Since we all have a little more time these days due to the pandemic - one of the projects I got out of the storage closet of tons of "someday" projects is this: Pin tins! These can actually be used for anything that you need to store but they work great for safety pins or straight pins. I have used these little tins in the past to make sewing kits and Reed has used them for survival kits as well. They work up really quickly and are simple!
The only things you will need are a little tin of some type with a lid (mine are French Vanilla International instant Coffee tin and a Minister of Tea Tin), a bit of glue - I am using Elmers wood and multipurpose glue, some small thin magnets (business card magnets work great), and some fabric of your choosing. You can use scrap easily for this - it only takes 2 1/2" x 7" for the coffee tin, and a 5"x5" square for the tea tin. You can also use cool wrapping paper, kraft paper or even wall paper for this if you want.
For this blog I'm just going to show the Coffee tin part of the project or it will get too long - and you will get the idea from this anyway- regardless of what size you are using!
Start with the magnet and the lid - if your magnet is larger than the flat space inside the top of the lid, trim it with your paper scissors to fit the inside of that flat space.
Spread some glue on the magnet part (I take the advertising off of the magnets first - just my preference but I think it makes a "cleaner" looking finished product). I also use a paintbrush sometimes to help control the glue - I'm not a professional gluer and sometimes I have "glob probs" aka my glue ends up in a glob right where I didn't need it! Might be just me!?
You can see in the above photo the glue drying inside the lid (between the lid and the magnet). Set that part aside for now and let it dry completely - it might actually take a few hours but you can still finish the project in one day!
While that glue is drying, pick out your fabric and cut it. Do measure your tin height and around - just in case they have changed the size of these tins - the ones I am using are about 10 years old I think! They came from my mother in law after she passed - I think she was saving them for cross stitch thread colors storage? Not certain but I am happy to have them to use now!
Run or paint a line of glue along the top and bottom edges of the tin and on the side of the tin where your fabric ends will meet. I used the "seam side" of the tin for this as well but I dont think it matters. Carefully place the fabric strip on at the seam line and press it into place all the way around the tin.
Once the fabric meets at the seam line again, trim any excess fabric and then glue it down. I overlapped mine a little on the seam side - if you like you can make the fabric just meet at the edges and glue it like a wallpaper sheet.
Let all the glue dry really well and add your pins! These ones will hold straight pins that will travel to retreat with me. Makes them easy travel and easy to use with the magnet on top!
These make great little gifts as well for door prizes or gift bag items!
If you are using them for emergency kits, put match strikers on the top with wood matches inside with a small first aid kit, sewing kit, fire starter, tweezers, twine, rubber bands, small screw driver, etc. and it makes a great small kit for a glove box, snowmachine boot, or 4 wheeler compartment. Might save a life even!
Be safe, blessed be, and enjoy the time!
