Instructions to Alter Train Case

The altered train cases I do are inspired by an article I once read in the Cloth Paper and Scissors Magazine-Summer 2005. The article is titled "Time Travel" by Linda Linn. Here are the instructions that I use.

Supplies:

Vintage train case-or also called old cosmetic case-luggage-I usually get them off ebay but I did find one once at an antique store for 10.00.

Acrylic Paints-and Paint markers are nice to do detail work

collage elements

gel medium

polyurthane to protect-

You paint it as desired. I usually put a couple of coats to increase durability.

You add collage elements with the gel medium. Use a damp, soft rag to keep it clean and without fingerprints and smudges

Do detail work with paint markers

Coat with the polyurthane-allow to dry. Repeat a couple of times to increase durability-so it can actually be carried as luggage and survive.

Add some luggage tags. I have used soldered charms I made, old keys, all kinds of things to hang off the handle. Have fun with it.

Comments

Zoe's Art Stuff said…

Hello! I bookmarked you a while back and I used your tutorial post on printing on fabric using your laser printer, card stock and masking tape. I have been doing that now (lots and lots) ever since, and I just thought I should pop over here and thank you. Your stuff is great, by the way. I'm really enjoying it. Your vintage traveling case makes me remember that I have a couple of those, just lying around in storage... Better get to work!

8:48 AM

About Sewing on Vinyl

The top handbag is my most recent piece of art. LOL. Sewing on "marine vinyl" is not for the weak hearted. I had to "google" every trick in the book. You need to understand some of the basics of Vinyl before you start a project. I'm telling you this because I started the project before I knew.....which is typical of all of my projects. First, let me just say that vinyl is sticky and does not like to feed forward. It sticks and refuses to move without feeding with your hand from the back side and pulling from the other hand from the inside. Plus, after much research.....I learned that you must get a teflon foot which helps to feed the material through. You can also tape your foot with scotch tape-but the teflon foot was like 3.00 and well worth it. You will also want to do some trials on some pieces of the fabric (vinyl) that you are going to use to test out the tension and stitch length. Apparently, the weight of your thread is important, and you wa...

Paper Flowers and Fabric Flowers

Well, I'm kind of in a creative funk again. I hate it when this happens! I'm so glad that next weekend I am going to Fredricksberg, TX again to the trade days. I know it will inspire me in all kinds of directions. Meanwhile, while I am trying to get my groove back........I have been making a lot of little short term projects in the paper department. I made this little posey pin from faux vintage post/letters etc papers from the scrapbooking department. I actually wore it yesterday on my jacket. Then I spotted this book on Fabric Flowers by Elizabeth Helene Searle at the fabric store and I had to get it. I used her instructions to make this first fabric flower. I want to try several of her other flowers instructions. Now, what will I do with them? Who knows? Does it really matter if I am enjoying myself? Probably everyone will get fabric or paper flowers for Christmas! Heehee Have a great day.

Poor Little Tuesday

You know, Tuesday kind of has a bad wrap. It is not the beginning of the week, not the end, not even the middle! It is kind of a bland day if we let it be. But, I want it to be fun so I am bringing back the Tuesdays Ten Tiny Things Challenge~! Yay! FUN! Several of you participated in this challenge last year and you produced the neatest photographs of your Ten Tiny Things collections. See them here on my Flickr. Let's do it again! Here is the challenge. You have until Sunday of this week (JUNE 28) to send me a link to your blog post about Ten Tiny Things . All of the pics will be posted and one of them will be randomly selected for this challenge. Whoever wins will receive a prize from me. I don't know what it will be yet. I want it to be something fun though. I will keep you posted on that. Meanwhile, I will also be thinking of my Ten Tiny Things to post. Have a Happy Tuesday and rest of the week. Now get going!

Funky Art Queen

Search This Blog