12 Days of Christmas, Day 6, Vintage Luggage

Don't you just adore vintage luggage?  The sturdy boxy shape, lovely handles, and satiny insides.  I can just imagine the trips these pieces have gone on--cross-country train rides, steamer ships, big, old airplanes where the stewardesses wore little pill hats.

I pick up vintage suitcases whenever I can find them at an affordable price (Boy, do I wish I would have snatched them all up several years ago when they were a dime a dozen!).  I decided to use one from the stash to make a sweet Christmas decoration, that is useful too.

After gluing down some of the edges, I painted it with red Chalk Paint from Annie Sloan.  I then found this adorable vintage graphic at The Graphics Fairy--she has so many to choose from!

I Modge Podged it on.  The way I learned to do Modge Podge to help avoid bubbles is to put the glue both on the back of the paper and on the item you are sticking it to.  I get bubbles still, but as it dries they seem to disappear. TIP: Spray your image with a clear sealer spray before decoupaging so the colors won't run.  Use a light coat or two, if it is too heavy the ink will run.

When it was dry, I added a border of modge podge with a paint brush and then some clear glitter.  

A ribbon tied to the scrumptious handle, 

and a coat of clear spray to protect it all and hopefully keep the glitter on there a bit better finished up this sweet suitcase.  

And the best part, it gives you extra storage--a place to hide your "normal" decor and a place to store Christmas decor the rest of the year.