skip to main content

Trash To Treasure

Have you made something from an Altoids tin?

17 years ago

I was looking at all the great ideas using these....survival kits, sewing kits, tic-tac-toe games( I made my grandson one of these,printed out the x's and o's, and gluing magnetic sheets to the back, photo purse albums, altered art scenes...let me hear some ideas and see some pics:)

Happy Junqueing,

Cherry

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

patty_cakes
17 years ago
Cherry I save every tin i've ever gotten something in. Why? Because of course 'im going to do something with them'. LOL My DD has a friend who gave her one of her little works of~you could probably compare it with the altered books She would first remove all the original paint, and then repaint, then attach jewelry pieces to the box~they were beautiful! The one she gave my DD was an angel box. Little angels, flowers, a few crystals, are what I remember~things were layer on. A bracelet/necklace was used as the edging of the box which finished it off nicely. Painting the complete box a metallic color and then antiqueing it was the last step, but I think she put the crystals on after antiquing.

She bought used jewelry from the fleamarket, and completely dis-assemble it into pieces, but each box had a different theme. I saw another one she made for a male friend who loved horses~it was silver. I keep saying I NEED to try this, that's why i've saved the boxes, and bought jewelry too! ;o)
njtomboy
17 years ago
I have seen an amazing amount of ideas.. I will post a few....

Here is a link that might be useful: Altoid Advent Calender - Very cool!
Related Discussions
My newest vacation remembrance,,,, sea turtle tin.
Q
Comments (10)
Gosh, thank you all very much! Connie, you are too nice to me, I'm getting the big head! lol Ginger, you, too! This all happened on the Gulf, at Indian Rocks Beach, south a little bit from Clearwater. Imagine my surprise to find a sea turtle nest next to "our" sand dune the first morning we were there! If we had gone out to the beach at 10:30 the night before, right after we arrived, like I wanted to but DH was toooo tired, we might have seen her digging it or laying the eggs! As it was, just finding it the next AM was very exciting. Then to find out that 147 babies hatched out 60 days later, very cool! I felt like they were MY babies! lolol I spent yesterday working on my tin, and I made 2 new turtles, one to replace the original one. Today I'll make my sand and then paint it when it's dry. It'll be done soon. Then I'll need a new project. lol
...See More
Altered altoids help needed
Q
Comments (1)
I have altered several of these but the ones that go over the best for me are the Birthday tins, I've left a link below. I think the most wonderful thing about altered anything is there are no rules...you just fly by the seat of your paints and do what you like. I used a base coat to paint the whole tin usually in a low metallic silver, or black then work from there. good luck, ginger Here is a link that might be useful: My First Altoid Tin
...See More
using Altoid tins to organize drawers
Q
Comments (22)
I found another tin I can use! The cool thing about the Altoid tins is that they are all the same shape & size. (would be true of any standardized container, of course) But my husband buys Starbucks mints that come in a very FLAT tin, and it's the same height and width as an Altoid tin. Not exactly, but off by only a tiny bit. So it'll stand on its edge in the exact same space. It's only about 1/4" deep, so not much would fit in there, but it could be useful for the right thing! Of course, right now it won't fit at all. As you can see from the pic, the matchbox fits snugly in the space that's left. But I'm holding onto it, just in case. (got to be sure I don't end up w/ "container clutter," of course--especially since I discovered that a freelancer we often use eats Altoids a lot and has agreed to give me his tins--which I will try to put to use in the nails-and-screws box downstairs, I think. Though I sort of like the clear containers that are in there now)
...See More
Emergency Altoids Tin Cooking Kit?
Q
Comments (7)
Great question, John. I've done the emergency cook thing, but always found enough odds and ends to make a decent meal. Generally some kind of pasta or grain with a sauce. What I'd want would be fresh vegetables, but they wouldn't fit in a tin! The only other thing I've wanted is a good knife with a good edge, but, again, it wouldn't fit in the tin. Grainlady's saw is great for a true emergency, but I'm better there's a dull knife in the destination kitchen that's easier to use. My list: As big a bottle of hot sauce as will fit with everything else for disguising whatever disgusting glop is available (assuming there are no nice ingredients to cook with) A couple of silicone bands for making something out of nothing. A mini probe thermometer for checking the safety of unfamiliar ingredients in a difficult setting. A middling pocket knife with a good blade and can opener. Middling to be sharp enough new to be really useful, but disposable (giveawayable) because it'll never be like new again. A packet each of salt and pepper. They're our basic seasonings because they actually work. :)
...See More
njtomboy
17 years ago
Embossing (I love this idea)

