Cigar Box Purse Fancy craft type purses are all the rage in fashion these days and sure to turn heads. Check out our cigar box which has been decorated and transformed into a fun memory show off item. You can actually use it as a purse to hold your usual items when shopping, then as a centerpiece on the mantle or coffee table for a conversation piece! This project teaches lots of steps for a crafter so allow time to get it all together. Any type of ordinary wooden cigar box can be converted into a purse to match the personality and style of anyone by using Wrights trim, ribbon, & appliqués, as well as personal items from the person the box/purse is for!

MATERIALS:
2 1/3 yds.	Wrights® 1/2" Flat Jute Braid (#183-6122-029)
1 1/2 yds.	Wrights® 1/2" Jute Rope (#183-6298-029A)
1 yd.	Wrights® 1 1/2" Brown Leather-like Trim (#183-6445-905)
1/3 yd.	Wrights® 7/8" Lace (#183-2440-095)
1 yd.	Wrights® 1/2" Flat Braid (#144-6128-838)
1 1/3 yds.	Wrights® Ribbon (#183-7183-001)
1	Wrights® Tassel (#183-9070-029)
1/4 yd.	Wrights® 1/8" Leather-like Cord (#184-8300-097)
1 pkg.	Wrights® Monarch Buterfly (#193-3210-001)
1 pkg.	Wrights® Butterfly Appliqués (#193-3096-001)
1 pkg.	Wrights® Cameo Appliqué (#193-9869-001)
1 pkg.	Wrights® Oval Flowers/Cameo Appliqué (#193-9867-001)
1 pkg.	Wrights® Flower Pot Appliqué (#193-3093-001)
1	Wooden Cigar Box (9" x 6 1/2" x 2")
21	Antiqued Upholstery Tacks
1 sheet	Decorative Paper (We used an antique paper with postage cards and stamps)
1	Small Scrap Piece of Rice Paper
--	Sage Green Acrylic Paint
--	Paintbrush
--	Liquid Laminate
--	Fabric Glue
--	White Glue
1	Small Family Picture (We used a color copy)
1	Paper Tag
--	Stick-on Letters
--	Assorted Decorative Items (We used old key, button and tobacco stickers)
--	Scissors
--	Tack Hammer

INSTRUCTIONS: NOTE: the measurements below are for a box with the above listed dimensions. You can use any size box as long as you check the measurements and purchase trims accordingly. Outside: Add a few drops of water to paint and mix well. Paint outside of box and let dry. Optional: We cut a heart template out of paper and painted around it, removing it later and added a message (see photo for placement). Lightly sand box when dry to give it a distressed look. Inside: Measure and cut decorative paper to fit top and bottom of inside of box. Glue each piece with white glue. Measure, cut and glue flat jute to fit around the sides for a finished look (see photo for placement). Add large butterfly appliqué for a whimsical look. Front: (The FRONT will be the bottom of the box when standing.) Cut and glue rice paper to fit on the tag. Cut photo with decorative scissors and glue over rice paper. Spell out MOM with the letters. Cut cording in half. Using one piece, loop and tie through the tag hole. Leaving room for the braid around the border and the ribbon down the side with lace at the top, carefully begin arranging the decorative items on the front (see photo for placement). Cut a rectangular piece of the lining paper and layer the tag partly over it. Place appliqués, sticker and buttons (we also used a key) in position. When arranged favorably, glue in place with fabric glue. Glue lace across the top approx. 1/4" from the top. Cut 6 1/4" piece each of basket ribbon and brown leather-like trim. Glue ribbon over brown trim with fabric glue. Glue both down to the left side of box approximately 1/4" from the side. Cut a 6 1/4" piece of flat braid and glue to right side. Cut 2 pieces of flat braid 11 3/4" long. Fold under 1/4" on each end and glue with fabric glue. Glue braid across the top and bottom. Press upholstery tack in each end and in the four corners on the front of the box. (Hint: Tack hammer may be needed). Cut 9" of rope and glue around unpainted heart. Loop and make a tie with remaining piece of cord. Nail in 2 tracks at the top of the heart. Write your personal message inside the heart. (We also wrote Mom's nicknames along the bottom edge of the box above flat braid). Handle: Cut a 26" piece of flat jute braid and a 25" piece brown leather-like trim. Cut the brown trim to 1" wide. Position jute braid in the center of brown trim lengthwise, glue in place using the fabric glue. Fringe the 1/2" excess at each end. Cut a 26" piece of ribbon and glue onto the other side of brown trim. Turn under 1/ 2" on either end for a more finished look; glue. Back of box: Cut two pieces (22") of jute rope. Glue around two sides and across top of the bottom (back) portion of the box (See photo for guide). Cut a 10" piece of ribbon, fold and glue under 1/4" at each end for clean finish. Position between the two rows of jute rope at top; glue. Starting 1" up from bottom of box, left side, glue approximately 5 1/2" of the handle to sides of box. Nail in place using 5 tacks through trim handle. Repeat for second side of handle, leaving loop for carrying. Glue loop of tassel at one side under handle. Arrange and glue appliqués, letters and decorative paper to the box as you did for the front. Cut 11" of flat braid and glue along bottom edge of box. Frog closure: Cut 6" of jute rope and fold in half. Knot the center and glue just above the opening of box. Nail a tack to either side of the jute rope to help hold in place. Cut 18" jute rope. Using illustration at right, form two swirls and loop. Glue to top center of the back of the box. Nail in 3 tacks to hold in place (see photo for placement). To finish our purse we coated the entire box and all trims with a liquid laminate. You should test how the laminate will work on scrap pieces of your trims and papers. At first ours looked darker but returned to its original color when it dried. Also check the inside for points of the upholstery tacks sticking out. If there are any, gently tap them with your tack hammer to flatten the point. ENJOY!

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Other Exciting Links:
Learn more about our Jute. Learn more about our Appliqués.	Learn more about our Cameo Appliqués. Visit the Wrights® Classroom for more fun projects.

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