Repurpose your empty Altoid tins with these 27 crafty ideas! From storage solutions to DIY gifts, discover creative ways to upcycle your tins. Looking for creative ways t
Even if I haven't been posting like crazy, I've been making like mad. I've hit one of those periods where one inspiration leads to another, and so on, until I can't possibly keep up with all the ideas in my head! There are about three hundred things on the go in my studio, but I wanted to make sure to share something before you forgot about me. So, I finished up this specimen Altoid tin to show off today. The outside paper is from Communique. The inside is lined with vintage music paper. The butterflies are fussy cut from Butterfly Specifics - Old Curiosity Shoppe. All those little specimen labels are from THIS new collage sheet set. I'm including two pages in this set. One page is filled with blank labels and the other filled with descriptions (low key fairy themed). While there aren't editable text areas, if you have basic photoshop/photo editing skills you should be able to add text on top of the image file, adding your own descriptions. For authenticity, I recommend viewing THIS tutorial to create an aged glass look. A little bit of fake grime makes a big difference! Inside those jars are all sorts of wee things. Twigs, roots, petals, bones, glitter, moss... basically anything that fit inside those little vials. All the bits used: Artifact Labels - 2 PDF collage sheet download Mint tin Mini vials Communique (exterior paper) Old Curiosity Shoppe (paper butterflies) Music paper Wee bits to fill the vials Metal card/Label holder Glue/Paint
Post number 2 on the awesome things you can do with old crap--altoid tins! I have 20 fun ways to use these totally cool metal tins! (and I'm sure there are lots more!) What is
Do you like to be prepared outdoors or in the city when a bit of first aid, sewing or light is needed? Well, over at One Good Thing there are 5 emergency kits listed that all fir in a recycled Alto…
Keep a prayer box in your pocket at all times by repurposing an old Altoids tin — all you need are a few craft supplies and an empty Altoids container.
Repurpose your empty Altoid tins with these 27 crafty ideas! From storage solutions to DIY gifts, discover creative ways to upcycle your tins. Looking for creative ways t
I had decided a while back that I was going to make my Niece a dolls house type suitcase thing. I just wasn't sure how to attempt it or whether to make a doll or buy one. Then I came across Cloud Tree Crafts on Instagram and the decision became a lot easier. Karen creates the most beautiful handmade CE tested toys including a very cute bunny rabbit that I thought would be perfect. I also saw she did a wolf and pig and since my little man is obsessed with the three little pigs
Make your Altoid tins something special! I've altered dozens of Altoid tins, and have learned a few tricks I thought I would share. Here's what we're making today: And here's what you'll need: Mod Podge (I prefer Matte Finish), an old ink pad, heavy scrapbook paper (for this tin, I used paper from Graphic 45), a sharp exacto blade, an inexpensive sponge brush, a straight edge, a ruler, a brayer if you have one, and an empty Altoid tin. Figure out where your pattern will fall on the top of the tin by holding the tin and the paper up to a bright light. You'll be able to see the shadow of the tin through the paper. Center any motifs or patterns in the paper. Make sure you pay attention to placement. Carefully flip the paper over with the tin in place, and trace around the tin. Remove the tin, and brush a good amount of Mod Podge on the top of the tin. Once you've got good coverage, flip the tin over and put it down where you marked the position. If you've got a brayer, use it to make sure the paper is adhered well. Now flip the tin and paper over, and with your sharp exacto blade (don't be stingy; change your blade often!), carefully cut around the edge of the tin. Look how perfect the top is! This way of cutting it out assures a perfect fit every time. *Before you go further, if you don't have another tin to use for measurement, trace around the bottom of this tin twice with whatever paper you want to use for the inside (one piece for the inside top, one piece for the bottom). Now take your old ink pad and scrape it around the edge to get rid of the stark white edge of the paper and to give the top a little aging. This will help camouflage any little flaws that may occur when you cover the sides. Cover the bottom of the tin in the same way, and ink the edges. Very carefully measure the side. You will covering the sides with two separate pieces. You know the old saying: "measure twice, cut once". Do it. Even though I have altered several tins, I measure each time, just in case the tin I'm working on is a little different from the last. Making sure your measurements are very accurate, cut the strips needed to cover the sides. Once they're cut, use your ink pad to distress the edges a bit before you begin to adhere them to the sides. Let's do the top strip first. Check to make sure you actually cut it to the right size to fit. Then, brush the Mod Podge on the narrow side of the top, and begin attaching the strip, making sure you butt the paper right up against the little lip of the tin. Pay special attention to the corners, as the paper may want to gap in those areas. Smooth as you go. You're going to have to cut a little around the hinges in the back. The best way to do this is to slice the paper carefully along the side of each hinge. Once you've made those four little cuts, use your fingernail along the long side of the hinge to fold the paper up on the hinge. You can cut the paper there if you wish, but generally folding it there will hide it well enough. The strip of paper will be a little longer than you need. I find it's