Why put an adorable raccoon decoupage paper on a suitcase.... or in my case, a "paint brush carrying" case?
Because she's cute....and because you can custom paint a suitcase too!
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Why Have I Never Custom Painted This Suitcase Before??
I've used this orange mini suitcase for years to carry my paint brushes to workshops.
I've been asked many times why it isn't embellished and I just haven't really been inspired to do so....until I saw the Clever Raccoon paper with the tiny pops of orange in the flowers....and I knew she was meant for my orange case!
The Design Plan : Custom Painted Suitcase Design
This particular case has a leather-like feel to it which is perfect for painting.
Painting on leather is always a success! Read more about how to paint on leather HERE!
I have many blogs on the process that you can check out.
You don't even need to prime the surface as the chalk mineral paint grips to it very well.
PRO TIP: If you are planning to decoupage on leather (which is also always a success) I do recommend you paint at least a single layer of white on the surface you plan to decoupage. It helps to keep the colors of the paper bright and true.
Supplies Used: Custom Painted Suitcase Raccoon Decoupage
Clever Raccoon Decoupage Paper (coming soon online)
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Custom Suitcase Design: Raccoon Decoupage
So my first step here was to paint a single layer of Fluff on one side.
Applying the Decoupage Paper
Once dry, I applied a single layer of Satin Clear Coat.
I do this not to seal the paint that I just painted....but to use it as an adhesive medium for the decoupage paper.
It works beautifully as both!
You just brush on a liberal layer and lay your decoupage paper onto the wet surface. I do this in sections and work my way across the case as I go.
PRO TIP: It is helpful to spritz the BACK of your decoupage paper with small amount of water about one minute before you apply it. This just helps to relax the paper, makes it more pliable and also has fewer wrinkles in the final result.
So Simply...
Spritz whole decoupage sheet and wait one minute.
Brush on Satin Top Coat in small section.
Apply paper to the wet section.
Smooth out with a ball of saran wrap or wadded up plastic bag...or even with your hand inside a zippy bag.
And repeat the above until your the paper has been applied to your entire desired surface.
I have a blog dedicated to How to Apply Decoupage with detailed instructions for each step. I also cover things like curved surfaces and around knobs! Learn more about decoupage here!
To Trim or Not to Trim?
I usually do not "pre-trim" my paper.
I usually work with as much of the sheet in tact as possible and then trim away the excess with an exacto knife once it has been adhered to the surface.
However this time I did pre-trim....which meant in the end I had a few spaces where white from underneath was showing through and I had to go back and touch up.
It's not a big deal....but its why I usually leave excess paper.
When it is fully trimmed and smoothed out well....I apply one or two final coats of the clear coat.
And that is it for the decoupage!
It's fast, easy and impactful!!!
Now for the Back Side of the Case
The bright orange back was not working for me.....so I chose two dark colors to try and match the background that is behind the Clever Raccoon.
The background of the paper has a blended look...it's not just a flat black.
So I chose Midnight Sky and Hurricane Gray and applied them in a stippling motion.
I even carried a small amount of that stippled paint over onto the edge of the original paper.
I call this "painting in" as it blurs the hardline between two finishes and help them to appear more as one finish.
In the very end...once all was stippled....I used the new synthetic chip brush (which I love and everyone needs one) in a cross hatching motion to soften my final cloudy blend of dark colors.
The Finished Look: Custom Painted Suitcase
I am so pleased with the final look! It looks and feels like velvet!
I applied two coats of Gator Hide to the entire case for long lasting durability!
I'm thinking I may ask attendees at my next retreat to sign this beauty with a white marker....wouldn't that be cool?
More Inspiration:
I pulled a few blogs from past projects that came to mind when working on this piece! I hope you can use them to draw inspiration for your upcoming project. Here are the additional designs for your inspiration:
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Click on any photo below for more up-close photos and all the design details
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