Metal Tin Pendants
I’m a sugar-free kind of girl, so any time I find new sugarless goodies, I’m thrilled. When I found Ice Breakers sugar-free candies packaged in metal tins—well, what could be better than finding both candy and something I can recycle into jewelry? I immediately saw little metal pendants dancing in my head.
Imagine my glee when I started playing at my work table, and discovered that microscope slide images are exactly the right width to cover the front panel of these containers! The images need to be trimmed just a tad at the top or bottom to fit well.
To make your own pendant, you’ll need:
- An empty metal candy container. I found these in amongst the candy at the checkout lanes of both Target and Wal-Mart.
- A propane torch to burn the finish off the tins.
- A scouring pad or sanding block, and a soft cloth.
- Microscope slide images. I have a bunch of styles listed in the collage sheet section.
- Gel medium, or your favorite collage adhesive. I used Dick Blick’s Acrylic Matte Medium.
- Alcohol inks, blending solution and a felt applicator if you wish to color your metal tin.
- Sealer or varnish to make the finished piece water and rust proof. I used DecoArt DuraClear Varnish or Krylon Matte Sealer Spray.
- Beads with a flat side and a large hole.
- Liquid Nails adhesive.
- Glitter glue, embossing powder and fluid, wire, or whatever else you’d like to use to decorate.
Place your tins on a fire-proof surface, and use the propane torch to burn the finish away. I usually do this on the concrete floor of my garage. Just hold the flame against the tin until you see it turn black. You might see a very thin film of fire crawl its way up the tin as well. Let the tins cool completely before you handle them.
Wipe the tins down with a soft cloth, and use a sanding block to remove any remaining finish.
If you want to color your tins, pat a little alcohol ink on them. I use Ranger Adirondack Inks, and their blending solution. They also sell a felt applicator, but I’ve made my own using a piece of scrap wood and a strip of the hook side of Velcro. When glued to the wood, the Velcro will hold strips of white craft felt.
Let the ink dry completely before moving on.
Choose an image, and trim it to fit on the front of the tin, starting at the bottom, and ending just below the little nipple that holds the tin closed. Apply some matte medium to both the front of the tin and the back of the image.
Position the image on the front of the tin, and smooth it into place, covering it with a little bit of matte medium.
Use a paper towel to wipe away any excess medium on the tin. Be very gently when you do this on colored tins, because the color may lift a bit. Let the tin dry completely.
I added hangers to the tins using beads. On one tin, I applied a long, flat bead with a large hole to the back of the tin, just below the hinge.
On another tin, I applied beads to the tin on either side, just below the lid.
On two of the tins, I just applied a pretty bead to the top of the lid with Liquid Nails.
Liquid Nails tends to ooze a bit, and even when I wiped away the excess, there was still some showing around the beads. I just grabbed a silver Sharpie and colored any glue that was showing to make it less obvious.
On one tin, I applied a little glitter glue around the outer edge of the image, to help it blend better with the tin.
On two of the tins, I applied embossing powder around the image. For adhesive, I used a little Cornhusker’s lotion, which is mostly glycerine, on a Q-tip, dotting it around the outer edge of the image. I poured the embossing powder over the wet lotion, shook off the excess, then hit it with a heat gun. Be careful with this—the tins get very hot.
When you’re finished decorating, it’s time to seal the tin. Burned tins tend to rust , so give them a coat of clear sealer. I like spray sealer for the interiors, and either spray or liquid varnish for the outside.
I wrapped one tin with wire, inserting the ends through the hinge.
On one tin, I made a tassel at the bottom by threading some rayon floss through a flat bead. I applied some glue to the top of the floss and let it dry in the bead, then trimmed it flat.
The tassel was attached to the bottom of the tin with a little Liquid Nails
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Wonderful tutorial thank you so much.
Very easy after you showed us how to make them. Great picturs and steps.
Lisa – these are adorable. Thanks for sharing all your incredibly imaginative ideas with us.
Regards,
Bobbie
Lisa…you are the bomb!! Girl, you can recycle anything! They are adorable and the tutorial is just perfect. Thank you for sharing this. Now…off to Target!
Lisa, I am always amazed. You have been my chief instructor in my effort to teach myself to be an artist. I am not one yet but I have about 20 years left to make it so. Thank you
Lisa these are wonderful, what an inpiration you are. Thanks so very much.
WOW! How very cool, you have just the best ideas ever. Thanks for sharing. Sam Lee
You are amazing! I love all the things you think of to make! Thanks so much for the idea and tutorial!
Great tutorial! Terrific intstructions and pictures!
Thanks so much
Fantastic… I had just grabbed all they had at Walmart… clearance at that… and KNEW they were meant to be ALTERED..
Thanks for showing how YOU do it..you are an inspiration!
Hi Lisa,
These are magnificent! I have a binch of these containers and can now do something with them.
Michele
Amazing that you are doing these..I just got thru picking up a Tibetan pendant that has a place to put a prayer scroll inside it. I love the tassels and the way that you added the beads also. Always such interesting things you come up with..love ‘em. L
Wonderful Tutorial!!!You are so clever…I am going to try this very soon!
I love these little tins, and I really want to try to make some of these. I think your mind never shuts down. You are such an inspiration to me Lisa.
ahhh another masterpiece idea from you. Going to have to get some of those tins. You give such great directions. Thanks again for sharing. Hugz, Scary
Wow, I love your site, your instructions are so clear and your ideas are fantastic.
Can’t wait to get started on some of these projects.
Thanks for your wonderful creations.
These are beautiful. I have never seen any like them. Now I want to try making some. Thanks so much for sharing!
Awesome job! Thanks for sharing.
These are beautiful..