Looking for unique ways to use cigar boxes? Learn how to make a Cigar Box Chalkboard! This homemade chalkboard is super easy to put together and uses basic supplies. You'll love using it to decorate your home!

A Cigar Box Chalkboard, books, and a candle on a wood table.

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Years ago, my mom collected a bunch of cigar boxes from a local cigar shop. She knew that I'd use the boxes for something, and I felt like I hit the jackpot when she gave them to me!

Over the years, I've found tons of creative uses for cigar boxes ... everything from holiday shadow boxes to art projects, storage, and even picture frames!

I only have a few left, and I've been toting these boxes around as we've moved across the country and back again. Needless to say, my husband doesn't really appreciate why I've held onto these boxes. But I finally found the perfect project ... these DIY Cigar Box Chalkboards!

You are going to love these fun homemade chalkboards! They're super quick and easy to make, and the perfect idea if you're wondering what to do with empty cigar boxes. You definitely won't be able to stop at just one either, which is good, because I'm showing you two different ways to make them!

Ready to get started? Then keep reading for all the details!

Two of the finished chalkboards, books, and a candle on a wood table. — For one of my boxes, I removed the lid, and painted the inside! It turned out like a cute shadowbox, and there's even a shelf for the chalk.

Why You'll Love these DIY Chalkboards

These homemade chalkboards are a great way to repurpose cigar boxes ... in fact, one of the best! Plus, they're so easy to make.

You can also customize this project exactly how you want. Paint the inside or outside of the box, add a fun message or a cute picture, personalize it with a name, or add a decorative pattern ... it's up to you!

This is also makes the perfect group project. So gather the supplies, then roundup your kids or girlfriends (and maybe some wine), and get crafting!

This fun project was so popular that it was even featured in GreenCraft Magazine … needless to say, I was very excited about that!

A finished chalkboard on a stack of books. — For my other chalkboard, I painted the bottom of the box and left the inside intact. This method shows off more of the pretty patterns on the box, and gives the handmade chalkboard a built in stand!

Supplies

You'll use just a few supplies to make these creative DIY chalkboards! Here's what you'll need:

Cigar Box - Keep an eye out for empty cigar boxes at flea markets, vintage stores, and secondhand shops. Many cigar and liquor stores also sell the boxes once they're empty.
Utility Knife - You'll need a utility knife to trim the lid from the box.
Sand Paper - You'll use a piece of sand paper (I used 100 grit) to smooth away any paper / adhesive that sticks to the box.
Painters Tape - When you paint the inside of the box, you'll use painters tape to keep all your edges neat, while also protecting the box's patterned trim.
Chalkboard Paint - Once you've cleaned your box, you'll coat it in chalkboard paint. This unique paint has a great texture that can be used with chalk or chalkboard markers.
Paint Brush - A simple foam paint brush works perfectly for applying the chalkboard paint.
Glue - You'll need a little craft glue to attach the paper trim to the box.
Chalk - And of course, you'll need some chalk to decorate your box! You can use classic chalk or chalkboard markers, either works great.

Cigar box chalkboard supplies gathered together on a wood table.

How to Make a Cigar Box Chalkboard

You have two options when creating your chalkboard: you can remove the lid, and paint the inside of the box; or you can leave the lid on the box, and paint the outside. I'm going to show you how to do both!

1. Remove box lid. To make the shadow box style-chalkboard, you need to remove the lid first. Note: Once you remove the lid from the box, and the part where the lid was will be plain wood. If you remove the lid carefully, you can use the decorative paper on the outside of the box to cover this plain wood part.

Open the lid and use the utility knife to cut through the paper only on the inside of the lid, leaving the decorative paper on the outside attached. After you've made your cut, slowly pull the lid off the box, taking care not to tear the paper on the outside of the lid (see photos below).

There should be a strip of paper on the lid that was holding it to the outside of the box. Carefully remove this strip from the lid and set it aside for later.

Tip: If you are leaving the box on the lid, you can ignore the first few steps and skip directly to Step 3: applying the painters tape to the box!

A hand using a utility knife to remove the box cover.

A photo collage showing the decorative paper attaching the lid to the box.

