Opinions please

alyssa324

This is what I already had put together for the card box. I am not in love with it. What do you think? The fabric banners is used in other areas of the wedding and I also have two other suitcases one used as a table and one favor holder.



But  I do really like tygirls suggestion. But I will have to make it..... I do feel better that it locked though

alyssa324

oh the certificate in the suitcase is what mickey sent

mgoss228

I really like the suitcase idea.  Unless you are worried about guests (or random people who might have access to the "card box" area) stealing your cards, you should go with the suitcase idea.  It is just too freaking cute.

But if you are worried about having any of your cards stolen, you should recreate the locked alternative.

Or you can put someone in charge of making sure that after the ceremony ( and all the guests have arrived), all the cards are transported from the larger suitcase to the smaller locked box, which can be stored somewhere secure.

Or just put some kind of lock around the suitcase, and close it and store that away.

HTH!

Kaye Smith

Oh, i LOVE the suitcase idea!!!  i think it looks great!!  I was on a suitcase kick a few years ago and got a whole bunch of old samsonite suitcases from the 50's, so i guess i'm biased towards the suitcase cardholder!!

KST_

I adore cute vintage suitcases, too and LOVE the way that looks. However, if you are concerned about envelopes getting walked away, then ditto the lock up the suitcase? Or I know I've seen suitcase styled "hat boxes" at Joann's and Michaels with a latch, although they don't lock. But you could get two sizes of those and convert into the stacked box style where you cut a whole in the bottom of the smaller, glue together, slit in top. Then you could leave one of the latches unglued for opening and one glued shut?

Tygirljojo

It sounds like the suitcase will work with the other decor you have.  Or if you're concerned about it being secure, I also like KST's idea.  I'm all for easier, but if you're not happy with it, then see what other options you might like.  Maybe another easier idea would be to have a hat box for cards sitting in the suitcase, kind of like it was packed in the suitcase itself?  Or maybe a box with clothes painted to look like a pile of folded clothes with a hole on top for the cards?

KST_

Ok, I just went back to the previous thread about this, and here's my input.

1) for the box like Tygirl posted. You can get a wood box with lid, various sizes I've seen at Michaels and Joanns. If it doesn't already, you can buy hinges to put on the back and then go to a hardware store and just get two metal loops on plates, or a latch that goes over a loop. Then you put a padlock of any kind on it to secure. I don't know what tools you have at home, but you could cut a hole in the top to put the cards in.  For the carving, you can get a wood burning tool (use your 50% off coupon!) and they're actually super-easy to use.

2) Patina mail box. Couple different ways to do this. Go to a hardware store and pick up a metal mailbox.
Painted: use steel wool (and gloves so you don't get metal slivers in your hands!) and scrub away at various parts to mimic wearing away of the paint and to expose the metal.

Then you would use some kind of agent to rust the metal, which I'm a little unclear on. I believe if it is galvanized steel, the "galvanizing" is actually a zinc coating and you should be able to use a super strong kitchen acid to oxidize it a bit.

Couple methos to try:
a)Quick Googling suggests maybe just soaking it in pure tomato juice to help it oxidize/rust.
b) Alternately, there is something called Plum Brown Barrel Finish that will give metal that mix of brown rust. The metal first has to be super-heated like with a propane torch though.
c) Here are two techniques for tin: http://desultorybutterfly.blogspot.com/2008/01/primitive-style-decorating.html
d) fancy spray paint There are some textured ones I've used that are a mix of flecks of browns with some red in it. Rustoleum textured Autumn Brown. Honestly, for cheap and ease and guaranteed result, I'd just do this

alyssa324

wow kst- you are such a help and very thorough. I am still unsure what option I want to go with

KST_

  It's typical of me...when I get super-stressed and anxious about my own crap, I love to avoid by helping OTHER people!!! Because for some reason, that seems to be something I can solve while my own feel insurmountable.

alyssa324

LOL I am the same way. I really need to re evaluate the budget and figure out what we need to pay with the normal paychecks. But instead this week we just paid misc things and kind of blew it SH!T I am notorious for avoiding the problems.