This fun and creative Altoid sewing kit craft is perfect to carry with you for a quick and necessary fix when you are out and about.
Altoid tins are such great containers and the mints are the best. Instead of throwing the empty tin in the recycling bin why not make a sewing kit for on-the-go?
Basically, you are going to decorate the tin and place all your sewing notions inside.
How to Make an Altoid Sewing Kit
You can do this a number of ways. Here's what I did.
Step 1: Make a template with heavy cardstock paper or cardboard by tracing the top and bottom of the tin and cutting them out.
Step 2: Find some nice printed paper for your cover, bottom and inside of the tin. Above are a couple of pretty vintage prints you can use for your top if you like.
Step 3: Glue your papers onto the tin. You can use a nail file or emery board to file off the edges, or simply cut them off.
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Note: The top is somewhat bumpy from the Altoid logo etc. You may want to place a piece or two of white paper on first for extra padding.
Step 4: Place some felt into the inside lid. This will help with pins and needles.
Step 5: In fact, I used a second piece of felt to create a pocket.
Step 6: Feel free to decorate the top edge and the sides of the tin. I used some copper tape and a blue paper lace trim.
After gluing on the floral printed paper to the bottom I added the blue lace trim to the sides. It was a little too big but I was able to trim it to size once the glue dried.
Sewing Notions for the Kit
- Cut out a small piece of cardboard and make some notches on both sides. (see image above)
- You can then wrap some thread onto the card choosing some basic colors you may need.
3. Place the card of thread in the felt pocket. Then add a few straight pins and needles into the side of the felt.
4. Continue adding necessary items you may need including a pair of mini scissors, a few safety pins, buttons, and other items such as a needle threader and a thimble. I also added a piece of tailor's chalk.
It looks really nice and I have it stashed in my purse for the next time something rips, needs to be cut, or just pinned together in a hurry.
Other Uses for Altoid Tins
- Make a traveling embroidery kit. Instead of standard sewing notions, you could hold embroidery thread, needles, and a folded cloth.
- How about a first aid kit? Stash antibiotic ointment, bandaids, and individual antiseptic wipes.
- Make a survival kit with a pocket knife, matches, water-purifying tablets, and a mini flashlight.
Time to start collecting Altoid tins.
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Altoid Tin Sewing Kit
Equipment
- Scissors
- Nail File
- Computer
- Color printer
Materials
- Altoid Tin
- Printer paper
- White glue or Modge Podge
- Printed Scrap Book Paper
- Decorative trim
- Felt
- Cardboard or Cardstock
- Thread in various colors
- Mini Scissors
- Pins and Needles
- Buttons
- Safety Pins
Instructions
- Trace the tin on cardstock to make a template.
- Cut out the vintage print with the template and something for the bottom inside and outside the tin.
- Glue the papers onto the tin.
- Use a nail file to file off the edges of the outside of the tin print.
- Use some ribbons or trim to decorate the sides of the top of the tin and the bottom. Trim as needed.
- Glue a piece of felt to the upper inside.
- Glue a second piece of felt half the height and glue it on top of the first piece to create a pocket.
- Cut a square of cardboard for thread. Make a few notches on the top and bottom.
- Wrap a few different colors of thread onto the notched cardboard.
- Place the cardboard threads in the felt pocket.
- Stick a few straight pins and needles into the felt.
- Store a small pair of scissors, safety pins, buttons and other notions in the bottom of the tin.
Cheryl Atkinson
Hi Patti! I think this is so cute. I'm thinking about making multiple and selling them in m booth. Thank you for sharing!
Patti Estep
Glad to hear it Cheryl. Good luck with the sales.
Marie Holmes
I love this idea. We did this with our Girl Scout troop with bandaid tins. Back when there was such a thing. I need to make myself one. I went on a cruise in January and desperately needed a safety-pin.
Patti Estep
I'm a big fan of the Scouts. I was one for years and a leader for my girls. So many of my projects would be great for Scouts. Glad to hear you like it.