Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » diy project: kate’s tin travel candle

tin-candles-lifestyled-2
i can’t get enough of these altoids tins! they are so useful. this week, there was a small earthquake in my area and it got me motivated to start getting prepared for emergencies. i covered this tin with pretty paper to make a nice travel candle (mint scented…get it??), but you could make a bunch of these quickly for emergency kits, camping, etc. enjoy! – kate

CLICK HERE for the full project instructions after the jump!

tin-lit

What You’ll Need:

1. altoids tins
2. candle wicks
3. wax (i used microwaveable soy wax from a craft store)
4. mod podge (a glue/sealant available at craft stores. it is non-toxic and inflammable
5. decorative paper
6. pencil
7. scissors
8. paint brush
9. wax coloring or scents (optional)

Instructions:
1. clean the altoids tin thoroughly.
2. trace the top and bottom on your paper and carefully cut out shapes.

tin-templates

3. measure the width of the sides for the top and bottom. for the bottom, measure to the bumps on the front side where the top and bottom connect. (my altoids tin is .25 in and .5 in thick) and cut a long strip in each width.
4. separate the top and bottom of the tin. spread a layer of mod podge around the rim of the bottom tin and wrap the strip around. press down and cut off any excess paper. smooth down the edges with your fingers to wipe off any extra glue.

tin-mod-podge

5. spread mod podge on the flat base of the tin and place the paper over it. smooth out any bumps and snip around the sides to clean the edges.
6. repeat with the top of the tin. you can cover the holes and bumps and then cut them off later.
7. when the papers are all attached, paint a thin layer of mod podge over all of the papered part of the the tins. this smooths the edges and seals the paper to protect it.
8. let dry completely and reattach the two pieces. clean any glue off the inside of the tin with a paper towel and soap.
9. glue the wicks onto the base.
10. heat the wax and pour to directly below the hinges in the back.
11. let the wax dry. trim the wicks.
12. if you want, you can attach a small pack of matches to the inside of the top lid so you always have a light!

YOU’RE DONE!

tin-candle-closed

You know, these would be great to put in welcome baskets for out of town guests at a wedding. You could also make a smaller version with used up lip balm tins or smaller mint tins. This is totally cute.

Oh! I already have that kind of wax on hand! What a great idea.

It makes me wish that I had let my husband keep his collection of empty altoids tins from his childhood. (He had something like 97 of them!)

I love making things out of altoid tins!

I think a great alternative to store bought wax would be the left over wax in a larger candle jar after the wick has burned out. It’s easy enough to melt it in a tin can and then remold.

I’ve also seen emergency survival altoid tins out there as well…but the candle tins are much more cute (o:

hey everyone!
thanks for the feedback! here are some answers: 1. the flowers are billy bobs (or billy boys), i got them at the sf flower mart, but i think fresh cut florists should have them. they dry nicely and last forever. 2.these tins so super fast, you can finish in less than an hour. 3. i think the wicks would last for at least a couple hours. and jess i love the idea of using old leftover wax! great idea.

such a great idea! i also use altoid tins for gift cards. i use paper on the inside, as well, and attach any little thing i have in my stash like a little heart or unusual sticker. after i put the gift card inside, i tie a ribbon around the tin. makes such a great little gift.

This is bringing back memories because in high school I did this to Altoid tins and we sold them to raise money for cancer research!

But, wow, I love this concept of pretty survival gear. I think you’re on to something. My boyfriend is very into survival and we have so much gear all around our apartment. Maybe more people, ladies especially, would be interested in being prepared if it were visually appealing!

Funny that someone commented on wishing they had Altoids in the UK… they were originally produced by Callard & Bowser and made in the UK… I remember buying them as an import from a gourmet store in the late 80s.

Write a Comment:

Design*Sponge reserves the right to restrict comments that do not contribute constructively to the conversation at hand, contain profanity, personal attacks or seek to promote a personal or unrelated business.