Alterable Lunch Tin

This is a lunch tin I altered at a fellow demonstrator’s stamp class last week (thanks, Christine!). It is very easy to decorate and fun to see how a plain white tin can be transformed into a work of art.

Here are the instructions for altering this particular size and style lunch tin:

Lunch Tin (can be purchased at Michael’s, Joann Fabrics on-line only, Archiver’s, on-line craft supply stores)
Designer Paper- Holiday Harmony (from SU!’s Holiday 2007 mini catalog)
Cardstock- here I used River Rock and Whisper White (from SU!’s Fall & Winter 2007 Catalog)
Classic Ink- Mellow Moss (or Always Artichoke)
Stamp set: Letterpress Alphabet
Grosgrain ribbon- Always Artichoke
Assorted pieces of ribbon and fibers (Wal-Mart and JoAnn Fabrics)
1 1/4” circle punch
ModPodge
Foam brush
Sticky Strip
Stamp-a-majig

If you have touched the tin with your fingers a lot, you may want to take a clean, damp cloth and wipe the tin. This way any oils that were transferred on to the tin will not prevent the glue from adhering to the tin.

You will want 4 pieces of Designer paper- 2 strips of 2 designs. Cut each piece at 12” long by 2.5 inches wide. On one strip, line up your 1 1/4” circle punch at the top of the paper, in the middle. Make sure that only half of the circle will punch the paper out as you do not want to punch the entire 1 1/4” circle out of the paper. When you have punched this piece, lay it aside. Take another strip of paper, and turn it over so the design you want is facing down, apply ModPodge in a thick layer across one of the four pieces of paper. When the paper is covered well, turn it over (without laying it back down) and line it up on the front bottom of the tin with the ends lining up evenly on the sides of the tin. Adhere strip to tin. Turn the tin around so that the back is facing you, and repeat with the second strip which matches the first. Turn the tin back around so that the front is facing you. This time, adhere the strip of paper with the half circle to the front of the tin, with the circle going around the latch. Then turn the tin again and add the fourth strip. When all four strips are in place, brush a very thin coat of ModPodge on to the paper to seal it.

While the paper is drying (takes only 5 minutes or less to dry), cut a piece of grosgrain ribbon 22.5 “ long. Apply sticky strip to the back of the ribbon. When the paper on your tin is dry, adhere the ribbon to the tin where the two different patterns of paper meet.

Using River Rock card stock, cut 5 squares measuring 1.25 inches wide by 2.25 inches long. Cut the Whisper White card stock to measure 1 inch wide by 2 inches long. Using Mellow Moss or Always Artichoke classic ink, stamp a letter on each piece of Whisper White card stock to spell the word “cards”. To be sure you stamp the letters straight, use the stamp-a-majig for this step.
Adhere the stamped Whisper White pieces onto the River Rock paper using sticky strip or SNAIL. Then, adhere each letter onto the tin with ModPodge or sticky strip. Start from one edge of the tin to the other to be sure all your letters fit. Then, using several different types of ribbon and fibers, tie them onto your handle.

Your project is now complete! If you have any questions, please contact me. I apologize that pictures do not accompany these instructions. I don’t have a lunch tin or the same paper to duplicate this project in a picture tutorial for you.

Have fun stampin' and creatin'!

*Note: All supplies are from Stampin' Up!, unless otherwise noted.