Here is a link that might be useful: Emboss A Tin Tut
njtomboy
17 years ago
Now this has to be one of my favorite altoid purses

Here is a link that might be useful: Altoid Purse
kudzukween
Original Author
17 years ago
NJTomboy......those are some awesome ideas....I'm really loving the embossed tin. I think we have some tape leftover from vents we put in the ceiling :) And the purse is also a great idea, perfect for me to take to the casino where all I need is my drivers license and Players Club card (and some mints!) The Altoids tin always seems to close and stay closed, so why wouldn't it make a sweet mini purse.
njtomboy
17 years ago
kudzukween - i think you are on to something.... cute casino purses! Wow - NOW that's an idea!!!!!

Think of the possibilities!!!!!!!!!!
Frizzle
17 years ago
I thought I had a photo somewhere but I'll have to search for it.

I made tooth fairy tins.

I covered mine with pieces of scrapbook paper, a few small beads and the words - "tooth fairy" and covered that with mod-podge.
njtomboy
17 years ago
frizzle - I've seen those before too... here are two that I found...

Here is a link that might be useful: Girl - toothfairy tin
njtomboy
17 years ago
boy

Here is a link that might be useful: boy tooth fairy tin
njtomboy
17 years ago
here's just a really gosh-darn cute tin

Here is a link that might be useful: tinker-bell like tin
citytransplant(zone5)
17 years ago
My GD has two lap dogs that she says are her babies. Last Christmas, I painted one with purple and the other with pink backgrounds (they each have their own colors dontchaknow), then painted a dog bone on each, with their names on the bones. I put small doggie treats inside, so GD could take the times with her and the dogs when they go out and about. They all loved them.
kudzukween
Original Author
17 years ago
Patty, I wish I'd saved some tins. The Altoids ones made into little scenes, or shrines, are just sweet as can be. I saw some mermaid ones that I'd like to copy. Also saw some memory type tins in memory of a deceased loved one, and I want to make one with the "feather from an angels wing". It's getting harder to find old jewelry these days to use for embellishments.
Cute idea for dog treats for small dogs. And tooth fairy tins, I've seen little boxes for sale for big bucks for baby teeth and to save baby curls in.

Related Stories

KITCHEN BACKSPLASHES Tin's a Win for Kitchen Backsplashes

By Rachel Grace

Durable tin has come down from the ceiling and out of Victorian times to decorate backsplashes today

HALLOWEEN Easy Halloween Decorations From Stuff You Already Have

By Corynne Pless

Go spooky or sophisticated with these DIY mantel decorations made from household items

LIFE Tell Us: What Made You Fall for Your Kitchen?

By Annie Thornton

Show the heart of your home some love for Valentine’s Day

WALL TREATMENTS Idea of the Day: Tin Tiles Create a Striking Accent Wall

By Becky Harris

A bachelor's bedroom has the industrial style he loves but also is warm and comfortable

DECORATING GUIDES From Queasy Colors to Killer Tables: Your Worst Decorating Mistakes

Houzzers spill the beans about buying blunders, painting problems and DIY disasters

CONTEMPORARY HOMES Houzz Tour: From Doghouse to Contemporary Gem

By Mary Jo Bowling

A broken-down Brooklyn row house becomes a light and innovative beauty at the hands of its architect owner

KITCHEN DESIGN Pearls of Wisdom From a Real-Life Kitchen Remodel

By Samantha Schoech

What your best friend would tell you if you were embarking on a renovation and she'd been there, done that

HEALTHY HOME 6 Tips From a Nearly Zero-Waste Home

By Melanie Loftus

Lower your trash output and increase your quality of life with these ideas from a mom who did it to the max

KITCHEN DESIGN 16 Practical Ideas to Borrow From Professional Kitchens

Restaurant kitchens are designed to function efficiently and safely. Why not adopt some of their tricks in your own home?

TILE Top Tile Trends From the Coverings 2013 Show — the Wood Look

By Becky Harris

Get the beauty of wood while waving off potential splinters, rotting and long searches, thanks to eye-fooling ceramic and porcelain tiles

Sponsored

More Discussions

Experience with PlayerBoost

0