| Cigar Box purses are a chic accessory that everyone | | | | remove their handles, hinges, and closures and use |
| should have. While they can range in price from just a | | | | them in the construction of your students' cigar box |
| handful of dollars to hundreds of dollars at a boutique, | | | | purses. This will offer more variety and interest to the |
| they are not too difficult for the average people to | | | | pieces created and they will look more individualized |
| make themselves. Unfortunately, most people have no | | | | and less commercial once they are completed. |
| clue how to even get started creating one of these | | | | You will likely want to provide the class with at least |
| personalized works of art. This is where you come in! | | | | some, if not all, of the following items to decorate their |
| You will teach a class to teach people how to make | | | | purse with: |
| their very own cigar box purse! | | | | Vintage images of men, women, children (glamorous |
| When it comes to creating a cigar box purse, your | | | | movie stars are often a big hit!) |
| imagination is your only limitation. There are so many | | | | Modern and vintage images of cats, dogs, wild animals, |
| possible ways to paint, decorate, and embellish the | | | | farm animals |
| insides and outsides of a cigar box purse, not to | | | | Images of times gone by such as the nifty fifties and |
| mention the endless variations of handles available for | | | | romantic Victorian scenes |
| you to attach to them! | | | | Images of flowers, trees, and other flora |
| Your class could have between five and twenty-five | | | | Ribbons, lace, fabric trims |
| people and could easily be held at a local library, | | | | Assorted paper scraps in different textures and colors |
| community center, or school. All you need are tables | | | | Beads in assorted sizes and colors |
| and space to move around and create! You can ask | | | | Heavy Gauge Wire |
| each person in your class to bring their own | | | | Pliers |
| decorations or you can provide them with basic | | | | Wire Cutters |
| supplies needed to create one. You can charge a bit | | | | Screwdrivers |
| more for the class if you choose to provide the | | | | Drill |
| needed materials. This also makes it easier for the | | | | Screws and Washers |
| students, since all they will need to bring is - | | | | Sandpaper (for removing and/or distressing labels) |
| themselves! | | | | Nail polish remover (also for removing labels) |
| Most tobacco shops either throw out empty cigar | | | | Hair dryer (also for removing labels) |
| boxes or sell them in bulk at a discounted price. You | | | | Sharpened Scissors |
| can get them very inexpensively by stopping by your | | | | Sewing thread, sewing needles, and needle threaders |
| local tobacconist or contacting one of the many | | | | An assortment of magazines, catalogs and vintage |
| tobacco or cigar shops online. They will have a wide | | | | books to cut their own images from |
| variety of boxes for you to choose from. Cigar boxes | | | | Pages from foreign language books |
| come in many sizes from tiny little boxes to gigantic | | | | Assorted Fabric Pieces (velvet is a popular option) |
| boxes that would be big enough for a violin! The boxes | | | | Glitter |
| also come in many colors and styles, some may even | | | | Rubber Stamps, Ink, and embossing powder |
| have magnetic closures, and others have metallic | | | | Colored Pens & Permanent Markers |
| closures on the outside. Some are just a simply | | | | Paints and paintbrushes |
| constructed wooden box; most are covered in paper | | | | Gesso |
| of some sort, and others are just trimmed on the | | | | Various metal and plastic embellishments |
| edges in paper and several are covered in veneer or | | | | Vintage cards, letters, and wrapping paper |
| a heavy weight colored or elaborately decorated | | | | Vintage flash cards and game pieces |
| paper. | | | | Silk flowers and leaves |
| You will want to provide your students with several | | | | You might also want to have someone film you |
| kinds of adhesives to work with. Glue sticks can work | | | | conducting the class (be sure to include students |
| well in some situations and in others you will want to | | | | asking questions!) and create an online (for-a-fee) |
| provide them with liquid glue that is quick drying and | | | | downloadable video or a DVD! |
| able to attach items that are a heavier weight than | | | | You could easily advertise such a class using flyers |
| just thin paper. | | | | placed in medical services buildings, health food stores, |
| Depending on how much you charge for the class | | | | libraries, and community center bulletin boards. Be sure |
| itself, you may want to offer them a wide range of | | | | to include popular lunch places and coffee shops! Most |
| choices when it comes to the handles for their purses. | | | | post offices and grocery stores also have bulletin |
| A simple handle can be constructed with heavy gauge | | | | boards that they will allow you to place an |
| wire and beads or vintage drawer pulls. Since | | | | advertisement on too. Be sure to take advantage of |
| pre-made handles (usually made of a solid piece of | | | | any public bulletin boards in your immediate area to find |
| wood, metal, or plastic) as well as clasps, closures, | | | | the people who are looking for you and your class. |
| hinges, and latches can vary greatly in price, you can | | | | After you have taught your class, you will likely receive |
| offer inexpensive varieties at no additional charge and | | | | word of mouth referrals for your next class (as well |
| then give them the option to upgrade their handles by | | | | as students who want to come back and create |
| purchasing a fancier option also, at an additional small | | | | some more!) and this will help you build up a steady |
| charge. You may also want to find several vintage | | | | clientele. |
| purses at a local charity store, such as goodwill, | | | | |