Altered Art "The Girl With A Pearl Earring Classic Cigar Box,Handbag & Purse

The Girl with A Pearl Earring Classic Cigar Box Handbag and Purse

    One day while shopping at Michaels Craft store, I walked down the unpainted wood aisle and stumbled into uncharted territory and a new love was born. There were wooden boxes, letters, shapes, benches, jewelry boxes, trunks, wooden handbags and much more. There were all sorts of handles, and mirrors to adhere to the inside of the wooden box. I bought a package of a 3”x3” mirrors. I used a silver acrylic paint both inside and outside. I printed some classic pictures from Dover Art software: The Girl with a Pearl Earring, and one of a classic lady resting.I added a few words around the outside of the wooden Purse box and it reads: Do You See What I feel? Peace, Hope, Love, Pain, Sorrow, Fear. I added a blue ribbon on the edges of either side with a glue gun.

 I used some Cat’s Eye Chalk ink to distress the edges. Then, I took out the Modge Podge and attached the pictures to either side of the box. I added a pearl stone so that it would make the earring pop. I wanted a unique handle so I bent 2 silver spoons and hot glued them to the bamboo handle.

 For extra durability I wrapped a blue ribbon around the spoons. In the inside of the box, I glued the small mirror I bought and glued the same blue trim around the mirror.

I have used it only a few times but I truly enjoy just looking at it. These box purses can be made to fit the person who is making it or for the person you plan on giving it to. All it takes is a little creativity to create a masterpiece.

Audrey Hepburn Altered Cigar Box Handbag and Purse

Audrey Hepburn Cigar Box Handbag and Purse

           Finding new uses for old things not only helps the environment, but it can breathe new life into items you once cherished. A few years ago, I went to an estate sale and bought 7 cigar boxes for 25 cents each. I used a modge podge glue to adhere a collage of Audrey Hepburn on one side. The side of the cigar box is shown with the brand name as is the other side of the Cigar box. I needed to attach a lock so that the box would be able to close and also a handle. I used a high gauge wire and used clear glass beads to make a handle. It was tricky getting it to bend the way I wanted but after an hour the handle was perfect. These are great accessories for your wardrobe, decorative storage, and even a lunch box. With a little paper, glue, pictures, wire, beads and a lock, you can make a plain box into a work of art, something to be proud of.