Altoids tins -- how to finish

Did you use the proper count fabric? Happened to me once. Give me a day or three - I know I have a good set of directions book marked someplace. C

I forgot to mention too, Lucille, that the patterns come with finishing instructions.

Sharon (N.B.)

I"m not an expert, but we did do these at an EGA meeting years ago. I did my own pattern with red thread on white fabric so I felt no need of changing the tin. Some ladies spray painted their tins to a color that coordinated with their designs. My design was about 3/4 of an inch smaller around than the top of the tin. Cut a piece of cardboard slightly smaller than the tin top. Mounted a piece of quilt batting, and then the stitched design using hot glue. Glued it to the tin and made coordinating cording and glued that around the entire design. Clear as mud, right?

Donna in Virginia

Try this one:

.> > then using paper that everyone crumples up and throws away.

Or for an older person who might not want "stuff" but could use these! What a great idea!

No, actually that makes perfect sense to me and sounds like it would work nicely.

Lucille

"m&m" wrote >

Thanks so much! Very clear instructions and the pictures help a lot. Kathy

When you mount the stitched design, do you mean to wrap it and glue it to the back of the cardboard? Doesn't that make it bumpy or bulky on the back? I tried to assemble one by cutting the fabric right to the edge of the cardboard and glueing it down but found that by the time I had glued it to the top of the tin, the fabric was unraveling and it was a mess. If you wrap it to the back, do you cut/mitre the corners?

Kathy in Michigan

Yep. Used 28 ct linen. Part of the stitching was over one and part over 2. The border was definitely over 2 and it still came out very small, a little over an inch wide. Maybe that was right, but to me it just looked like too much fabric left outside the border. Kathy

For a while, they were making mini-tins, about half the size of the regular ones. Are you sure it wasn't intended for one of the minis?

I found that a bit of nail polich remover will remove the stamped printing on the sides of the tins. Kathy

Ahh... now that is a very useful hint! Since I'm sitting here with three empty tins on my desk (those dark chocolate dipped peppermint Altoids are EVIL!) I've been enjoying this discussion and taking notes!

Heather in NY

Yes, they certainly are. And they're addictive as well.

Have you tried the cinnamon ones?

Yep, and if you can find them, the licorice are fabulous.

I'm just enjoying the header....should we all go out and buy tins, eat the candies, and send the tins to Lucille? It makes me think of the old Saturday Night Live sketch, "Blenders for Namibia"

r & d sue

CUTE!!!! Gee thanks for the idea. My mailperson (it happens to be a young woman) will be thrilled to deliver them.

Just be sure that they're all finished neatly, with no ragged edges. I don't want to appear too demanding, but blue would be nice. If you absolutely must, a little bling would work too. No need to put your initials on them. That way I can claim them as my own work.

Oh, be sure to have to correct postage because I wouldn't want to have them returned to sender.

Hmm, When and where should I have the showing ???

RD&H ;*)) lol & anything else that assures everyone I know it's all in fun and not serious

Chocolate and licorice? Or just straight licorice?

Straight licorice. I warn you, they're very hard to find.