up enough (probably not till spring unless we're lucky), I'll spray the whole outside with a spray sealer.

The inside of the case was okay but had some stains and smelled like old cosmetics so I ripped all of that out, traced around the outside of the case on a piece of foam board and cut inside the lines by about 1/4 inch.  I covered the 2 pieces with avocado green fabric I had around the house and hot glued it in place.  Then I hot glued upholstery fabric around the inside sides ... it's a burgundy with avocado green diamonds so it matches the green.  If I had been smart, I'd have done the whole case in the upholstery fabric but it's fine so I'm not going to worry about it.

So I now have a new train case to use for whatever I decide.  :)

Fun Vintage Finds!

I saw one of these plaid Skotch Koolers in Salvation Army a few months ago but it was $10 so I passed.  Then I found out when I went on my sisters on the fly outing that $10 was a fairly decent price so I was kicking myself because it would look really cute displayed in my camper.  Well, there are several on ebay but I didn't want one bad enough to pay the price + $12+ for shipping so I kind of blew it off.

Today I went to an auction ... it was cold, it started raining BUT I got a Skotch Kooler and this cute BBQ tray for $1!!! 

I think the tray is just adorable and I love the cooler, rust and all.  It will look cute displayed with my vintage Girl Scout and camping stuff, don't you think?  Sometimes waiting is all it takes!

Vintage Find

I found these adorable retro glasses at my favorite goodwill store ... this store isn't organized very well and you basically have to dig through bins o' crap to find anything. Last time I was there, I found 2 of the square tupperware snack plates but they were kind of beaten up so I passed. I also (MISTAKE!) passed on a cute little cast iron gumball dispenser that you needed a real coin to work. It was pink, it was only $3.50 and I thought "I really don't need this!" so I left it. Naturally, it was gone when I went yesterday. Ah well, someone got a cute little vintage find.

Anyway, these were stuffed in a bin of plastics ... I found 8 of them but one of them was cracked and the other one had burlap missing from one side so I passed on those 2. Although there are only 5 pictured, I actually got 6 of them. The duplicate is the avocado green one. I think they'll be adorable in the camper.

I'm such a sucker for thrift stores and auctions! :) Today I went to the local GW store since I'm looking for "senorita" gear for the upcoming SOTF event. I did find some big plastic margarita glasses for 50 cents each and when I got them home, hubby mentioned "Oh, I have some plastic ones from the conference last year." Oh well, I'm sure I'll find a use for them. No other senorita gear but I did find a 1970s Gunne Sax dress that I'll probably donate to the high school costume closet for an upcoming play. Just couldn't leave it there and at $3.50, I had to have the blast from the past!

The Beginning of a Dream

Since 2002 when I saw an article in Country Living magazine, I've wanted to own a vintage trailer and join Sisters on the Fly. After passing up a trailer at Goodwill years ago and kicking myself ever since, I decided to renew the quest. I stalked them on ebay and on craiglist, I trampled through a muddy field looking at old trailers that were abandoned to the elements and came complete with built in friends in the form of wasps that had made a home in the ceiling vents. Finally, the search paid off and I became the owner of a 1967 Shasta LoFlyte camper with wings!

This little darling is in amazing shape with intact whitewashed paneling and cabinets and other than some expected dust and mild dirt, is amazingly clean. No stink of mildew and no critters roaming around. My husband and I hooked her up to the truck and towed her home coming almost full circle since her very first owner lived about an hour from here.

She has yet to be christened with a name and needs new tires but she's been bug bombed and is ready for a pine-sol bath as soon as the weather cools off a little bit.

The cushions need new covers and as luck would have it, Walmart has most of their fabric on clearance so I was able to purchase some wonderful colorful semi-retro looking fabric for the seat cushions and have already found someone to make them for me. Let the restoration journey begin!