The path to a flawless live event is rarely without detours. Ask any calligrapher who’s wrangled foil, ink, or leather under pressure. One misstep in the studio can save a thousand on site. But what happens to those “not quite” pieces? In my case: they linger in creative limbo…until they get a second chance.
A very well-made leather luggage tag, sacrificed during a round of test foiling, sat tucked away in a closet for over a year and a half. It felt wrong to toss such a lovely item, flaws and all. For one thing, I just couldn’t bear to be so wasteful as to just throw it in the trash. I also couldn’t bring myself to waste something with such potential.
Turns out, old foil doesn’t have to mean forever. After some trial and error, I found that Angelus Leather Preparer and Deglazer works beautifully to remove previous foiling. (Acetone-based nail polish remover is a backup option, but I prefer the smoother finish with Angelus.)
With the luggage tag revived—if not pristine, then perfectly imperfect—I decided to repurpose it as a bon voyage gift for my brother before his trip to London.
Products used (this is not sponsored content, and I am not being paid to mention the following brands or products):
- Leatherology luggage tag
- Angelus Leather Preparer and Deglazer
- Posca PC-1MR markers: white (outline), silver (shadow)
- Angelus acrylic leather paint: white (prime layer), blue
- Angelus micro detail paint brushes: #0 angular, #0 round
This tiny project reminded me that creative mistakes aren’t always dead ends. They’re part of the process, and they can lead to more thoughtful making. Repurposing a flawed piece gave it a second life—one that was in neither a closet nor a landfill. Even a botched sample can become a gift, a gesture, or a reminder that “reduce, reuse, recycle” is as much a creative mindset as it is an environmental one.
If you’re looking to make something special through personalization—whether it’s a custom commission or live event gift—let me know, I’d love to collaborate and help you craft with purpose!
