There are so many things that you can make with an Altoids tin. One of the most practical is a box to hold your jewelry when you travel.
It's big enough to hold a couple of necklaces and a few pairs of small earrings.
At a glance, most people will just assume that it has mints in it, so they are more likely to leave it alone.
Where to Get Altoids Tins
Obviously, you can use any Altoids tin that you have lying around.
But if you don't have one, there are a couple of places to get them.
If you don't care about the Altoids branding, then you can get blank ones for cheap on Amazon. They are sold in both small and large lots, so you can make a few if you have a lot of jewelry.
I have a few of them.
These tins come in different colors such as silver, gold and black. You can personalize them any way you want and are a more flexible option.
Now if you prefer the Altoids branding, you can get used tins on sites like eBay. This will allow you to get older designs that you might find more interesting.
Create a Divider
Once you have a tin, now it's time to get a divider. I suggest getting a 2 or 3 compartment divider.
Any more than that and you won't be able to fit your jewelry in the tiny compartments.
There are 2 ways to get a divider.
First, you can 3D print it yourself. There are plans on sites like Thingiverse and Printables that you can download for free and print yourself.
If they don't have what you're looking for, check out other 3D printing sites and they should have what you're looking for.
Second, you can buy them from people who print and sell them. Etsy is a good place to start, but other sites like eBay have them available.
Once you have a divider, slip it into the tin and you now have a jewelry box.
Secure it with a Ranger Band
Altoids tins are pretty secure, but if you want to be sure that the box doesn't open accidentally, then use a Ranger Band to keep in closed.
Unlike cheap rubber bands, these bands will last and keep your jewelry safe.
They were built for the military, so you know that they will hold up.
Decorate Your Jewelry Box
Now that you have a box, you can choose to decorate it…or not.
You can use:
- Spray paint
- Acrylic paint
- Stickers
It's your box, so go wild make it your own. If you chose to use paint, consider using a clear glaze spray after you're done so the paint doesn't get damaged. This can work with stickers too.
Final Thoughts
So that's it, an easy project that will give you a box that can you store your jewelry in when you're traveling.
It's compact and light, unlike your wooden jewelry chest.
Be sure to check out my other Altoids tin projects.
Have fun!
