DIY: Disney Suitcase

As I prepared to leave on my Disneyland trip back in November, I teased a picture on my Instagram of this suitcase I painted. You can see pictures from that trip here if you haven't already!

My sister gave me this suitcase she bought at Goodwill years ago and no longer needed. I came up with the idea that I wanted to paint it. I look back on this project and smile because this was one of those things where I had no idea how I was going to accomplish it, but I had a vision for it, and made it happen.

The suitcase was probably just a few dollars, and it certainly wasn't perfect. There are a few little hiccups in the zipper (nothing major), and one of the little feet on the bottom of the suitcase is missing, but it's okay! These quirks give the suitcase some character… or should I say characters?? (ba-dum-ch) Get it? See, because there are a bunch of characters on it… hahaha.. ah.. boy.. moving on!

I had to learn a bit about the painting process along the way and figured I would share my new knowledge with you all in case you find yourself wanting to do something similar in the future!

If you are interested in knowing HOW I did it and what I used, keep reading after the pictures below :)

Back: Peter Pan, Aladdin, and Tangled!

Left Side: The Seven Dwarfs :)

Right Side: My other favorite group of guys along with the Dwarfs, the Lost Boys!

Front: UP, Finding Nemo, Dumbo, Mickey and Minnie, and Ariel with Flounder, Sebastian, and Scuttle! Also, can you spot the Hidden Mickey? Leave a comment on this post if you found it!

I had to be sure and include a bunch of my favorites on this suitcase!! I have many more favorite characters and scenes in mind and ready for a future project though, whenever that may be :)

**If you would like to see any close-up pictures of any sides in particular, let me know--I would be happy to whip the camera out again! Just comment on this post or message me about it, and I'll post the additional pictures here for you to see :)**

What I used:

• A vinyl suitcase (probably just a few bucks when my sister purchased from thrift store)
• Acrylic paint (yes, the cheap stuff you can get at the craft store for like 60 cents a bottle)
• A variety of paintbrushes including very tiny ones for details
• Satin Varnish (Can also be found at most craft stores)
• Gloss Varnish
• Flat (and quite wide) sable paintbrushes to seal

I had never painted on vinyl before so this was a bit interesting, but my go-to paint for any project is acrylic paint from the craft store. I learned about different ways to possibly seal my project once it was finished and decided on the varnishes listed above. 

The beauty of using the acrylic paint on vinyl is that until you seal it in the end, it can be fairly easily washed off with just water. So, what this means is that if you're not happy with something, you can take a cotton swab with a little bit of water, like I did, and "erase" your work. Also, when I was all finished with a side, I took a wipe along the edges to clean it up and this was EASY and gave it a much cleaner look and the illusion that I'm a more precise painter than I am. All smoke and mirrors, people. Let it be said for those that are worried your hours of work will be for waste, once it is sealed with the varnishes, it cannot be wiped off with water. Phew.

Now, I can't just list you all a step-by-step to-do now because that will be up to you and your design! I chose to paint on all sides of the suitcase, leaving some of the vinyl exposed for contrast. My technique was to finish a side completely, let it dry (for at least a day), and then paint on the varnish coats. I used one coat of Gloss Varnish first, and then followed with two coats of the Satin finish, with at least 3 hours between each coat, as the product labels instruct.

If you have any further questions about the process, let me know OR if you think you are going to embark on your own Disney DIY project soon, tell me about it! 

If you were to paint a suitcase of your own, which characters or scenes would you want to see on it? :)

x Lauren

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Step into the Magic | Disneyland in November

"Just imagine: if you were standing right here over 60 years ago, you’d be standing in the middle of an orange grove. One visionary man stood right where you are now, but instead of orange trees, he envisioned a Magic Kingdom. This man’s name was Walt Disney, and his dream would be called Disneyland."*

As the huge Disney fan and former cast member I am, I made getting to Disneyland Resort during their Diamond Celebration year a huge goal! I'm so happy to say that I made it happen!

I have been to Disneyland before, but the last time I went was 12 years ago, long before I came to appreciate the history and imagineering Disney is known for. In a lot of ways it felt like the first time I was visiting, and to say I was excited would be an understatement! I went to California with one of my long-time family friends, Stephanie, one of my former WDW cast member friends, Lane, and I met up with my Disney College Program roommate, Maggie who works out on the West Coast now!

