Dare I confess we have become quite attached to the boxes of sweets available at this time of year. Our excuse is that surely three mini bars of chocolate from a sweet tin is far less than a full normal size bar of chocolate..  but then we have a largish plastic box left. Time to set my mind to ideas for how to recycle sweet tins !!

The empty sweet tins make great containers for Christmas gifts. Recycle sweet tins to hold all sorts of gifts, for instance, homemade body products, selection of homemade chutneys, cheese and biscuits, a car selection of goodies (screen wiper, torch, gloves, spare light bulbs etc).

You can easily decorate them, this in itself could be part of the present. Who would not want a lovely round storage tin beautifully decorated? I can visualize a tin in pale blue with decoupaged maps on the lid for a travel theme.

How to recycle sweet tins into gift boxes

I have decorated this tin with chalk paint, applying a layer of plastic primer first from Novasol Spray UK.

Spraying chalk paint enables you to build up thin layers – be patient otherwise you may apply too much in one go causing runs (I speak from experience!).

To make your own, apply a primer. Once dry apply a couple of thin coats of chalk paint.

The inside lid of the tin has a crackled effect. To achieve this effect yourself apply a thick layer of chalk paint spray. Use crumpled fabric to mop the excess off.

Once you chalk paint is fully dry you are ready to decoupage your lid, or sides.

Cut up fabric or paper into approx 1″ size pieces. Using watered down PVA glue adhere to the lid, carefully applying piece by piece.

Allow to dry and double check all edges are glued down. One finished recycled sweet tin.

This one is for my sister – in -law. I have knitted her a cowl and gloves. I love this project, what a difference a primer makes:)Just how awesome is it that the recycled gift packaging is a present in itself.  There are so many possibilities for customising the recycled sweet tins to suit yourself or for