best to trim off the extra little bit when you see how the pattern of the paper will look at the overlap. Try to make the seam as invisible as possible. When you do the bottom, make sure the patterns on the two strips match up as closely as possible. Little things like this make such a big difference! You'll most likely have to cut out around the bottom hinge. Just use your blade to cut along each short side of the hinges, and then cut along the bottom of the hinge to remove the little flap you created. It's very important that your blade is sharp for this step, as a dull blade will tear the wet-with-glue paper. Now for the inside! If you haven't already done so, trace the BOTTOM of a spare tin onto the papers you want to use to cover the inside top and bottom of the tin. For the inside top, cut just barely within the lines of your tracing. Fit the paper into the top and make sure you have a good fit. Trim a little if necessary. For the bottom of the inside, you will have to cut a tinier bit more inside of your tracing lines. Remember, you can always trim more, so be conservative at first, and keep fitting the piece as often as needed, until you get it right. Measure the side of the tin, and cut a strip to cover. Ink all your edges, and then adhere the paper to the bottom of the tin. Put the side strip in, tucked carefully under the lip. Start from the back, as pictured, so your seam will be in the front of the tin, where it will be less noticable. Pay attention to how the pattern falls. Really tuck those corners in tightly. The paper is going to want to pull out, so watch it and make those corners obey! Put a good coat of Mod Podge on the bottom and sides to seal. Glue in the top paper, and seal it as well. If you're like me, you're going to have a little Mod Podge residue on the exposed metal parts of the tin, both on the side of the tin and on the inside lip of the top, as well as on the hinges. Scrape all that off with your fingernail. Clean that bad boy up! Now that your tin is fully covered, decorate and embellish. Find some good images to use. I used these images from Alpha Stamps collage sheets. To make sure your images fit perfectly, glue them on with parts hanging over the edges, and then flip over the tin and trim to fit. Make sure you edge the corners. Coat the entire tin with Mod Podge to seal any edges. When the tin is dry, you can further embellish it. I added some Dresden trim under the lip of the side, and a few metal bits. The Dresden trim was attached with Tacky Glue, but any metal parts are best adhered with E6000 glue. Here's the finished project: Sometimes I like using beads for feet, or ribbons for trim; the decorating possibilities are endless. Don't ever throw those tins away. Make something!
I was so excited to see this months Graphic 45 challenge: #G45DarkSide. This was just the prompt I needed to get to business on a project I’ve been thinking about for a long while. I’m a big fan of altering altoid tins. You can create these tins to hold just about anything. Create a fancy little sewing kit. Keep one in your car filled with emergency bits and bobs. You can fit a surprising amount in those little tins. I’ve created two #G45DarkSide tins here. One tin pairs papers from Communique—Deluxe Collector's Edition with brass Staples Decorative Hardware. The other uses Floral Shoppe with shabby chic Staples Decorative Hardware The tins contain a sort of storage space which, if careful, can fit a surprising amount of goodies! All of the items above fit comfortably in that trap-door space. My tins will be used as tiny portable travel altars. Each contains matches, a vile of herbs, incense, candles, gemstones, a tiny crystal ball, vessels for libations and offerings, magnetic images and more! But if altars aren’t your thing… no worries! The video tutorial I’ve created demonstrates how to cover an altoid style tin and create the trapdoor element inside. So take those instructions to create something that suits YOU. I'm smitten with my little altars but I totally encourage you to take this idea and run with it, making something filled with little things useful or treasured by you. Supply List: Antique Brass Metal Clock Keys Antique Brass Ornate Metal Keys Antique Brass Ornate Metal Key Holes Shabby Chic Ornate Metal Key Holes Antique Brass Stamped Metal Brads Shabby Chic Ornate Metal Brads Floral Shoppe Communique—Deluxe Collector's Edition Couture - Fabulous Cardboard Charms Small wooden blocks Glue Black ink pad Altoid style tin Bits and bobs to fill your tin
Better Sterno Alternative: How you pack for the outdoors depends on how you intend to spend your time exploring nature. Packing light seems to be a common goal of campers, hikers and survivalists. Most also agree that it’s wise to have a compact way to cook a meal, boil wate…
Today for our Friday Focus over at Flourishes we are all decorating these little tins. I just could not wait to get this project started. I wanted to create a little sewing kit with mine. I chose the Flourishes Feminine Charm dress form for my kit cover. I used the My Mind's Eye Blush Designer paper and Buttons. I found a little sewing kit at my local fabric store and added it to my tin. I think I will keep this in my desk for those just in case moments when you need a little needle and thread. Barbara Anders Christine Okken Cindy Lawrence Danielle Kennedy Dawn Burnworth Julie Koerber Sharon Doolittle Stacy Morgan Tammy Hershberger Check out what the rest of the team has for you:
21 clever ways to reuse those old Altoids tin, like make a flame thrower.
Shake It Like a Tic-Tac!: Rechargeable led flashlight powered by magnets housed in the obligatory mints container.
Post number 2 on the awesome things you can do with old crap--altoid tins! I have 20 fun ways to use these totally cool metal tins! (and I'm sure there are lots more!) What is
