Candy Tin to Crocheted Treasure Box... With BONUS Super-Snarky Tutorial!

My husband always slips a particular brand of tinned candy into my Christmas Stocking.  I like sweet little tins as much as I like the candy that comes in them, so of course, I'm loathe to throw them away.  This year, the empty tin just happened to be sitting next to what my husband calls "the nest"-- my ridiculously large jumble of yarn, hooks, needles and in-process knitting and crochet projects that sits on the table nearest to my end of the couch.  I generally try to clean it up when we have company, but if we're really good friends, well... you've seen it in all it's glory.  And, yeah... Yikes.

So... I'm watching TV, and as usual, need to do something with my hands (which goes a long way toward explaining how my "nest" got there to begin with).  The tin looking so lonely and empty now... so I fixed it up with a bit of crochet and some hot glue. 

The end result now belongs to my 8-year old, who has already filled it with petit objets d'boy.  Fabulous.

Pretty Simple to do, actually.  I debated about whether or not I'd even write a how-to, but, what the heck.  Husband is upstairs in bed with a cold, kids are strangely occupied, so.... Here goes.

Wonder where a California kid got a 5 Pence?

Note that these directions fit *my* tin.. you may need to add or subtract rows for yours... Gauge is unimportant, just keep checking your growing crochet circle against the tin, and when your circle and the tin are the same diameter, you are ready to stop adding stitches and just single crochet in each stitch until the side is covered. Oh yeah... I used a size "E" hook.

Empty the tin FIRST, Flower.  That's the yummy bit.

  

Make TWO (one for the top, and one for the bottom, Sweetie):

Begin: Chain 2.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Sl st in first sc, to join. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: ch 1, 2 sc in ea sc around. Sl st in first sc, to join. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: ch 1, (sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc) around. Sl st in first sc, to join. (18 sc)
Rnd 4: ch 1, (sc in ea of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc) around. Sl st in first sc, to join. (24 sc)
Rnd 5: ch 1, (sc in ea of next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc) around. Sl st in first sc, to join. (30 sc)

Rnd 6:  ch 1, (sc in ea of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc) around. Sl st in first sc, to join. (36 sc)

Rnd 7 & 8:  ch1, sc around. Sl st in first sc, to join. (36 sc)



Should look something like this when you're finished.
You may notice that I actually used two different colors on the top.
You get two extra-snarky points for being observant.



Of course, the next step involves the craftiest of crafting implements, and my personal fave... the hot glue gun. 

Plug it in.  Remember to leave some sort of offering to the Glue Gun Gods, or you KNOW you will burn your fingers.  That's the way it goes.  Don't ask questions.  My glue gun likes a piece of brie left on the counter.

Have a cup of tea/coffee/Amaretto Sour while you wait for the glue gun to warm up.



Note that the top piece covers the entire side of the tin, but that the
bottom piece leaves the ridge/lip open so that it will close.  Kinda important. 



Squirt a little hot glue on top of the tin and center your crochet piece to fit.  Uh.... it should go without saying that your crochet piece should fit the top of the tin pretty well. The bottom, too, for that matter. You *could* drape your crochet over the tin, and lift up an edge, and glue very carefully in that manner... but you know... it's stretchy.  It'll be fine.  Fine, I say.

Glue about an inch or so at a time around the edge, checking to be sure that you line up your crochet edge to the bottom of the tin lid.  Don't overlap it, or it won't close in the end, Monkey Bits! See the Red piece, below.

Repeat the gluing process for the bottom half of the tin, BEING SURE to leave the "lip" free of crochet so that it will close.  I'm talking to YOU, Monkey Bits!  See the Blue piece, below.



And you're DONE!  Unless, of course, you need to clean off those stringly bits of extra glue gun plastic-y mess.  Do that. 

Give it to YOUR eight-year-old and prepare to be stunned and amazed by the things he pulls out of his pants pockets and drops in his new treasure box!

Or... I suppose you could keep it for yourself you selfish, selfish thing.