If you’ve been hoarding empty Altoids tins in a drawer somewhere, this post is for you. These little mint tins are basically the perfect crafting vessel — just the right size, surprisingly sturdy, and they close with a satisfying snap.
We’ve rounded up 27 of the most creative altoid tin projects we could find, covering everything from sweet homemade gifts to STEM challenges that’ll keep the kids (and the grown-ups) busy for an afternoon. Whether you’re after altoid tin crafts for the school holidays, a quirky DIY altoid tin gift idea, or just want to turn that pile of empty tins into something brilliant — you’re in exactly the right place.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click and buy, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read our Disclosure Policy
And yes, there is a fish pond. You’re going to want to scroll all the way down.
Altoid Tin Gift Ideas
These mint tin crafts make incredibly thoughtful homemade gifts because they look far more impressive than they are to make. They’re also perfectly sized for tucking into a stocking, popping in a gift bag, or pairing alongside a bigger present.
Mini toolbox for Dad
Found it here >> Alpha Mom
This has to be one of the most charming Father’s Day gifts we’ve ever seen. Fill the tin with tiny screws, nuts, and bolts so it doubles as useful storage inside Dad’s real toolbox. It’s an easy craft that even young kids can put together with a little help — and the reaction when Dad opens it is priceless.
Jewellery box
Found it here >> How Stuff Works
Use polymer clay to decorate the outside of your Altoids tin and turn it into a gorgeous little jewellery box. It makes the perfect gift for a little girl — a birthday present, Christmas stocking stuffer, or end-of-term treat. The polymer clay is baked in a regular oven, so no special equipment is needed.
Prayer box
Found it here >> Traveler’s Dream
These beautiful prayer boxes are made by covering an Altoids tin in scrapbooking paper, then adding a printed verse or message on the inside. Tuck in a tiny notepad and pen so the recipient can write their own prayers down. They make a wonderful gift for a prayer group, Sunday school class, or anyone who would appreciate a thoughtful personal touch.
Pincushion and sewing kit
Found it here >> My Recycled Bags
If you know someone who loves to sew, this is a genius gift. The lid becomes a pincushion and the tin stores all their small accessories — needles, thread, thimbles, and safety pins — in one neat little case. Pair it with a bundle of embroidery thread and you’ve got a really lovely handmade present.
Pocket watercolour box
Found it here >> Instructables
This is a perfect gift for someone who likes to paint or sketch outdoors. Line the inside of an Altoids tin with polymer clay compartments for individual watercolour paints, and the lid doubles as a mixing palette. It’s genuinely useful and far more charming than any shop-bought travel watercolour set.
DIY aromatherapy travel kit
Found it here >> Confessions of An Overworked Mom
Line your tin with cardstock and a strip of washi tape, add a few cotton balls, and you’ve got a brilliant travel-sized essential oil kit. It fits in a handbag, gym bag, or carry-on without taking up any space at all. Choose your favourite blends — lavender for calm, peppermint for focus — and you’ll always have them to hand wherever you are.
Advent calendar countdown
(Tutorial no longer available online)
Fill a collection of Altoids tins with tiny treats, notes, or small gifts and number them 1 to 24 — and you’ve got an incredibly sweet DIY advent calendar. Wrap each tin in festive paper or paint them to make them Christmas-ready. We love this one because the tins are sturdy enough to bring out and reuse year after year. Check out our DIY advent calendar ideas post for even more inspiration.
Decoupage tin
Found it here >> Mod Podge Rocks
Decoupage is one of those crafts that looks complicated but is actually very beginner-friendly. Cut scrapbooking paper to size, brush on some Mod Podge, smooth it down, and seal with a top coat. You can personalise the tin for anyone using floral prints, maps, or vintage illustrations, and then fill it with whatever you like. A beautiful handmade gift for almost anyone on your list. For more handmade gift ideas, take a look at our DIY hostess gift ideas and homemade gifts in a jar.
Altoid Tin Crafts for Kids
These DIY altoid tin ideas are perfect for keeping kids busy — school holidays, rainy afternoons, or a creative activity to do together at the weekend. Most use basic craft supplies you probably already have at home.
Miniature book report
(Tutorial no longer available online)
If your kids always groan when it’s time to write a book report, show them this — because these are the most creative book reports we’ve ever seen. Everything fits inside a single Altoids tin, making the whole project feel more like a craft activity than homework. If your child’s teacher is open to creative formats, this one is a total winner.
Secret garden diorama
Found it here >> Pixie Hill
This one is pure magic. Use polymer clay, tiny flowers, and moss to build a miniature world inside your Altoids tin — robins, ferns, and all. Open the lid and you’ve got a tiny secret garden. This is a wonderful project to make with older children who have the patience for detailed work, or a really satisfying craft for grown-ups who love miniatures.
Doll’s suitcase
Found it here >> Crafty Crafts
If your child’s doll or soft toy needs to travel in style, this is the project for them. Cover an Altoids tin in brown paper and washi tape, thread wire through the sides for a handle, and decorate with tiny travel stickers. It actually appeared in a Scholastic middle-grade novel, which makes it extra cool. A lovely project for kids aged 7 and up.
Miniature succulent garden
Found it here >> GOMI Style
Fill your Altoids tin with a little organic potting soil and a few tiny succulent cuttings, and you’ve got a living desk garden. Succulents stay small and only need misting every couple of days, which makes them perfect for this. It’s a great project to make with kids, and a sweet gift for a teacher or grandparent.
Altoid Tin Travel Projects
These are the mint tin crafts that are genuinely useful on the go. Small enough to slip into a handbag or backpack pocket, sturdy enough to protect whatever is inside.
