Cigar Box Purses

Cigar Box purses are a chic accessory that everyone should have. While they can range in price from just a handful of dollars to hundreds of dollars at a boutique, they are not too difficult for the average people to make themselves. Unfortunately, most people have no clue how to even get started creating one of these personalized works of art. This is where you come in! You will teach a class to teach people how to make their very own cigar box purse!

When it comes to creating a cigar box purse, your imagination is your only limitation. There are so many possible ways to paint, decorate, and embellish the insides and outsides of a cigar box purse, not to mention the endless variations of handles available for you to attach to them!

Your class could have between five and twenty-five people and could easily be held at a local library, community center, or school. All you need are tables and space to move around and create! You can ask each person in your class to bring their own decorations or you can provide them with basic supplies needed to create one. You can charge a bit more for the class if you choose to provide the needed materials. This also makes it easier for the students, since all they will need to bring is - themselves!

Most tobacco shops either throw out empty cigar boxes or sell them in bulk at a discounted price. You can get them very inexpensively by stopping by your local tobacconist or contacting one of the many tobacco or cigar shops online. They will have a wide variety of boxes for you to choose from. Cigar boxes come in many sizes from tiny little boxes to gigantic boxes that would be big enough for a violin! The boxes also come in many colors and styles, some may even have magnetic closures, and others have metallic closures on the outside. Some are just a simply constructed wooden box; most are covered in paper of some sort, and others are just trimmed on the edges in paper and several are covered in veneer or a heavy weight colored or elaborately decorated paper.

You will want to provide your students with several kinds of adhesives to work with. Glue sticks can work well in some situations and in others you will want to provide them with liquid glue that is quick drying and able to attach items that are a heavier weight than just thin paper.

Depending on how much you charge for the class itself, you may want to offer them a wide range of choices when it comes to the handles for their purses. A simple handle can be constructed with heavy gauge wire and beads or vintage drawer pulls. Since pre-made handles (usually made of a solid piece of wood, metal, or plastic) as well as clasps, closures, hinges, and latches can vary greatly in price, you can offer inexpensive varieties at no additional charge and then give them the option to upgrade their handles by purchasing a fancier option also, at an additional small charge. You may also want to find several vintage purses at a local charity store, such as goodwill, remove their handles, hinges, and closures and use them in the construction of your students' cigar box purses. This will offer more variety and interest to the pieces created and they will look more individualized and less commercial once they are completed.

You will likely want to provide the class with at least some, if not all, of the following items to decorate their purse with:

Vintage images of men, women, children (glamorous movie stars are often a big hit!)
Modern and vintage images of cats, dogs, wild animals, farm animals
Images of times gone by such as the nifty fifties and romantic Victorian scenes
Images of flowers, trees, and other flora
Ribbons, lace, fabric trims
Assorted paper scraps in different textures and colors
Beads in assorted sizes and colors
Heavy Gauge Wire
Pliers
Wire Cutters
Screwdrivers
Drill
Screws and Washers
Sandpaper (for removing and/or distressing labels)
Nail polish remover (also for removing labels)
Hair dryer (also for removing labels)
Sharpened Scissors
Sewing thread, sewing needles, and needle threaders
An assortment of magazines, catalogs and vintage books to cut their own images from
Pages from foreign language books
Assorted Fabric Pieces (velvet is a popular option)
Glitter
Rubber Stamps, Ink, and embossing powder
Colored Pens & Permanent Markers
Paints and paintbrushes
Gesso
Various metal and plastic embellishments
Vintage cards, letters, and wrapping paper
Vintage flash cards and game pieces
Silk flowers and leaves

You might also want to have someone film you conducting the class (be sure to include students asking questions!) and create an online (for-a-fee) downloadable video or a DVD!

You could easily advertise such a class using flyers placed in medical services buildings, health food stores, libraries, and community center bulletin boards. Be sure to include popular lunch places and coffee shops! Most post offices and grocery stores also have bulletin boards that they will allow you to place an advertisement on too. Be sure to take advantage of any public bulletin boards in your immediate area to find the people who are looking for you and your class.

After you have taught your class, you will likely receive word of mouth referrals for your next class (as well as students who want to come back and create some more!) and this will help you build up a steady clientele.

Resources:

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/cr_diy_people/article/0,2025,DIY_13752_2276941,00.html

http://www.makingcigarboxpurses.com

http://www.umx.info