I got altered

Just discovered another fascinating little niche world within the craft universe (craftiverse?), three dimensional art projects made with altered tins. 

Often starting with an altoids tin, though other tins will work of course, artists make them into anything from a decorated box to a diorama.  Some keep the lid on, some take it off.  Most involve decoupage or paint over the tin itself and making use of the inside space to add objects or layer pictures.

Here's a great flickr group to show a range of altered tins: http://www.flickr.com/groups/470156@N20/

I joined a 'Wicked Children Altered Tin' swap on Craftster.  Partners supplied each other with five real or fictional wicked characters, then chose one and made an altered tin portraying that wicked character as a child.  For example, my partner listed the Borg Queen from Stark Trek as one wicked favourite, and I went from there.

I decoupaged the tin with dark green brocade like paper.  On top I added a decorative cameo frame.  I photoshopped a picture of the borg queen, changing her features out with those of a young girl.  I added one little bee.

Inside I portrayed my vision of the wicked borg girl's pets and doll.  She loved her pet bees, because of the connection of bees to a 'hive mind,' they have a queen, and they sting wickedly.  I imagined she pulled her doll apart and painted her grey, adding machine parts to work towards a cyborg baby. 

The screw in the eye is my favourite part.

My final piece was more 'assemblage' than diorama, and I didn't know how it would be received.  This swap has some amazing artists in it who do fabulous frame style pieces with tins.  I sent the tin off to my partner in Germany, and was so thrilled when she opened it and said she loved it!

While I waited for it to arrive and be revealed I did a second tin as a bday present for a dear friend.  I decoupaged the tin inside and out with the some pretty paper.  Inside I lined the deep part with a little blue and green blanket of felt I made.  Sitting in this pretty nest I put a tiny Robin.

Happy to say she was happy with her present :)

I will definitely be making more tins, in fact I have a round tin from a friend that I am currently planning to alter and give back to her on the theme of sleep.