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| Summary: Cigar box purses and handbags are fun, and a great new use for an old resource. You can get a cigar box purse or handbag from some purse boutiques, but it's also easy and fun to make a cigar box purse yourself. |
Cigar box purses and Cigar box handbags are all the rage right now. Cigar box purses are exactly what they sound like - purses made from cigar boxes.
Of course, there is much more to it than that. The premise of the cigar box purse is that you start with a genuine cigar box, add hardware and a handle, and whatever ornamentation you desire, and voila, you have a purse. The most basic of cigar box purses is then a wooden box with hinges, a clasp, and a handle. But most cigar box purses have some sort of ornamental addition, such as paint, stickers, appliques, decoupage, or a fabric covering.
And while cigar box purses are certainly craft work which you can make at home (no fair cheating and using a craft cigar box instead of a real one!), there are all sorts of boutique cigar box purses available for sale as well, often going for as much as $60.00 or more.
If you are going to have a go at making a cigar box purse yourself, you will want to start with a genuine wood cigar box, not one of the cardboard ones. Remove any stickers you don’t want to keep, and then give the wood a light sanding.
Then just use your imagination. Take a trip to your local craft store to find fabric (to either line the interior of the box, cover the exterior, or both), or collect some pictures or photos, and decoupage them on. A hot glue gun is definitely a help here.
Once you are happy with the outside of the box, seal it well with several coats of a polyurethane sealer. Then it’s time to attach the hinges and handles.
If you can’t find the right handle or hinges for your cigar box purse at the craft supply store, try the local hardware store. Look at kitchen cabinet handles, closet door handles, or short bits of chain. You can also recycle an old belt either as a shoulder strap or a handle.
Finally, be sure to pay as much attention to the inside of your new purse as to the outside! Glue a mirror inside the lid, and a fun picture in the bottom section, or even a small, compartmented plastic organizer to keep things from sliding around.
If this sounds like fun to you, it is! It’s also a great craft for holiday gifts!
So start rounding up cigar boxes, and recycle in a whole new, and fun way!
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