The first day was spent entirely at Disneyland, and we went open to close! It was cool to experience rope drop, Disneyland-style. Our main goal was to accomplish as many Disneyland exclusives as possible.

Some highlights of this first park day were Indiana Jones Adventure, Paint the Night, A Christmas Fantasy parade, meeting Chewbacca (I know!), Matterhorn Bobsleds, and Disneyland Forever. (Many of which were repeated numerous times!)

This was Lane's first Churro EVER, so yes, it was documented! The man who took our photo thought it was hilarious and was happy to be part of the moment. Gotta love people like that at Disney!

I may or may not love an animated character. It's cool guys, I promise.

Stephanie, me, Chewie, and Mags :)

It’s a world where you belong,
Where you can dream aloud.

Your heart will follow!

Get up, and sing along!
The moment’s here and now.*

One of my only Paint the Night photos because I danced along way too much to stop and take photos :)

Day two was spent mostly at Disney's California Adventure where I finally got to see Cars Land with my own eyes!! It's gorgeous and exactly as I'd hoped it would be! We finished the night by watching World of Color, and this is where I'd insert the heart-eye emoji if I could, as it was beautiful! Honestly, all of Disneyland and California Adventure was love at first (or first time in 12 years) sight for me. 

If we believe in the fantasy,
It will carry us away, carry us away.
You and me, makin’ memories today.
Yeah!*

OSWALD! 

Meeting Chip and Dale was so much fun! They started to fight over who loved me more which resulted in me receiving a TON of Chipmunk kisses :)

The third and fourth days in the parks were spent pretty equally in both Disneyland and California Adventure, trying to conquer even more undiscovered features of the two parks!

This is a picture from my first ride (and only so far) on a ferris wheel! I had to make sure my first ride was on a wheel with my good pal Mickey's face on it, haha

Minnie is a great pal when you need a little girl chat! So fun to laugh with her!

Turn on your light!
Come on, and live the magic.
So much to find,
Come on and live the magic.*

I love this sequence of photos so much (annoyingly pats self on back) because Mickey is so stinking cute, and they make me happy! 

Just a suitcase and a dream!

Totally calling me out, haha! Heyyy Mickey :)

Forget the fact that this was clearly taken at night with a flash (hence the weird lighting), but this is like our family photo! 

Mickey and Minnie are family to me!

One quick It's a Small World pic for good measure!

…and jump to a cell phone picture cause we posed as bears before I left!

Step into the magic;
Watch the stories come to life!
Step into the magic;
Every color shines so bright.
Step into the magic!*

(see how I made these ears here)

These next few pictures are from Mickey and the Magical Map, the show I never knew was missing from my life before. I love live entertainment and musical theater, and I LOVE Disney entertainment like none other. I saw this show twice while I was visiting, and I wish I could see it a million times more. This is probably the case where other people would think, "that was nice!" and move on, and question me as to why I would want to devote entire days to seeing multiple performances of it, but hey! I seriously adore the show, and am listening to the music from the show right now as I type this, so yes, the newest obsession is real. 

Just think, all of this is yours… forever!

Come on, and live the magic!*

Goodnight, Uncle Walt.

For those of you who don't know, above the Fire Station, is Walt's apartment. He had the apartment built originally because during the park's construction, he spent so much time there on site. Mags has toured the apartment and that makes me so incredibly jealous! It's on my life goal list of things to do now! The light in the window (during Christmas time, the light is a mini lit-tree) never goes out. It remains on to honor Walt, and I sure took a moment to think of the man who dreamt of and created what has become a huge part of my life.

"As Walt Disney said, 'Disneyland will never be complete.' And as the future will show us, with enough imagination, it will continue to build and grow on one enduring promise—that all who journey into its magical gates will feel forever young. And the magic, as Walt assured us, will never end."*

Thank you for taking this Journey into Imagination with me!
x Lauren

I want to know, my friends, when can we do this again?*

_________________________________________________________________________________

** From Disneyland Forever

* From Paint the Night

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