Today I am going to tell you about my journey in decorative metal tin purses. The first one was created because I found a wonderful metal tin at the thrift store in the shape of a Coke Cola bottle, cira 1998. My youngest daughter loves all things Coke Cola and I thought it would make a great purse for her even though I had never made a purse from a decorative tin before. My husband, who is often my partner in crime, was unsure if it could be done. I just knew it was possible. Often I am more optimistic than he is when I think WE can do something.
This Coke Cola tin already had hinges, which take it from me, is the kind you want to work with. My son has since learned and taught my husband how to make metal hinges for decorative metal tins that don't have hinges, but there can be alot of problems going down that road. We purchased a metal clasp for the purse closure from Home Depot in the department that has hinges. My husband drilled holes where we wanted the metal clasp closure to be. We used the double sided rivits that we got from Tandy Leather. The rivits are easy to install and are finished on both sides. The rivits come in different sizes and there is a tool that installs them. All you need are the rivits, tool and a rubber mallet and anvil.
I purchased the purse handles at JoAnn's. We installed them with leather strips that I had and used the double sided rivits. I loved how the purse turned out and wanted to make one for myself. I have been on a thrift store seach for a perfect tin for my purse.
Finally I found a red polka dot dog bone tin. Of course what's not to like with polka dots, so that was the purse I wanted. Well one of a couple of cute tins I found. This dog bone tin did not have hinges, which my husband installed for me. One of the more difficult problems we ran into was that the purse clasp was on a inside curve. That was hard to install and we did alot of jury rigging, but it was worth the effort. I loved how it turned out and have already used it. You might look at decorative metal tins in a new way from now on.
So clever! I love the polka dot one. Did you put a cloth lining inside?
ReplyDeleteI LOVE both of them. You are so clever. I have never seen anything like those tins in my little town of Brunswick, Maine. Hope you bring one to 'Festival' so that I can see it in person.
ReplyDeleteNorma, no I did not add a lining. I think it would of been very difficult to add a lining to a metal container and since the rivits were finished on both sides it wasn't necessary
ReplyDeleteHi Maggie
DeleteThese are great!! And what a brilliant idea to make them into purses. I never would have thought of that.
ReplyDeleteWell, Grandma's fruitcake tins are no longer safe..LOL.... These purses are fabulous! Thanks for sharing them with us. Good to know that you, too have a handy hubby...Mine is so handy he wants to take the project away from me and do it himself...Grrr!
ReplyDeleteMaggie. This is such fun! I have some really historic old tins that I am looking at with fresh eyes. the challenge could be the hasp and hinges over-riding the rolled metal edges, but I see how you overshot the edge of the tin to afix them. Thank you. I'm afraid my collection of boxes will not be safe either, now.
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful,Maggie! I especially love the polka-dotted bone-tin purse. Leave it to you to come up with something so unique. ;^)
ReplyDeleteThese are so wonderful and adorable. I just may have to go "thrifting" as my DIL calls it. But then I may have to borrow your husbnad!
ReplyDelete