June Blog Hop Challenge -Upcycled Vintage Luggage Picnic Basket

Welcome to the June Blog Hop Challenge

The inspiration this month is a "Summer Craft"

Below are my blogger friends who took part in the challenge. Be sure and pop over and visit all the other projects too.

Across the Blvd | Purple Hues & Me
Southern Sunflowers | Slices of Life
Domestic Deadline | Chas' Crazy Creations
Comfort Spring | Cookies, Coffee, & Crafts
Coastal Bohemian 

Nearly a year ago, my friend , Cindy, gave me a piece of vintage luggage that had belonged to her mother. She was very eager to see what I would create. 

We are planning a camping trip soon and I thought I would make a pretty picnic basket to caddy all our outdoor picnic supplies. 

To begin with , one side has some missing leather trim. 

Is this a Bakelite handle ? Bakelite is a  lucite/ acrylic like material used back in the 1940's and 1950's . Bakelite handles and jewelry have become prized possessions for collectors.

Here is the hardware. To paint or not to paint?

So I decided that I needed to remove the leather trim on the one side. It's very dry and brittle and pulls off easily.

I have a good little stash of chalky paint  perfect  for a coat all over. 

And I'll need to get rid of this stinky , dusty interior.

After I vacuum  the inside clean and pretty I coat the entire inside with more chalky paint.This will help seal out any lingering odors also.

And to give the inside some color, I decoupage some napkins to the inside. 

When the glue from the decoupage has dried, I sand off the excess napkin along the edges, with an emery board.

I used the cap from a storage container to create a polka dot all over the exterior of the luggage/picnic basket.

Looking good!!!!

Now for the goodies.

Napkins

A nautical tablecloth

Melamine Dishes 

Wine Glasses and Ice Tea Glasses

I'm holding out for some beachy utensils. 

I wanted to attach everything with stretchy bands so they would hold in place when being transported but I couldn't find the elastic in any of the stores. They were sold out because people use the elastic to make masks.

So for now we will showcase the upcycle and in the future I will add the elastic .

Thanks for playing along. Let me know what you think I  should add to the picnic basket.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

With love and gratitude,

Michele

Find me partying here all week, at these link parties, with some great bloggers.

If you are in Myrtle Beach come on down and visit us at the Coastal Bohemian Studio or Follow us out on Facebook, Pinterest , Instagram, Linkedin, or Bloglovin .