Briefcase Ideas, Anyone?

[Pickles]

My husband gave me his old briefcase, so now I just need to figure out what I'm going to do with it. It's a traditional suitcase type leather one. I was thinking about painting it and using it for walk-arounds, maybe making different inserts that could fit in it, depending on my mood. It would be nice to somehow figure out a way to be able to put different signs on the outside, too. Any ideas? What kind of paint would you use on leather?

[Paboberto]

I wouldn't paint it unless I really knew what I wanted with it especially if it's leather. What makes it a good prop is that it is easily recongnizable and has lot of assumed attributes to it that you can play with or break. I would use it like a small trunk, a place to keep stuff, and pull things out of like posters, papers, pictures, puppets, props, and pidgeons. You could also twirl it, balance it, stand on it, hide behind it, throw it up in the air, spin it, use it as a hat, a umbrella, a puppet stage, and if worse comes to worse you can put legal documents in it. Also it is great place for a unexpected spring snake attack. Have fun with it!

[Fitzwilly]

Dollar tree has foam core sheets on sale for $1. Paint your signs on the foam core and just apply small velcro dots to the corners of the briefcase. That way you don't mess up the leather, can still use it as a briefcase if you need that look sometime down the road, and can easily change the messages quick, cheap and easy.

[saphireSue]

some one else posted this awhile back,...

for a walk around put flowers inside and ask people if they want to see you grandma's bloomers..

[Pickles]

Bloomers! Ohmygosh, that is so funny.

I still think I want to paint this thing. A leather-colored briefcase is NOT Pickles' style. So, if I DID decide to paint it, what would I use? Fabric paint?

[saphireSue]

There is paint for leather [we had to paint dance shoes from time to tiem] I used to get it at our locat cobbler/shoe repair guy, he kept several colors in stock.

[Fitzwilly]

You could also cover it in fabric...

[Scruffy]

Or a simple case can be made pretty easily. Use quarter inch hard board for the top and back. I usually use 3/4 inch common #2 pine for the box sides. It does add weight, but also let you attach the handles and hinges to real wood. And in the long run. It will last much longer.


If interested, Pm me and I can tell you more on how to build it.

[Bumbles]

I use one of those plastic paper protectors attached to the outside of the case, you can make up any sign you want in word on the computer and slip it in. I have several interchangeable inserts for mine. One is a bunch of small ducks glues to posterboard and the sign reads "A Box of Quackers", another is a mirror glued to posterboard and the sign is "My New Friend", then there is the one where you get a figure of Yoda from Star Wars and put it in the box and the sign reads "My New Toyoda".
Just some for you to think about. Good Luck.