Small Project Challenge- Lining Vintage Suitcases!

For my Small Project Challenge in May I spent a really fun morning lining two vintage suitcases to use to display my jewellery at craft fairs! If you're a new reader, find out about the Small Project Challenge here- it's one way I'm working towards my goal of being more organised this year!

Quite some time ago I decopatched these display stands, but I felt that it was time for a new look (it's funny how our ideas evolve). Having used a vintage suitcase as a prop for a jewellery photoshoot, I have had this idea in mind for some time, so it was the perfect project as part of the Small Project Challenge!

I bought the suitcases on ebay- they are a bit battered in places but I think this adds to the vintage look! I find it fascinating to think of the stories these cases could tell- who they might have belonged to and the places they have been

I picked up this remnant of vintage style fabric that I thought would make a pretty backdrop for display

I cut a piece of fabric for each side and set to work gluing them into the case, over the top of the existing paper lining, letting the edges overlap to trim when dry. I used an all purpose strong craft glue for one of the cases and when this ran out I used PVA for the other case- both worked equally as well

I allowed the glue to dry completely and then trimmed away the excess fabric, before attaching grosgrain ribbon around the top of the case to hide the raw fabric edges. I started off using my glue gun to attach the ribbon, but I didn't think this was giving a neat enough finish, so I changed to using double sided tape

My cases had their first outing at The Warner Textile Archive Textile Fair last weekend and I was pleased to receive many complements on the cases!

I lined the whole of the case to give me more display options but I also made a fabric covered cardboard "shelf" to give some height to the display. I used pegs and bakers twine to hang some brooches on the lids of the cases

I'm so pleased with the look of the revamped cases and also to have given these vintage pieces a new lease of life!