Going to Grandma’s Laptop Case

Going to Grandma’s Laptop Case
By Jennifer Perkins

They just don’t make suitcases like they used to. Remember the luggage of our youth with bright floral patterns and kitschy little slogans printed on the side that said things like “Going to Grandma’s”? Well, you are going to hope that Grandma has wi-fi with this suitcase revamp, because it does not hold a week’s worth of clean underwear — it holds your laptop!

Materials

Suitcase
Butter knife
Foam
Liquid fusion glue
Vintage apron or fabric to cover suitcase
Scissors
Triple Thick top coat
Krylon spray paint
Painter’s tape
Cotton fabric for lining
Collage pauge
Sponge brushes

Directions

Step 1: After you have scoured your local thrift stores (or in my case flea market) to find a suitcase compatible in size to your laptop, it’s time for a face-lift. Using painter’s tape, cover all of the silver hardware on the suitcase.

Step 2: Head outside for some ventilation and coat what was once a barfy doo-doo brown blah plastic suitcase with hot pink goodness. Spray paint comes in a myriad of colors — just be sure if you are spraying a plastic suitcase like I did, you use paint suited for plastic.

Step 3: Choose your groovy fabric wisely. Remember that fabric does not have to come fresh off the bolt. I tore up an old 70s floor-length apron for this flashback to awesomeness.

Step 4: Using decoupage and a sponge brush, coat one side of your suitcase. Cut your fabric to roughly fit and apply more decoupage on top. (Don’t mind the pictures; I did one side of the suitcase with fabric before I decided I had better spray paint first.)

Step 5: A little-known trick of the crafty trade is that a butter knife is good for a lot more than just spreading butter. Use your knife to stuff the edges of your fabric into the seams of the suitcase. If your suitcase does not have seams, trim with scissors to get as close to the edges as possible, and then perhaps apply a decorative trim to hide any rough edges or imperfections.

Step 6: When your decoupage has dried completely. cover with 2 coats of top coat. I’m a fan of Triple Thick. This will make sure the fabric does not get tacky with humidity and stick to any overhead compartments or station wagon floorboards.

Step 7: Next, it’s time to bust out the foam. We chose craft foam in a 1″ thickness. Using scissors and your laptop, cut the foam to fit into the suitcase. You are going to have to eyeball this step for the most part, adding foam here and there to get a tight fit. Don’t forget to add foam to the top of your suitcase too!

Step 8: Drape your fabric over the foam, and using your scissors, knife, and glue pull a Project Runway and “make it work.” This step is not exact — it’s lots of cutting, stuffing, gluing, trimming, and more. Eventually you should be able to get a snug fit. Allow your glue to dry completely before placing your laptop inside.

Step 9: Pop your laptop inside and beam with pride! Congratulations — you have just made the cutest laptop case of all time. Now pack a real bag, call your grandma, and tell her you are coming for a visit.

Head on over to Naughty Secretary Club, where I have more suitcase fun in store for you!
About the Author:

Jennifer Perkins lives in Austin, Texas, where she spends her time thrifting, making jewelry for her company Naughty Secretary Club, and hanging with her girl gang, The Austin Craft Mafia.