These days, in order to save some coin, more and more people are looking to pursue hobbies that don't cost a ton of money. One interesting new hobby involves the use of cigar boxes as art. It is the cigar box purse.
Cigar box purses are uniquely created fashion accessories that allow you to stand out in a crowd. They draw attention to you and advertise your creative and spontaneous personality.
California seems to be leading the way with accepting this new fashion wave. It is really neat to see something so simple that is usually trashed turned into a unique fashion accessory. The idea is quite simple. Take an empty cigar box and decorate it with photographs, fabric, ribbons and beads. Add decorative hardware like fabric lining, bamboo handles and brass latches and you have got yourself a wonderful little handbag. There is a significant difference between crafting a purse and designing one. It is relatively easy to design one. It is more difficult to build a quality handbag.
The purses, made from wood or paper covered wood are lined with a coordinating fabric and include a vanity mirror for quick touch ups. These boxes sometimes sell for as much as two hundred dollars depending on the rarity of the box and the design concept. You can make each and every bag a special one. Some people like to start with the same basic box style and just modify the final product by using different ornaments, fabric or photographs.
See if you can come up with any other ideas. Cigar box purses aren't the only kind of handmade handbag you can create yourself. Find yourself some quality synthetic fabric and you can make yourself all kinds of different purses for every occasion. You can make yourself a colorful over the shoulder sling bag for those occasions when you've got a lot of things to carry. You could make yourself a sparkling clutch purse for those occasions when you want to wear that little black dress.
Don't stop there. Maybe you could think about creating your own personal coin purse or cosmetic bag. You can create a variety of colorful accessories that other women are bound to inquire about. They will wonder why you always seem to have a different one every time they run into you.
Hobbies should be fun whether you engage in them all by yourself or with a group of friends. Gather a small group of friends together or just one other friend. Enjoy each others company while being productive instead of just going out shopping. In these challenging economic times we need to find new ways of having fun together without spending a ton of money. Creating your own collection of handmade fashion accessories is a perfect opportunity for doing just that.