Cigar Box Purses

[wannaseestars.livejournal.com]

Sorry for another question. I looked through search engines and I even looked through the link to retrieve the memories (which I, in fact, couldnt retrieve) that another craftgrrl posted. But I wasn't able to find any how-to's on personalizing cigar box purses. Most websites were just selling the ones people had made, or they were selling the hardware and supplies needed to make a cigar purse.

Anyways. I went to Michael's craft store this evening and purchased a blank, empty, cigar-like box, along with the hardware, beads, and wonderful tissue paper. The box itself is pretty rough, its not coated with anything, its just bare. I think it may need to be sanded on some rough spots before anything is done with it. The tissue paper is very cool. One piece is black and white and it has like old film strips or negatives printed on it, the scenes look like they're from the 40's-50's. Along with that came this other neat black and white striped print, almost like a barcode. And solid black,white and red tissue papers. Im sure I could create a really neat box with this stuff.

What I want to do is use the tissue paper all around the box, and perhaps have one large main pic on each flat side on top of the tissue paper. Then I plan on decorating it with a ribbon border or something neat. As for the interior, I want to have a neat, cushy, fabric placed. What would be the best way to apply the tissue paper and other decorations to the box? Decoupage? Should I coat the box with something before I begin anything, or will modge-podge work just as well? Also, what is the best method for creating the interior I am grasping for?

Thanks to everyone who has any tips or ideas :)