2. Remove paper from inside box. Next, remove any paper or adhesive from the inside of your cigar box. If it sticks to the box, use the sand paper to remove it all of the way.

Tip: You don't want to paint over the paper, because it may bubble up as it dries.

A photo collage showing how to sand the box edges.

3. Add painters tape. Top keep your edges neat, cover the decorative paper of the insides of the box with painters tape.

Tip: If you are painting the outside of the box, you will apply the painters tape to around the bottom edges of the box (see photo in Step 5 below).

The box with painters tape on one edge and a roll in the box.

4. Paint box. Next, you'll paint the the cigar box using the foam paint brush and chalkboard paint. The wood is very porous, so you will need to apply multiple thin coats (I used 4 coats total). The paint dries very quickly, just make sure to let each coat dry before applying the next (use a hair dryer to speed up the process, if needed).

A foam brush painting the inside of the box with chalkboard paint.

5. Remove painters tape. After you've applied your final coat of paint, carefully remove the painters tape (before the paint dries). Then, let the paint dry completely.

If you're only painting the bottom of the box, you're done once the paint dries and can start decorating ... yay! If you're painting the inside of the box, keep reading for one more step.

A hand removing painters tape from the edge of the box.

6. Reattach decorative trim. Remember that decorative strip of paper you removed in the very beginning? Apply a little craft glue to it (spread a thin layer over the paper with your finger), then use it to cover the plain edge of the box. Hold the strip in place until it adheres to the box.

A photo collage showing how to attach the decorative paper to the box.

And that's all there is to it ... your DIY Cigar Box Chalkboard is complete! Wasn't that easy?

All that's left is to decorate your DIY Cigar Box Chalkboard. You can use regular chalk or a chalkboard markers.

I love chalkboard markers, but due to the porous nature of the wood, whatever you draw or write on your chalkboard will be permanent. Don't worry though ... you can always paint over your message later with more chalkboard paint if you get sick of it!

The finished chalkboards and a stack of books on a wood table.

Chalkboard Design Tips

When planning a chalkboard design, I recommend sketching your design in a notepad first. Then once you're happy with it, lightly sketch it on the chalkboard with regular chalk.

Finally, go over the message with the chalkboard marker or thicken the lines with regular chalk. If you create your designs this way, there's less room for error.

Make sure to check out my chalkboard art post for more tips on chalkboard lettering!

More Crafty Ideas

Let me know if you try this easy cigar box craft. I'd love to see how your DIY chalkboard turns out! If you're looking for more chalkboard projects, check out these ideas next:

And make sure to check out my DIY Chalkboard Picture Frame (below), too, if you’re looking for other cigar box craft ideas.

A stack of books topped with the DIY Frame.

Two Cigar Box Chalkboards, books, and a candle on a wood table.

Print Recipe Save

5 from 1 vote

Cigar Box Chalkboard

Learn how to make the chalkboard from a cigar box ... so fun and easy!

Prep Time5

Cook Time30

Total Time35

Servings: chalkboard

Author: Ginnie

Equipment

1 cigar box
utility knife
sandpaper
painters tape
chalkboard paint
foam paint brush
craft glue
chalk

Instructions

Using a utility knife, cut through the inside layer of the paper connecting the lid to the box. Then, pull the lid off, carefully separating the patterned paper on the outside from the lid. (Skip to Step 4, if you're painting the outside of the box.)
Carefully remove the strip of paper that was holding the lid to the box, and set it aside for later.
Next, remove any paper or adhesive from the inside of your cigar box. If anything sticks to the box, use the sand paper to remove it all of the way.
Cover the decorative paper on the insides of the box with painters tape. If you're painting the outside of the box, you will apply the painters tape to around the bottom edges of the box instead.
Paint the box using the foam paint brush and chalkboard paint. (You will need multiple thin coats; I used 4 coats total.)
Carefully remove the painters tape (before the paint dries). Then, let the paint dry completely.
Apply a little craft glue to the strip of paper you save in Step 2 (spread a thin layer over the paper with your finger), then use it to cover the plain edge of the box. Hold the strip in place until it adheres to the box. (If you painted the bottom of the box, skip this step.)
Decorate the box with chalk, as desired.