Cigar Box Purses

[allthingscrafty.livejournal.com]

Go to your local Cigar Shop and ask nicely if you may have some cigar boxes. Let them know you plan to make purses out of them. Usually they will give them away for free. First you must decide on a theme...you can decoupage artwork onto it, Cover it with fabric, Cover it in flowers, feathers, paint it...really the possibilities are endless. Sand the box a bit to make it smooth. Do the interior lining first ... you can use a glue gun or staple gun to place your fabric the way you would like...get creative! you can also sew in a pocket on the lining before hand to up the value.

To do a Decopauge you can dilute some elmers glue with water in a cup or bowl. Place the picture on the cigar box in the desired position make sure it is even and all cuts are made before decopauge. I would suggest making sure if you are looking at the picture on the box the closure should be at the top. It is easier to open that way. Using a paint brush dip the brush in the glue and place one thin coat of the mixture onto the box... place your picture down evenly. Then continue to place an even coat of the mixture over the picture. let it dry for 5 hours just to be safe. Once it is dry use polyurethane to coat the picture... you may want to repeat this 1 to 2 more times for extra protection...make sure each coat is dry before adding another. Let dry overnight. Once the box is completely dry, You may attach handles... you can either buy handles from a website like ebay or www.umei.com. If you buy from these sites The handles are usually screw on. If you would like to make your own ... you can try many different ways...I use wire...then I string on semi precious beads...and screw eye hooks onto the inside of the top of the purse...and drill small holes big enough for the wire to fit through 1/2 inch outward of where the eyehooks are. String the beaded wire through the holes and tie it in a double knot around the eye hooks. Add a mirror to the interior...and tassles or any other finishing touches to make it unique... and there you go...your own cigar box handbag!

If you decide to use fabric You can just glue the fabric all around the corners with a hot glue gun ... or use a small staple gun and cover any rough edges with a matching ribbon or studs.

Ta-DA! Here is one I just finished today! That is a real Darmselfly (dragonfly)