Altered Tin Email Swap

There is a mystery at the Rose and Crown Inn this fine afternoon.

Mrs. Wallis has been straightening the parlor after the last few guests have departed and she’s stumbled upon a lovely little box tucked away near a table lamp.

One of her previous guests must have set it aside and forgotten to retrieve it prior to their departure. But which guest? A mystery to solve so that the box can be returned.

The small box could be a vinaigrette, contain sweets, or be a snuff box. The design gives very little away as to the gender of the owner, neither overly feminine or masculine. A pleasingly small shape that could be easily concealed in a pocket or reticule.

The suspects: A darling little Frenchman in his later years, quite a flirt with the chambermaids. A stout Scottish woman of exceptional breeding and no finer a horsewoman in her country. A sweet London born woman in delicate condition and her dotting, somewhat prissy husband. One of these four must be the owner. Any guesses as to the owner or the contents? (To be revealed once partners are assigned)

For this swap we are going to make a lovely little addition for our reticules from a metal tin. Many men and women carried these little boxes - as Vinaigrettes, for sweets or Snuff Boxes

Snuff boxes were most often carried by gentlemen but Catherine the Great (Catherine II was empress regnant of All Russia from 1762 until 1796) was said to carry a very risqué one.

This will be an email swap you’ll be sending your partner 2 or 3 pictures of the box you’ll alter and keep for yourself. Please share in your email letter from your character who is the owner of the box, what it’ll contain, and how they acquired it.

This tutorial is a good basic one for altering an Altoid tin. A google image search or pinterest search for “altered altoid tins” is sure to give you tons of inspiration - but please do keep your tin reflecting our era.

Please let us know if you have any concerns or questions. ~ Anna, Jane and Nickalli