Travel embroidery kit
Found it here >> Makezine
This clever kit has a magnetic pincushion that attaches to the lid, a snap-fastened needle threader holder, and an organiser insert for needles, pins, and small tools — all inside one Altoids tin. You’ll never be caught out by a missing button again. A wonderful gift for anyone who does needlework, embroidery, or cross-stitch.
Pocket first aid kit
This is one of those projects that makes you wonder why you haven’t done it sooner. A small Altoids tin filled with plasters, a folded square of gauze, antiseptic wipes, and a couple of painkillers is genuinely useful in a handbag, gym bag, or school backpack. Practical, lightweight, and everything stays together in one place rather than rattling loose at the bottom of your bag.
Mini lash and beauty kit
An Altoids tin is practically the perfect size for a makeup touch-up kit. This video shows how to turn one into a mini lash kit — but you could fill yours with whatever your on-the-go essentials are: a mini mascara, lip balm, blotting papers, and a hair tie. It keeps everything contained and is far easier to find in a busy handbag than a regular makeup bag.
Travel games
Found it here >> Instructables
Make your own set of travel games — checkers, chess, tic-tac-toe, and backgammon — using Fimo polymer clay and tiny craft magnets. The magnets keep the pieces from sliding around in transit, which is a genius touch. Just make sure small pieces are kept away from young children. This pairs perfectly with our road trip games and activities post if you’re planning a long journey.
Fun and Quirky Altoid Tin Ideas
Some of these altoid tin projects are just pure fun — the kind of thing you make because you can. Exhibit A: a fully functioning fish pond inside a mint tin.
Miniature fish pond
(Tutorial no longer available online)
Yes, it’s a fish pond. In a mint tin. The fish and turtles are made from polymer clay and set in clear casting resin to look like water — and the result is so realistic your colleagues will absolutely do a double-take. This is a wonderful desk display piece and a genuinely impressive craft project if you’re patient enough to see it through.
Miniature zen garden
(Tutorial no longer available online)
Bring a little calm to your desk with a tiny zen garden made from an Altoids tin. Fill it with fine craft sand, add a couple of small pebbles, and use a toothpick or cocktail stick as a miniature rake. Rake. Breathe. Repeat. It’s a satisfying thing to make and an even more satisfying thing to have sitting on your desk.
Pocket pool table
Found it here >> Instructables
A fully functional pocket pool table built from an Altoids tin, felt, copper wire, and copper rod. The creator notes it’s actually harder than regular pool because of the size — which makes it even more entertaining. Perfect for tucking in your bag for long waits at restaurants or airports.
Miniature 1:12 slipper chair
(Tutorial no longer available online)
This is honestly one of the most astonishing things we’ve ever seen made from an Altoids tin — a perfectly scaled 1:12 miniature slipper chair. The craftsmanship is extraordinary. If you have a dollhouse or love working in 1:12 scale, the images alone will be enough to inspire any experienced miniaturist to figure it out.
Rock paper scissors decision-making kit
Found it here >> True Blue Me and You
Can’t decide what to have for dinner? There’s an Altoid tin for that. This clever little kit contains a handmade rock, paper, and scissors — perfect for settling any debate. Make yours in a Steampunk style, paint it to look aged and scratched, or go full scrapbook-cute. It also makes a brilliant small gift.
Stamp dispenser
Found it here >> Garrettfam
If you’re forever losing your roll of postage stamps, this is the solution. A simple DIY stamp dispenser made from an Altoids tin — it sits in a drawer or on your desk and keeps your stamps neat and accessible. Satisfyingly practical for such a simple little project.
Altoid Tin Tech and STEM Projects
These are the DIY altoid tin projects for the tech lovers and makers in your life — everything from a working MP3 player to a full Raspberry Pi computer case. These are more involved than the craft projects above, but the results are seriously impressive.
Raspberry Pi computer case
Found it here >> Instructables
Yes — a full working computer inside an Altoids tin. Cut openings for the Ethernet, USB, audio, and HDMI ports with a Dremel, line the inside with a plastic gift card for insulation, and slot the Pi board in. A brilliant STEM project and a genuinely impressive piece of kit for any tech enthusiast.
Solar phone charger
Found it here >> Instructables
This project — nicknamed the “MightyMintyBoost” — uses an Altoids tin, a small solar panel, and a custom circuit board to create a solar-powered phone charger. It charges in sunlight and works as a backup battery too. A brilliant project for anyone interested in electronics or renewable energy, and one of the most practical builds on this list.
Custom USB drive
Found it here >> Instructables
Turn an Altoids tin into a custom combo USB drive by grouping several old flash drives into one enclosure. Cut port openings with a Dremel, line the inside with mousepad material for insulation, and secure everything with hot glue. A practical STEM project that gives old drives a new life.
Portable media player
Found it here >> Adafruit
The “Minty MP3” is a fully working portable media player built inside an Altoids tin. It supports compact flash cards, includes a built-in FM transmitter, and costs around $50 in parts. A brilliant project for electronics hobbyists and a very satisfying talking point for your desk.
LED pocket flashlight
Found it here >> Instructables
A pocket-sized LED flashlight built inside an Altoids Smalls tin — small enough to fit on a keychain and bright enough to actually be useful. You’ll need a 5mm LED, a push-button switch, some hookup wire, and a 3V coin battery. A great beginner electronics project and a handy thing to have in a bag or drawer.
More Mint Tin Crafts
We hope this list has given you some serious inspiration for what you can do with an empty Altoids tin! For more ideas, check out our altoid tin toys and altoid tin crafts posts. And if you loved the gift ideas in this round-up, our DIY Christmas gifts post is packed with even more handmade ideas you’ll want to bookmark.
