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Anastasiia Tysevych – Czech Republic
Tamara Morton – United Kingdom
If you’ve ever wished you could tuck your favorite summer memories into a suitcase and take them anywhere, today’s project will make your heart skip a beat!
Graphic 45 Brand Ambassador Maria Smeshkova is here with a step-by-step video tutorial to create a handmade suitcase-shaped box — complete with straps, buckles, and a working lid!
Maria uses our Seas the Day paper collection, with its vibrant blues, coral accents, and whimsical sea life illustrations. But here’s the best part: you can customize this suitcase album with any Graphic 45 paper collection — perfect for travel albums, wedding keepsakes, baby shower gifts, or seasonal memory books.
Whether you’re a seasoned scrapbooker or just getting started, this project will teach you chipboard construction techniques, layering for dimension, and clever ways to store keepsakes — making this tutorial a timeless resource for your crafting library.
“ Hello everyone!
Today, I’m thrilled to share a project that has truly captured my heart — a handmade memory suitcase created with the vibrant and joyful Seas the Day collection. It is pure summer bliss. With its rich blues and turquoise tones, playful coral accents, vintage-style typography, and cheerful under-the-sea illustrations — turtles, seahorses, shells, and seaweed — it immediately sparks a wave of creativity. It doesn’t just tell a story, it invites you to dive into one.
My suitcase is entirely handmade from scratch. Constructed from chipboard and eco leather, it features stitched panels, straps, buckles, and even a functioning lid, just like a real vintage suitcase. Inside, it holds a colorful arrangement of mini booklets, tags, seashells, coral pieces, and room for treasured mementos.
The interior design uses layers of scrapbook paper and bold cardstock to create dimension and contrast. I added stitching along the edges for a finished look and carefully chose each embellishment to reflect the joyful spirit of the collection. This is the perfect place to store travel journals, small photos, tickets, or notes — anything that brings your adventures to life.
I’ve named this piece “Seas the Memories” because that’s exactly what it’s about — capturing those fleeting, sun-soaked moments and turning them into something tangible and lasting. It’s more than a mini album; it’s a keepsake box that you’ll want to display and revisit again and again.
You can watch the full creative process on Graphic 45 YouTube channel, where I show every step, from the construction to the final decorative touches. Whether you’re new to paper crafting or a long-time Graphic 45 fan, this project is sure to spark ideas.
Turn Chipboard Into a Stunning Suitcase Storage Box Video Tutorial
The Seas the Day collection is absolutely perfect for summer projects, beachy albums, travel-themed books, or simply bright, happy crafting. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to dive into your stash, this is it!
Thank you for stopping by! I hope this suitcase inspires you to capture your own memories and turn them into something magical.” ~ Maria Smeshkova
1. Reinforce Your Structure – Use high-quality chipboard for durability, and add stitching to your panels for a professional finish.
2. Mix & Match Collections – Pair a bold, graphic pattern with softer solids for balance and versatility.
3. Use Functional Embellishments – Straps, buckles, and hinges aren’t just decorative — they add interactive charm.
4. Layer for Depth – Stack papers, tags, and ephemera pieces with foam tape to create a dynamic, dimensional look.
5. Leave Space for Memories – Design pockets and compartments so you can add photos, tickets, journaling cards, and small mementos later.
Ready to “seas” the day? Grab your chipboard, favorite Graphic 45 papers, and join Maria’s video tutorial to create a memory suitcase that’s as beautiful as the adventures it holds. Watch the full tutorial here: DIY Suitcase Album Tutorial. Then share your creation in our Graphic 45 – Official Community Page on Facebook so we can all be inspired by your travels in paper crafting.
Happy Papercrafting!
