A Way With Words Shimmer Sheetz

Shimmer Sheetz Sunday: Treasure Tins

June 3, 2018

By Judi Kauffman

One of my neighbors handed me a paper bag the other day, grinning like a Cheshire cat as she said she thought it might be something I could use. Boy, was she right! The bag held twenty little empty Gingermints tins from Trader Joe’s. She’d been saving them for ages without any idea what to do with them till she met me and realized I loved to give items a face lift.

Who doesn’t love empty tins? These are the perfect size for jewelry, small seashells, canceled stamps, more candies or other treasures.  knew right away that I could cover them with Shimmer Sheetz without having to paint the sides. The top is already a nice soft peach and the bottom an interesting shade of green. Maybe it’s time for a visit to Trader Joe’s to see what other candy tins I can find…

Instructions:

Step 1 – For the lid of each tin: Emboss a piece of Shimmer Sheetz slightly larger than the lid with a favorite embossing folder. Back with Clear Double Sided Adhesive Sheet. Optional: Use a sanding block and very little hand pressure to lightly sand the surface and reduce a bit of the sparkle. Place the Shimmer Sheetz face down on a cutting mat, remove the release sheet to expose the adhesive, place the tin with the lid face down on the adhesive. Use a craft knife to cut around the tin. (Shown: Shimmer Sheetz in Fire Opal, Peridot and Ruby Gemstone; Yellow, Orange, and Light Green Iridescent)

If you don’t care about the writing on the bottom of the tin or feel that the lid needs further embellishment, the project is now DONE! I recommend stopping at this point or after Step 2 if the tin will need to stand up to wear and tear in a purse or tote bag.  If, on the other hand, you want to cover the writing and want more dimension on the lid, KEEP GOING…Tins with gems and other embellishments won’t stand up to a lot of wear and tear and should be considered purely decorative!

Step 2 – To cover the writing on the bottom of each tin: Cut another piece slightly larger than the bottom of the tin but leave this one flat. Optional: Alter with alcohol inks to create a mottled effect. Back with Clear Double Sided Adhesive Sheet. Lightly sand at the edges to give an aged effect. Adhere to tin and cut to fit as in Step 1.

Step 3 – Embellish the tin with stickers, gems, and die cuts as shown or as you choose! (If you add die cut Shimmer Sheetz, like the roses, back the SS with Clear Double Sided Adhesive Sheet prior to die cuttingand be sure to use the REQUIRED metal adaptor plate or Big Shot machine with Precision Base Plate. Review Els van de Burgt’s YouTube tutorial if you are new to this technique.)

Supplies:

Elizabeth Craft Designs:


Other:

Assorted embossing folders

Die cutting/embossing machine (Cuttlebug, Big Shot, other)

Alcohol inks

Ink applicator tool

Sanding block

Craft knife

Self-healing cutting mat

Assorted adhesive-backed gems, buttons (shanks removed) or other embellishments

Gem glue (if embellishments are not already adhesive-backed)

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  • Lynn A Hanson July 8, 2018 at 3:08 pm

    Thank you Judy. I wasn’t able to find anything related to the beaded fanfare folder so I’ve given up the hunt. Absolutely love the elegance of the folder tho. Thanks for trying.

  • Debbie Gaetz July 7, 2018 at 12:13 am

    Judi, you and SS are a magical duo. Your imagination and creativity always inspire me.

    • Judi Kauffman July 8, 2018 at 1:02 pm

      Thank you, Debbie! What a lovely note to find when I got back to my computer today.

  • Linda June 4, 2018 at 2:16 am

    Beautiful job on each one.

    • Judi kauffman June 4, 2018 at 8:38 am

      Thank you, Linda. I like to work in my “By the Batch” method. More will be in the works, that’s for sure! I want to use die cut flowers to decorate some for the table at a birthday party – all the same color palette, but different bouquets so no two are alike.

  • Jean Marmo June 3, 2018 at 3:35 pm

    Another beautiful and creative project!! Would be perfect for gift boxes for gift cards or money.

    • Judi kauffman June 3, 2018 at 6:57 pm

      Tank you, Jean. I hadn’t thought of using them for gift cards. Good idea.

