When I first saw the Altoids Tin Wheels they loudly screamed CIRCUS WAGON to me! I’ve done a few circusy things in the past, mostly sideshow related and this time I decided to create a scene straight out of the big top tent’s center stage.
To get started on altering an Altoid tin I remove the lid and set it aside for another project. Before decorating I always sand the tin’s surfaces both inside and out. Kristin Batsel has a fabulous tutorial on how to decorate an Altoid tin so if you need a refresher on the basics it can be found right HERE. I used a Paper Studio Great Circus pack for the interior and a muted dark turquoise paper for the exterior.
I decided to orient the tin horizontally and needed a stage inside so used an Altoids Tin Shelf Insert 3 5/8 Inches Wide. Alpha stamps also carries a 2 1/4 Inch Wide version if you are ever inspired to craft something inside a tin that’s oriented vertically.
Mini Baby Elephants are center stage. They need a podium to stand on and I had a few options that all would have fit inside the tin and worked nicely. I decided on some round vintage game tokens I had in my stash and painted them ivory, red and turquoise.
The components of the Altoids Tin Wheels were painted before assembling them with tacky glue.
These elephants are very talented, they balance Mixed Color Acrylic Pearls on their trunk in unison.
As you can see, I also scattered a few additional Acrylic Pearls around the floor of the tent. The front of the stage is covered in Red Suede Paper. The Ringmaster is a Preiser HO scale figure from their Local Fun Faire Visitors/Showmen collection. Don’t you love how he’s been trained to raise his arms when the elephants lift their trunks?!
Atop the tin sits a red star bead glued onto a Round Bronze Filigree Bead Cap topped by one of the Brass Patina Bead Caps.
Final touches to the wagon include a Wide Brass Filigree Header at the base of the stage and some Flat Back Gold Star Studs – Mixed Size Set on the wheels.
I knew I wanted the wagon to be pulled. Since the Tiny Faux Ring Handle lays flush I gave it a bit of depth with the addition of an 8x6mm Patina Barrel Bead with Geometric Pattern glued to the back. This allowed me to hook a chain to the side of the wagon.
I used the Red Suede Paper again to fashion a collar for the larger 2 inch elephant who pulls the wagon.
The clown image on the back of the tin is from the Tiny Circus Collage Sheet. The clown is juggling milefiori glass cabochons.
Thanks so much for your visit today! You can find all the wonderful Alpha Stamps supplies I’ve used right HERE.
Missing Willow Farm 