What you can do with an old suitcase.

Being the Pinterest addict I am, I am on it a lot. I love seeing the DIY section. I saw a pin where someone was making pet beds out of hard sided suitcases. I decided I wanted to make Thomas and Bobbins (my cats) a bunk bed using a suitcase. I found two with no problem. I got them for 2.00 a piece at a yard sale. I have seen even more since. Taylor is going home on Friday and since she has been here she has accumulated a lot of stuff. I knew her two little carry-ons weren't going to hold everything so I started thinking I wood find her a suitcase. Then I remembered I have two of them. In the garage. Gathering dust. Ok back on Pinterest. Can you redo a suitcase to use? You bet you can. This is the ugly old thing I started with. Fortunately though ugly it is sturdy. I remember using an open Samsonite as a kid with my sister to jump in. Like a trampoline. The inside was in pretty good shape except for the top half so I took out the vinyl and used it for a pattern. I save the trim and used it after I recovered the top. I put in a little lavender sprig to make it smell pretty. I taped off all the metal parts and spray painted it a soft lilac color. Then I just used Mod Podge and fabric and covered the front and back. I used two different fabrics just because I could. I put a vintage "Aloha" postcard on it and a tag that says "Always on my mind, Forever in my heart." I always tell Taylor Aloha, not goodbye. Unfortunately Taylor won't be able to come and stay anymore. I told her I will always be here and when she is an adult and makes her own decisions, we will pick up where we left off. Her mom has verbally attacked me three times so far due to her mental illness. This last time she sent the cops who promptly left after a hearty apology. They say "no good deed goes unpunished." Sadly that has been the case. I love her and I made sure she had a good summer with fun and love and family and that is all I can do. That and hope I made some kind of difference in her future life. On the other side I did another purple fabric but it is softer. Almost Shabby Chic. I did a "T" monogram because she says she can never find anything with her name or initial. I love how it turned out and the hardest part was probably just taping it off. After Olivia saw it she promptly brought in the other suitcase and gave me a meaningful look. I also made a wreath out of moss and burlap and some natural floral things that I found at a yard sale. The whole thing cost me a 1.00. It is in my entry way and I like it a lot. It has been a trying week! I have pneumonia and my heart is feeling trampled on and crushed. I still would do it all over again for Taylor though. I am just sad that I have to say "Aloha". xoxoxoxo melinda