  • Quietfire June 3, 2018 at 11:57 am

    These are wonderful Judi! And what a great job you did fitting the new Rosebud Wreath on the top! Bravo!

    • Judi kauffman June 3, 2018 at 1:30 pm

      Thank you, Suzanne! I thought that section of the Rosebud Wreath you designed was just right and after I decided to inlay the little pieces it really popped!

  • Ann June 3, 2018 at 10:08 am

    Judi, Those tins are the coolest! you did a fabulous job, I love your work!!!

    • Judi kauffman June 3, 2018 at 6:58 pm

      Ann, thank you for the kind words!

  • Karen Erickson June 3, 2018 at 8:48 am

    I love those! Very pretty! I would give them to my preschoolers for “ treasure tins!”

    • Judi kauffman June 3, 2018 at 1:38 pm

      If you give them to toddlers leave off the gems and buttons. Tins with that kind of embellishments are more fragile, better for adults who will treat them gently. (Actually, leave off the gems for adults, too, if they’re going to be tucked into a briefcase or purse.) If you work with little children I’m sure you’d have already thought of this, but for others who might be tempted to give thees as gifts to kids, if there are toddlers and babies around the home, too, buttons and such can become choke hazards if they come unglued. (Always better to err on the side of caution.)

  • Lynn A Hanson June 3, 2018 at 8:36 am

    Where did you get the cascading scallop embossing folder? I’ve been looking for one like that. Love the shimmer sheets and these are beautiful

    • Judi kauffman June 3, 2018 at 6:55 pm

      Thank you, Lynn. That folder is called Beaded Fanfare and it’s from Creative Expressions. The other folders are from Elizabeth Craft Designs, Anna Griffin, Cuttlebug and Kaisercraft.

      • Lynn A Hanson June 6, 2018 at 9:46 am

        Judi, I have not been successful in finding this folder anywhere. Is there any suggestion where I could get one of these? I absolutely love it. Thanks again.

        • Judi kauffman July 8, 2018 at 1:08 pm

          Lynn,
          I didn’t get notified that there was another question from you – I am so sorry it took me this long to get back to you! Did the folder show up as ‘discontinued’ or ‘sold out’ when you hunted for it? If it’s discontinued then eBay and such would be the only way to find it. If it’s sold out then it means they’ll eventually get more. I don’t have access to any more information than you do, I’m sorry to say! Wish I could be more helpful.

  • Sandy B June 3, 2018 at 6:44 am

    Lovely idea for those of us who hoard these little babies! Great gift card holder idea!

    • judi kauffman June 3, 2018 at 7:03 pm

      I’m always on the lookout for flat top and smooth sided items to embellish with Shimmer Sheetz. Tins are so useful and giving a second life to ones that would otherwise have been tossed is always fun. Soup cans make great pencil holders. They look really elegant.

  • Sandy B June 3, 2018 at 6:42 am

    Lovely idea for those of us who hoard these little babies!!! Very cute idea as gift card holders!

  • Kay Carlson June 3, 2018 at 6:41 am

    SO pretty, Judi, and how lucky you are to have such a thoughtful neighbor!

    • Judi kauffman June 3, 2018 at 7:04 pm

      Thanks, Kay. I am lucky! She’s also smart and funny and we like the same movies so it’s a total win-win.

  • Katia Krinkie June 3, 2018 at 6:39 am

    These are absolutely beautiful…what a perfect & unique gift for a special person!!!

    • Judi kauffman June 3, 2018 at 7:07 pm

      Thank you, Katia. Even more unique if you tuck in a note or earrings or some beads or….well, pretty much anything that fits. (I use one of the tins for stitch holders in my knitting bag and another one for a little purse-size sewing kit.)

  • Beverly June 3, 2018 at 6:25 am

    Wow! You really hit pay dirt on this one. They turned out very nice.

    • Judi kauffman June 3, 2018 at 7:09 pm

      Beverly, I love that phrase – “hit pay dirt”! Thank you for the compliment. Getting comments here on the blog has made my Sunday super special.

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