Art Projects With a Cigar Box

Cigar boxes offer a number of uses.

A cigar box lends itself to a number of art projects that recycle the empty box by turning it into a practical piece of art, fashion or décor. Cigar boxes offer a shape and sturdiness that allows for reuse and functionality in the classroom or at home. Add personal touches to the exterior and interior of the box for design purposes.

Jewelry Box

Turn your cigar box into a storage box for your jewelry. Remove stickers, and wipe down the box with a wet cloth to create a smooth surface for paint adherence. Apply two coats of acrylic paint in the color of your choice to the interior and exterior of the cigar box. Paint details using stencils or add beading, fabric or decals to the top, front and sides of the box. Measure the interior of the base of the cigar box vertically and horizontally. Purchase or cut small pieces of craft wood with a saw based on your measurements to create different compartments to store rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces.

Lunch Box/Purse

Cigar boxes can become a sturdy wooden lunch box or purse. Remove the stickers from the box, and paint the wood with acrylics or use varnish to maintain a wooden look. Line and glue the interior of your cigar box with fabric such as velvet, velour or flannel to add cushion if making a purse. Screw a metal latch into your cigar box or add hook-and-loop adhesive tape to where the box opens and closes so that you can fasten it shut. Add a purse clutch-style handle so you can carry the box. Detail the exterior of your lunch box or purse with fabric, beads or painted designs. Create a collage using cut-out newspaper or magazine lettering or pictures. Laminate the exterior with self-adhesive laminating sheets to protect your design.

Classroom Dioramas

Students can use cigar boxes to create dioramas for book reports or school projects. Students can paint the interior and exterior of the box to reflect a habitat for a science projects, setting for a book report or map for social studies projects. Students can add materials to the base of the box such as paper-made people or animals, and they can create topography by gluing in grass, sand, blue felt to represent water or cotton balls to indicate snow. Students can design the exterior of the box with relevant information that pertains to the projects such as vocabulary words, a report, pictures or a collage. Cigar-box dioramas offer a project display for the classroom.

Shadow Box

Create a shadow box for photos. Remove the top part of the cigar box with a saw and sand the sides and corners for a smooth finish. Paint or varnish the interior and exterior. Allow the box to dry. Center and glue one picture to the back of the box, or glue multiple pictures to the back and sides of the box. Hang your shadow box on a wall or stand it up on a coffee table or shelf for decoration and a family keepsake.

References

• Craft Bits: Cigar Box Purse
• Enchanted Learning: Dioramas