Belly Dance Cigar Boxes

I spent most of today finishing up 6 cigar boxes I started a couple of weeks ago.  I wanted to take these beautiful creations to Prescott but just didn't have time to finish them up. 

These boxes will be going with me to Bisbee, AZ for Bisbee Beat the Heat Belly Dance Retreat were I will be vending and teaching a fan veil workshop.  If there are any left they will be on their way to Billings, MT to my good friend Susan for the Yellowstone Belly Dance Festival in August. 

Below are photos of the 6 cigar boxes that are finished; I have 4 more in various stages of completeness.

 

 

This week I will be teaching a greeting card class at the Mesa Arts Center.  This month's class will be on the 4 seasons. 

 

My goal before school starts is to finish one of my family tree albums.  I will be posting lots of photos of this project when I have one finished :-)

Another Cigar Box!

What a great day today I got so much accomplished!!!  I wanted to make a few more cigar boxes for class on Saturday and created this little number. 

I love the color of this cigar box so I only covered the top with a little bit of thin trim around the sides.  The inside is simple with covering the inside lid.  I added large wooden beads on the bottom of the box and this little guy is all done.

The buttons on top I made with my melting pot and a set of molds.  I highlighted the buttons with Perfect Pearls.

The feet on the cigar box are large wooden beads and they matched the color of the cigar box perfectly, I didn't do a thing to them ;-)

The background paper on the top and inside lid is from Tim Holt's and I added a vintage belly dance theme picture.  I used the same trim on the inside as I used on the outside.

I also made 6 necklaces and a bracelet and will be posting photos soon on these beauties.

Enjoy our week...

Cigar Boxes

I'm so excited for tomorrow's class on creating beautiful cigar boxes!  I created 3 boxes this week, one for holding my glitter and stencils for my glitter tattoos, the second one is a cigar box purse and the last box for holding treasures with a belly dance theme; of course :-)

The first box was so much fun to create.  I printed off vintage tattoo designs and applied them to the cigar box using PVA glue.  I took "vintage photo" distress ink and distressed around the box, attached footings from Tim Holtz Idea-ology series and a drawer handle on top for easy carrying.  The hinges and front clasp were gold tone and the handle and footings are silver so I took Ranger distress inks in silver and slate and changed the box fittings to silver.  I will be creating a tray since this box is so deep for more storage of glitter, brushes, mirror, etc.  The last step I used clear gloss acrylic spray to protect all the artwork on the box inside and out.  I love the way this box turned out.

The second box I kept very simple.  The cigar box was already black and I liked the labeling that came on the box so I left it.  I purchased a purse handle from Joann's and with help from the hubby purchased some hardware to attach it to the top of the box.  I put some metal corner pieces on the top corners from Tim Holtz Idea-ology series.  I used demin material for the bottom of the box and left the sides wood that came in the cigar box.  I added wooden spools to the bottom and used 3 different distress inks to match the color of the beads in the handle.  I love Ranger distress inks they work on so many surfaces!

The last box I printed out several vintage belly dance themed art work for both the inside and outside decoration.  The cigar box was orange already so I didn't need to paint it; I lucked out :-)  I used ribbon around the cover photo and the outside of the box and added 3 coffee filter flowers I had made in the corner on the top and a metal bit from my dance inventory on the front side.  The inside I decorated the cover with more vintage dancers and some metal bits incasing it with more ribbon.  The inside bottom I covered in red velvet and along the sides.  I'll be adding my belly dance keepsakes in this box.

Below are photos of all three projects.

All 3 boxes done

Tattoo cigar box before

Tattoo cigar box before - inside

Tattoo cigar box done - front

Tattoo cigar box done - top

Tattoo cigar box done - inside

Tattoo cigar box done - side

Tattoo cigar box done - back

Tattoo cigar box done - side

Cigar box purse

Cigar box purse inside

Cigar box purse feet

Cigar box belly dance theme before

Cigar box belly dance theme done - top

Cigar box belly dance theme done - inside

Have a great weekend and a great holiday...