tutorial tuesday: vintage suitcase to craft show display
A few months ago I decided to apply for my first craft show and so the mad dash began. I knew I wanted to display my brooches, trivets & tie cases in a vintage suitcase. I started off by searching for a tutorial and came up with nothing. I’ve wanted to do a tutorial for a long time, so it only made sense that this would be my first. So bear with me and feel free to ask questions if something doesn’t make sense 
what you’ll need
1 vintage suitcase (make sure it stays open without tipping over)
1/2 yard of burlap (you may need more or less depending on the size of the suitcase)
cork board
ruler
scissors
utility knife
marker
staple gun & staples
ready, set, go…
Start off by removing the sagging pockets that you won’t need (or you could just leave yours if they are in good shape). I used my scissors to snip the stitching around the pockets on the bottom only and then gently pulled and snipped as needed. Fortunately the pot holders I’ll be displaying inside it will cover the holes left.
the guts
I picked up a cheapo $5 cork board not the foam that is $30 a yard. Better yet pick up a cork board from a thrift shop or yard sale. Next, pull the edges off the cork board (sorry I forgot to take pics of this step). Set your suitcase on top of the cork and trace it with your marker. This will give you a basic shape to cut out with your utility knife & ruler. I had to trim my cork board a couple of times to make sure it fit inside the lid.
Once you have the corkboard trimmed to the right shape, lay the burlap down and place the cork board face down on top of it.
begin stapling the burlap to the back of the cork board
pull burlap tight when stapling
finished corner
Trim the excess burlap around the staples to reduce the amount of bulk and weight in the lid when it is open.
the glory
push the burlap covered board into the lid
See wasn’t that easy! Let me know what you think or if you have any ideas.
Happy crafting!
L
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[...] at Lynn Minney Design made a tutorial using a vintage suitcase as a small craft show case and she got me thinking (you can see her [...]
This is a great tutorial! Always finding great ways to display, and the fun thing about this is that you can carry your items inside! Thanks Lynn!
you could even line the bottom with the burlap covered cork board too if you needed to lift the items of the bottom up.
Hi, Lynn, great idea and great tutorial. Still coming up with one, and still need a photo taken, how lame am I? Been busy with meetings, we’re involved here in our little town, and I’ve decided now to get going and build up and inventory or upcycled stuff, so I’m ready next year for the arts and crafts show in July, yes we just had it. I wasn’t ready. So, have fun and good going. Karen
aw, I’m glad I’ve inspired you too
what a beautiful suitcase. i love the red lining and the clothesline idea!!!
indeed we would!
really cute idea. I am going to be in my first craft show in November I make hair bows and vintage rosettes for the hair.. I would love to do this I have a couple of old suitcases like this out in my garage put up for something someday. I am just wondering how I can put the hair clips on there do you just pin them on? thanks for the Idea!!
thanks! i’m not sure that this display would would be the best way to display hair clips. i only put brooches on mine. it might work if you poke paper clips into the cork or foam core & hang the hair clips off that. good luck!