Cigar Box Scrapbook

One of my childhood best friends is getting married this weekend! We've been friends since age 9, so I couldn't just give her any old card. I decided to make her a cigar box mini-book celebrating all of the crazy things we've done over the years. Here's how I made it...

1. Begin my selecting a cardboard or wooden cigar box. Most cigar stores and smoke shops sell cigar boxes for $3-8. 2. Remove any extra pieces from inside the box and choose how you want to decorate the inside. I chose to cover the bottom of my box with thick watercolor paper. I adhered it with rubber cement and then used strips of drawer liner contact paper to seal in the inside edges. I filled in the letter circles using Prismacolor markers. You could try using patterned scrapbook paper or even painting the inside of your box! 3. Next, select the paper you want to use for the inside-lid book pages part. I used thrifted record sleeves because I love the paper texture. Cut the paper 1/2 inch smaller the lid of the cigar box. 4. Now it's time to bind your book pages together. You could use washi tape, contact paper, or even masking tape to adhere the pages together. Stick one half of the long side of a strip of tape on one edge of the paper and then use the next page of paper and stick the edge of that to the other half of tape. Do this for as many pages as you would like your mini-book to be and trip the edges down once you are completely done.
5. Then, use a thicker piece of tape to adhere the back of the book to the inside of the top lid of the cigar box (with one half of the tape on the very back page of the book and the other half of the tape on the left side of the inside-lid). 6. Use three small strips of tape to adhere the top of the mini book to the lid by sticking the tape over the edge of the lid. 7. Now, add all of your content to the mini-book pages . I typed out "Remember when?" memories and glued them to the individual pages. You could fill your mini-book with journaling or other images. 8. Now it's time to decorate the top of your box! I used the same thick watercolor paper again and doodled on the "I <3 you".

The very last step is to fill the box with photos and mementos!

Thanks so much, Kara! This project is really inspiring. xo. elsie

Comments

so darling, can't wait to do this

Posted by: Betty-Lou | May 05, 2012 at 01:50 PM

Another super cute idea!

xoxo
http://natashafatah.com

Posted by: Natasha Fatah | May 05, 2012 at 01:55 PM

Great idea!

Posted by: Miss K | May 05, 2012 at 01:57 PM

Love it! What a great idea!
I will remember this one:)

Posted by: Foodloveandhappiness | May 05, 2012 at 02:09 PM

Oh, Elsie! This is so cute! What a brilliant idea! I will definitely use it one day :)

Posted by: Paulina | May 05, 2012 at 02:13 PM

Wow, that's such a great idea. I have to check whether I can get a similar box somewhere in the UK - I've got a friend who would absolutely love this!

Posted by: Marushka82 | May 05, 2012 at 02:17 PM

So sweet!

Val
http://valentinaduracinsky.blogspot.com/

Posted by: Val | May 05, 2012 at 02:24 PM

This is such a great idea. I might look into making some of these for Christmas gifts, for my sister and my best friend. We take pictures for granted these days. I think something like this would allow my friends and I to really think about and appreciate the good times :)

Posted by: Freya | May 05, 2012 at 02:24 PM

How absolutely adorable and completely thoughtful!! What a wonderful idea!

x
http://iloveublank.blogspot.com/

Posted by: Votre Amie | May 05, 2012 at 02:34 PM

She'll love it. That's one of the best prestents that can be made by good friends.

→le cours des choses

Posted by: Katharina | May 05, 2012 at 02:35 PM

So beautiful! Lovely!

xx
biskvittka.blogspot.com

Posted by: Marina | May 05, 2012 at 03:06 PM

What an amazing idea! I am sure she will love it!

http://littleladylittlecity.blogspot.com/