Man Crafts: Customizing Match Books

Hey Folks!

So today's project is inspired by my dad who recently presented me with an interesting gift. It's a sort of mango green, vintage ash-tray from the Hotel Martinez in Cannes, France. It holds special interest for him because 1. The Hotel Martinez bears our family name and 2. Apparently, there is a famous photograph of 50's/60's actress Brigitte Bardot taken in front of the Hotel Martinez while she was in Cannes. My dear old dad has begun a small collection of memorabilia from Hotel Martinez and he even gave me an actual room key from the hotel! The stamp on the bottom of the ash tray reads: F.P.P. Villauris, France. 

Anyway... I don't smoke (often) and even if I did, I'm not sure I'd want to be ashing my butts out in this really beautiful piece of history. Since I believe in functionality (you know like ash trays that aren't just meant to be looked at) I'm going to be customizing my very own match books to store inside this beauty! It's easiest project in the world, and fun too!

Supplies Needed: 

• Old magazines with lots of cool pictures
• Match books the from the dollar store
• Scissors
• Glue
• A Pencil

Step by Step:

1. Find a picture that you like in a magazine. I chose several pictures from SWELL which is a surf/skate mag and has a lot of cool pictures of surf prints, beach design and various other interesting images. 

2. Trace your template onto the design which you will end up adhering to your match book.

3. Cut, baby, cut. 

4. Use your glue stick, mod podge or other type of glue to smother the face of your match book. 

5. SECOND TO LAST STEP! I told you it was easy. Simply press your cut-out image onto the glued up match book and let it sit to dry for a few minutes. 

6. Remember I talked about functionality in design? Well since I don't want to use this ash tray for putting out cigarette butts, I'm going to use it to hold my custom made match books. Simply arrange your new set of match books in the ash tray to make 'em look all nice and stuff. If you collect match books from hotels, bars or restaurants, this is also a cool way to display them.

Have fun!