Create A Gypsy Suitcase

Traveling…the 7gypsies American Vintage collection is perfect for any projects inspired by travel across the USA to places near and far and big and small to explore.  This collection features license plates, travel logs, maps, inspirational sayings that will inspire you to take the journey. Our Crew member, Monica Taylor, shows you how to upcycle your old cigar box and turn it into a gypsy suitcase. If you love cigar boxes, but cigars are not your thing you might not know that most cigar shops sell or give away their empty boxes.  Contact one in your town and make a new friend and you might get your hands on some amazing and very unique boxes to add to your craft blank stash.  

‘I have been altering cigar boxes for several years. It wasn’t until I became a member of the Canvas Corp Crew that I had an idea to create a Gypsy Suitcase. I was inspired by the luggage scene in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”. This is where George tells Joe that he wants a BIG suitcase. Not just for one night, but for a thousand and one nights, with plenty of room for labels from Italy and Baghdad.

Now, this little one may not be big enough for a thousand and one nights, but I think it will be perfect to hold all my 7gypsies ephemera and embellishments.’ – Monica Taylor

Materials used:
Old cigar box
7gypsies 8×8 paper pad – American Vintage
7gypsies – Dome Studs
7gypsies mini ephemera – American Vintage
7gypsies rubbings – Tickets
Brown Acrylic paint
Brass handle
2 brass screws
Mod Podge
Distress ink – Walnut Stain
Glossy Accents

Tools:
Paint Brush
Screw Driver
Tonic Scissors
Sanding block
Matte Collage Medium
Distress Tool
Blending Tool
Brayer

Monica has shared her process video to show you the exact steps:

Remove all labels from the cigar box and paint it with the brown acrylic paint.

Measure inside of the cigar box and cut to measure chosen paper from the American Vintage paper pad.

Adhere paper using Mod Podge. Use brayer to push out all excess mod podge and any bubbles from under the paper.

Adhere ephemera and rubbings to all sides of the cigar box in various directions. Use Matte Collage Medium to adhere ephemera.

Adhere brass dome studs using Glossy Accents. Use a screw driver and screws to attach the handle.  Instead of using a cigar box, you can use a plain wooden box and turn it into a gypsy travel kit! With our American Vintage collection, there are no limits to what you can achieve!

To see more of Monica’s work follow her on Youtube.

Happy Vintage Creating!!!!

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