Sometimes when we visit Mamaw and Papaw’s house, the kids get a little Altoids tin full of pennies to take home for their piggy banks. Usually the tins go back to Mamaw and Papaw’s to get filled again, but I’ve always thought there had to be something fun we could do with them….
Then I found this mini Lalaloopsy doll in the checkout line at my dear Target store, and I started thinking about upcycling one of those Altoid tins into a little house. I figured it would be a neat surprise to keep in my purse for Peanut for places like restaurants, doctor’s offices, or even traveling in the car.
So, when the kids went to sleep, I searched my bead drawers, scrap material, and other little trinkets. A piece of foam wrapped in pretty purple cloth became a bed, with another scrap of cloth as the blanket. A Chapstick lid became a little table. For a stove and sink I used a Lego block with a concave button hot glued to one half and filled with a little hot glue “water.” A little permanent marker on the other half made “burners” for the stove. I added felt carpet, wall paper made from a gift bag, and a couple small items I left loose for play value — like a little wood bottle and a magnet bear.
The result?
When I gave it to her while we were traveling to Peoria this weekend, she was ecstatic! In fact, it has quickly become her favorite thing to play with in the hotel room.
Of course I couldn’t leave little brother.
He is obsessed with all things vehicular, but I didn’t have any itty-bitty cars… I did, however, have one Lego man.
I made another little foam bed, wrapped in black felt. Added carpet and wall paper and a glue stick lid for a table. We have foam cars in the craft stuff, so I grabbed one to stick in the tin for the Lego guy to “drive” and stuck a magnet dinosaur as a “pet.”
Little man liked his special Lego man house, too. He is super proud he has his own Lego guy; just wait until we start getting Lego sets!
Have you done something creative with Altoids tins?
Shared on Cheerios and Lattes
Donna says
this is one cute idea! I can just imagine their faces when they saw them.
OneMommy says
My daughter loved it! It is definitelly going in my bag for those “need something to entertain them” moments!
Jane Ridgewood says
I’m going off topic again on here, but I’m presenting you with another blog award!
OneMommy says
Thank you, again! Off to check it out!
Jerry says
Every little boy wants a dinosaur as a pet….
Kristen @ The Preppy Girl in Pink says
No, I haven’t but this is genius! My girls are at the age where they could make their own too and have a lot of fun with it. Even though they are older they are always still bringing toys in the car. This would be great for them.
OneMommy says
I bet they’d love getting to create their own mini homes! Great size for Squinkies, little Lalaloopsy dolls, or other little figurines. And, they fit nicely into a purse!