You can look on Lisa Vollrath's site called Go Make Something. I got good results using the techniques I found there. The web address is gomakesomething.com. Click on how-to instuctions. Click on prepping tins for altering. I used metal primer to prep my tin before sponging with craft acrylic paint. It turned out nice. Just be careful to apply very little primer/paint to closure area or it won't close/stay closed/open. I've also seen rusted tins, but haven't tried that myself. On the Go Make Something Site click on ageing & distressing. Click on the rust guide. Good luck!

Wanda, I saw that swap too, and added a comment asking if spray-painting it was okay. It's how I prep all my tins; it's quick and easy and you can then paint over it with acrylic if you like. I'm wondering which "proper" way she's talking about.

I don't know about a proper way, but I can tell you from experience, do not try to paint it with acrylic paint without priming it first, it will just scrape right off. I received a gorgeous one from someone who said they used alcohol inks.

lol i didnt realise there was a proper way... i tend to rough my tin up with wirewool/sandpaper, then prime it with metal primer bought at the diy store, then when thats dry i use whatever medium (acrylics, other waterbased paint) on top and finally seal it with either an acrylic laquer or a pva solution...

i have been altering tins and everything else that doesnt move for more than 30secs for years now and have never had an issue with the above method. its how i learnt to prep any metal surface for decorating during my interior design btec course.

oh and ranger inks are gorgeous to use on the tins too ;)

alcohol ink...wow! I never thought of that, but that would be perfect.

I also use spray paint....there's a metal primer that comes in spray form and I've had really good luck with that. What I am having a problem with lately is that the new altoid tins are embossed with the altoid name, so I'm having to come up with adding a plaque to the top to disguise it....I like the older tins that were flat!

You can always decoupage I would imagine? It's a lot of cutting and accurancy, but just a thought. I've also seen polymer clay altered tins and they're gorgeous! Just being different! blush

Alleycat, I also find those embossed covers rather difficult to deal with - mostly what I do is cover that area with a piece of craft foam or felt so that whatever paper item I put on top won't shape itself to the embossing.

Wow. So many terrific suggestions. Swap-botters are a great source of info.

Can you hammer the embossing flat? It might give the tin a weathered look. You'd need a wood block that's pretty close in size to the tin lid... hum, anyone tried this already? (Before I go buy altoids to beat on the tin.)

Craft stores are now selling the blank empty tins, that are primed white.

You can also use gesso on them, all you need to do is rough up the surface with steel wool or fine sand paper and put on a coat. Once dry, (you can put on a couple of coats if you want) you can paint it with just about anything.

Cyn

I second twobluecrows advice! I usually prime them with gesso after roughing them up with sandpaper and then put a clear sealer on them after I've painted them. I've used spraypaint before with good results also!

Some scrapbooking stores and online also sell those little tins totally void of any paint at all...so all metallic with no finish at all..I'm not crazy about the taste of Altoids (ick! So buy mine in the scrapbooking stores, etc.) I think the gesso priming is a good option for any tin alterings.