Author Archives: Jennifer

How to Decorate A Cigar Box

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Decorating a cigar box is a hobby and craft that has been around for a couple of centuries now – pretty much as long as we have been smoking cigars! They have been turned into purses, photo albums, stages and jewellery boxes.

They are easy to decoarate and cover in fabric because they are made of cardboard.

Here are some simple instructions for decorating a cigar box plus a list of the things you will need.
• Cigar Box
• Newspaper or paper towels
• Tissue paper decorations or stickers
• Scissors
• Decoupage
• Sponge brush
• Fabric
• Adhesive or glue
• Craft mirror for the inside of the box
• Strip of beaded edging.

Your first step is to acquire the cigar box. Some toboccanists will give you a cigar box for nothing. Others will charge you a fee. Places to get cigar boxes are local smoke shops, liquor stores, drug stores, and coffee shops often have empty cigar boxes. ‘

Try to find cigar boxesquality hinges and latches. There is also a kind that is hinged with tape that is quite serviceable as well. Pick one that’s a good size for your project.

Gather the materials you need, and remove any unwanted stickers from the box. Clean and dry the box, and set it up on top of newspaper so you don’t make a big mess. Consider restraining the wood, painting the box with craft paint, or sealing the wood before you decorate.

You should also arrange the tissue paper decorations on the outside of the cigar box after you cut them down to size. Glue them down and then add two layers of decoupage (like a glaze) to seal them into place and add a nice finish to the cigar box.

Cut the fabric to fit the interior of the box and then use a strong adhesive, glue gun, or double sided tape to stick the fabric lining into the box. Add a square of fabric to the upper interior lid and glue that down as well. Let dry thoroughly before you continue to decorate the box.

Glue the mirror into the interior lid of the box and use a clip or rubberband to hold it in place while it dries.

Add the beaded edging wherever you think it looks best. You have many options. You can usse it as a border around the lid, a frame for the mirror, or decorate the edge for the lining. Ribbon applied in this way looks great too.

How to Decorate a French Country Kitchen

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One of the most fashionable ways to decorate a kitchen is in the French Country style. This is a very rustic look that is reminiscent of the charm found in homes in the South of France.

To accomplish this look you will have to decorate with toile. Toile is a fabric that has pictures of the countryside of France on it. It might depict landscapes, bottles of wine, cheese and the produce of France on it as well. These motifs are a great choice for the curtains, tablecloth, chair seats and dining ware in your kitchen.

Ladder back chairs are also characteristic of this look. Make sure the table is large and rustic and that the chairs have seats made out of rush (twined water reeds.)

The colors of the French Countryside are rusts, greens, blues and golds. Keep the walls, ceiling and floors in earthy brown, creams and red colors. If you have beams running across your ceiling you are lucky because it means you would have accomplished the look. If you don’t have beams in your ceiling you can also install them.

A stone floor also compliments this look. You can get faux tile in stone like colors that can help achieve this affect. Another charachteristic of this kitchen style is roughly plastered walls. Cast iron wall sconces also look nice on a plastered wall.

Yet another characteristic of rustic French kitchens is rusted metal. Rusted metal could be found in kitchen cabinet hardware, lighting fixtures and baker racks.

French motifs in the form of scultprues, clocks and other items can be roosters, olives, sunflowers and lavender. Decorate with handmade pottery to bring the element of the French countryside to your kitchen.

It is also characteristic to hang baskets in a kitchen. These woven baskets should be large and natural looking. You can put fruit and vegetables in these baskets and use them to store cooking implements.

Copper pots and iron pots also look gorgeous in this type of kitchen. Be sure to hang them from the ceiling and on the walls to augment the look.

When planning your space, remember that the French Country is a very warm, relaxed, and informal decorating style. Stay away from anything too fussy or formal.