My first thought was to make it look like a faux leather suitcase. I had seen a video on YouTube showing the technique for “elephant hide” or crushed/antique leather. I gathered up my short list of supplies: tissue paper (new or used–it’ll be covered so it doesn’t matter), Mod Podge and a paintbrush. My first step was to wad up the used tissue paper. (Let me make myself clear- I wadded up used TISSUE paper; not used TOILET paper.)
Next step was to apply a liberal amount of Mod Podge to the surface of the chest. After I did that, I laid the tissue paper on top, then gave it another coat of Mod Podge.
I continued until the whole thing was covered in tissue (not toilet) paper. After it dried, I painted it. Brown. **snicker**
While it did look similar to leather, I wasn’t digging the sheen…or lack thereof. So, I whipped out my other bottle of Mod Podge. Unlike the first bottle, this kind left a glossy finish.
After it dried, I applied a liberal amount of Mod Podge to the fabric. (Gee, I sound like a broken record!)
Next comes the fun part! After I cut off the end with the buckle, I used the hot glue gun to help me secure the leather strap (a.k.a. belt) before I nailed it down. I would glue a little and then I’d nail it a little.
I apologize for not having a photo of me attaching the handle to the “suitcase”. It was late in the day and I was getting frustrated. My hubby could see that my brow was furrowed so he made a deal with me-if I would find him some stamps (he needed to mail a letter), he would attach the handle for me. I gladly accepted this deal. When I handed him the stamps, this is what he presented to me:
There you have it…a use for all of those flatware storage chests you find at yard sales or thrift stores. I have two more, in varying sizes, that I’m planning on doing something similar. I think it will look darling with three stacked on top of each other. Oh, and they also serve a purpose. They are going to hold all of my magazines that I don’t have time to read.
Maybe between being a wife, a mother, a social media manager and a blogger, I’ll find the time to read my fave magazine–Real Simple. I won’t hold my breath, though. The only thing I would have done differently is to have gotten off my rear end and made this back when the idea first came to me. You know, back when vintage suitcases were all the rage. Back when people were adding legs to them and using them as side tables; when people were stacking them to use as a nightstand; when people were cutting them in half and using them a wall shelves. hashtag-adaylateandadollarshort
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post! GO