Altered Altoid Tin

Hold on to your altoid tins!!!  They can be transformed into precious works of art.  Here is a tutorial that I have written sharing how.  I hope that you will give it a try!  Feel free to use alternatives when it comes to adhesives, lacquer, etc.  If you do not own Pearl Ex, experiment with using a variety of Polymer Clay colors to achieve a dazzling effect.

Supply List

* Altoid Box
* Polymer Clay
* Pasta Machine (optional)
* Pearl-Ex™:   Copper, gold, green
* Crystal Water-based Lacquer™
* YES!™ or E6000™ adhesive
* Decorative buttons
* tassle
* Acrylic paint:   Gold Metallic
* 4-1/2x5/8 wooden spools

Stamp Credits

* Personal Stamp Exchange™ #K-1778

Procedure

Preheat oven to the recommended temperature on the packaging of your clay.  Condition polymer clay using a pasta machine or a rolling pin until it is soft and pliable.   After conditioning, lay your clay on a flat surface.  Using your fingers, rub a variety of Pearl-Ex™ colors onto your clay.  Stamp your image into the clay.   Take the top of your Altoid box and lay the polymer clay flat to the tin top, smoothing all of the curved areas.  Cut off the excess clay to give a clean, tailored look.  Put into the oven and bake for 30 minutes.

While waiting for the top to bake, paint the bottom of your Altoid box with Gold Metallic acrylic paint.   For a deep rich look, I paint 2 to 3 coats, allowing them to dry completely between coats.   When the coats are dry, glue the 4 wooden spools to the bottom of the tin to create legs.  Paint the bottom of the spool with Gold Metallic paint.

After the top finishes baking and has cooled, paint it with Crystal Water-based Lacquer.  You may add decorative buttons, (Some stampers use lacquer as an adhesive) or wait until the lacquer dries and glue buttons and tassle with E6000™ or YES™ glue.