File Folder Suitcase Craft

Several weeks ago, as I wrote about Packing for Eternity, I used an analogy of packing for travel to illustrate things to take with us (put on) and things to leave behind us (put off) as we travel on our spiritual journey toward heaven and eternity.  Here is a cute suitcase you can make from a file folder to use to illustrate this lesson with children:

File Folder Suitcase Craft

Items Needed:

1 – colored file folder

2 – colored unlined 3×5 cards (or cardstock cut to 3″x5″)

2- colored unlined 5×8 cards (or decorative cardstock cut to 5″x8″)

adhesive labels or travel stickers, (optional)

duct tape (or masking tape), deocrative tape (like washi, I used dollar store brand), thin craft braiding cord,

glue, hole punch, scissors, ruler, jar lid or other circle template.

Step 1: Trim Folder

 

Trim file folder so that top edges are even. Trace around a jar lid to round all the top and bottom corners of the folder. (I used my ruler to draw a straight line to trim the top of the folder, and while my ruler was there, I made a tiny dot in the center of the top of the folder to use to center the handles.)

 

 

 

 

Step 2: Handles (Make 2)

First mark 1-1/2″ from 3 outside edges of the card. Trim away the center rectangle– but KEEP this rectangle for later!

Use the same jar lid to round the top edges of the handle. (Note: if you are making many of these suitcases for a VBS or Sunday School class, measure one to use as a template and then trace the rest from it.)

With the folder folded, center the handles on the folder (use your tiny pencil dot as a guide), making sure that the holes line up together from both handles, and glue to the outside of the folder, overlapping about 1/2″)

 

Step 3: Outside of Suitcase

With the folder opened flat, outside facing up, use duct tape or masking tape to tape a strip from the glued end of one handle all the way to the glued end of the opposite handle, going all the way to the edge of the folder and overlapping the glued handle. (Repeat for the other handle).

Use decorative tape along the edges of the duct taped stripe.

 

 

 

Step 4: Inside pockets

Now, keep the folder open, but turn it so that the inside is facing up. Here on the inside, you add pockets. You can add any amount or shape of pockets, but I used two pieces of decorative card stock, cut 5″x8″. Of course, since these are pockets, you glue them down along 3 sides, but keep the top open. It is up to you if you want to round these corners or leave them square and where you want to place them. As you can see, I rounded one pocket, and left one square. You can also decorate these with the decorative tape.

 

 

 

Step 5: Luggage tag:

Now, take the rectangle that you created when you cut the handles. Cut one end of the rectangle to a point. Here again, if you are making many, make a template from one rectangle by folding it in half, and snipping one end to a point while folded.

Use a hole punch to make a hole in the pointed end, about 1/4″ from the edges. Use a 9″ piece of colored braiding cord, or other thin string. Fold it in half, stick the loop through the hole. Bring the ends through the loop, and gently tighten the cord to the tag.

Tie the tag to the handle.

 

 

 

Step 5: Travel Stickers

I used a colorful name tag to add a “travel sticker” to the back of the suitcase to show where I am headed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, if you wanted to use this suitcase to illustrate Colossians 3, you could cut out clothes and mark them with the things to “take” and not “take” to eternity.

 

 

 

 

You could also use this craft with a lesson on Abraham being called out from his homeland to follow God, as Debbie does at Bible Fun for Kids.com with her pre-school Abraham craft.

Or this suitcase craft could be used with many homeschool geography lessons, or just as a pre-trip activity for your kids to use as a place to store brochures and souvenirs from a family trip.

With Joy,

Kathleen

 

Join me and other bloggers @#EncourageMeLinkup,   A Little R & R Wednesdays,  Titus 2 Tuesdays,  Whole-hearted Wednesdays,  #DanceWithJesus Friday Linkup, Tell it to me Tuesday