To paint or not to paint?

I showed you a picture a couple of weeks ago of one of the handmade shell and bead decorations that I do. Many of you said that you would like to get one of these handmade items as part of a giveaway. So I’ve started working on one but have a big question for you?

To paint or not to paint? I normally make these memory boxes using cigar boxes because I like recycling them to help the environment. Sometimes I paint the exteriors, but I think that I’d like to keep their history for this memory box. What do you think? Paint the cigar box or not?
Caridad memory box