CigarFox

Everyone knows that Cuban cigars are the most coveted cigars, renown worldwide for their smoothness and rich flavors. Indeed, Cuban cigars are so prized that many illegitimate dealers have been known to sell fake Cubans to unsuspecting cigar smokers. How do you tell if what you have is a fake or the real thing? First, make certain that you purchase your cigars from a legitimate dealer. Buying from your local tobacconist or a reputable mail order business can protect you from forking your money over for a box of fake cigars.

If you have an opportunity to purchase a box of purported Cuban cigars, but have your doubts, take the time to examine the box before purchasing it. Here are a few tips to help you spot the fakes from the real thing.

The most important thing to examine is the box. Authentic Cuban cigars will contain a green and white warranty seal on the left front side of the box. The seal will contain an insignia that has a picture of a shield and a hat. On the upper right hand corner of the box, you should find a white sticker that is placed diagonally with the word ‘Habanos’ printed on it. The overall appearance of the box should be neat and clean. If the box appears damaged, smudged, frayed, or marked, avoid it. If the color of the box is dull, don’t buy it. Even if the cigars are the real things, their quality may have suffered in transport. If you are in the market for Cohiba, Trinidad, or Q’dorsay brand cigars, know that all authentic Cohiba’s will contain the green and white warranty seal on the right hand side of the box.

On the bottom of the box of cigars, you should find a heat stamp with the words ‘Habanos.’ The heat stamp should be impressed onto the bottom of the box. Fake Cuban cigar boxes often find other ways to imprint this label, such as using rubber stamps or paper labels. You should also find a factory code stamp at the bottom that is stamped in green, blue or black ink. This stamp will tell you when and where the cigars were rolled.

If you can open the box, take the time to smell the tobacco. Cuban cigars will have a deep, rich aroma, unmistakable to dedicated cigar aficionados. If the smell is off, or very weak, chances are you do not have a box of authentic Cuban cigars in your hands. The cigars should be facing the same way, and the top row may appear slightly flattened. The caps on all the cigars should appear identical, and the foot of each cigar should be cut clean. The bands on all the cigars should also be identical, and should be arranged so that they face the same direction. If allowed, test the cigars out by pressing down on them. Feel along the entire length of each cigar, checking for soft or hard spots. The cigars should feel firm yet pliable.

About the Author:

Submit your articles and get a PR4 backlink to your website! Submit Articles! We provide free articles and information. Check us out at Free Articles!

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Cigars: How to Buy Cuban Cigars

Cigar Box Juggling 5

Cigar Box purses are a chic accessory that everyone should have. While they can range in price from just a handful of dollars to hundreds of dollars at a boutique, they are not too difficult for the average people to make themselves. Unfortunately, most people have no clue how to even get started creating one of these personalized works of art. This is where you come in! You will teach a class to teach people how to make their very own cigar box purse!

When it comes to creating a cigar box purse, your imagination is your only limitation. There are so many possible ways to paint, decorate, and embellish the insides and outsides of a cigar box purse, not to mention the endless variations of handles available for you to attach to them!

Your class could have between five and twenty-five people and could easily be held at a local library, community center, or school. All you need are tables and space to move around and create! You can ask each person in your class to bring their own decorations or you can provide them with basic supplies needed to create one. You can charge a bit more for the class if you choose to provide the needed materials. This also makes it easier for the students, since all they will need to bring is – themselves!

Most tobacco shops either throw out empty cigar boxes or sell them in bulk at a discounted price. You can get them very inexpensively by stopping by your local tobacconist or contacting one of the many tobacco or cigar shops online. They will have a wide variety of boxes for you to choose from. Cigar boxes come in many sizes from tiny little boxes to gigantic boxes that would be big enough for a violin! The boxes also come in many colors and styles, some may even have magnetic closures, and others have metallic closures on the outside. Some are just a simply constructed wooden box; most are covered in paper of some sort, and others are just trimmed on the edges in paper and several are covered in veneer or a heavy weight colored or elaborately decorated paper.

You will want to provide your students with several kinds of adhesives to work with. Glue sticks can work well in some situations and in others you will want to provide them with liquid glue that is quick drying and able to attach items that are a heavier weight than just thin paper.

Depending on how much you charge for the class itself, you may want to offer them a wide range of choices when it comes to the handles for their purses. A simple handle can be constructed with heavy gauge wire and beads or vintage drawer pulls. Since pre-made handles (usually made of a solid piece of wood, metal, or plastic) as well as clasps, closures, hinges, and latches can vary greatly in price, you can offer inexpensive varieties at no additional charge and then give them the option to upgrade their handles by purchasing a fancier option also, at an additional small charge. You may also want to find several vintage purses at a local charity store, such as goodwill, remove their handles, hinges, and closures and use them in the construction of your students’ cigar box purses. This will offer more variety and interest to the pieces created and they will look more individualized and less commercial once they are completed.

You will likely want to provide the class with at least some, if not all, of the following items to decorate their purse with:

Vintage images of men, women, children (glamorous movie stars are often a big hit!)

Modern and vintage images of cats, dogs, wild animals, farm animals

Images of times gone by such as the nifty fifties and romantic Victorian scenes

Images of flowers, trees, and other flora

Ribbons, lace, fabric trims

Assorted paper scraps in different textures and colors

Beads in assorted sizes and colors

Heavy Gauge Wire

Pliers

Wire Cutters

Screwdrivers

Drill

Screws and Washers

Sandpaper (for removing and/or distressing labels)

Nail polish remover (also for removing labels)

Hair dryer (also for removing labels)

Sharpened Scissors

Sewing thread, sewing needles, and needle threaders

An assortment of magazines, catalogs and vintage books to cut their own images from

Pages from foreign language books

Assorted Fabric Pieces (velvet is a popular option)

Glitter

Rubber Stamps, Ink, and embossing powder

Colored Pens & Permanent Markers

Paints and paintbrushes

Gesso

Various metal and plastic embellishments

Vintage cards, letters, and wrapping paper

Vintage flash cards and game pieces

Silk flowers and leaves

You might also want to have someone film you conducting the class (be sure to include students asking questions!) and create an online (for-a-fee) downloadable video or a DVD!

You could easily advertise such a class using flyers placed in medical services buildings, health food stores, libraries, and community center bulletin boards. Be sure to include popular lunch places and coffee shops! Most post offices and grocery stores also have bulletin boards that they will allow you to place an advertisement on too. Be sure to take advantage of any public bulletin boards in your immediate area to find the people who are looking for you and your class.

After you have taught your class, you will likely receive word of mouth referrals for your next class (as well as students who want to come back and create some more!) and this will help you build up a steady clientele.

5 home business CD’s for just one penny! And I’ll ship them to you free…

1) Audio CD: How to Make Money Selling Hot Niche Info Products You Can Get for Free. Value: $47.00

2) Video CD: The Lost Videos. Value: $39.00

3) Audio CD: Success Secrets Revealed. Value: $39.98

4) Video CD: How To Find Red Hot Impulse Buyers and How You Can Make Money Showing Them where to find the Solution They Desperately Desire. Value: $49.00

5) Business Start Up Power Pack CD containing 9 business plans you can implement now. Value $67.00

Click here for details..

Pure Technical Cigar Boxes