There's something about the fact that it's made of metal and has hinges that makes it difficult to throw away an Altoids tin. It's a product in itself, and there are so many ways to re-purpose it. Recycling the tin into a jewelry box, decorated with our own sense of style, is one of the most inexpensive ways to store your treasured jewelry in a box that's just as special.

Clean the box. Use any basic detergent, such as dish soap. Make sure to clean the inside well so that the mint oils don't taint the jewelry. Dry it well so that any exposed metal, such as the hinges, doesn't rust.

The green movement has inspired a lot of interest in things natural and rustic. If it's your style, or the style of whomever you're making the box for, give the box a rougher look. Dent the box. Scratch it. The "time capsule" look will give a vintage flavor to the box and any jewelry inside it.

Apply two coats of acrylic paint of the color of your choice to the top half of the tin. Let it dry. Do the same to the bottom half with either the same or different color. Paint any sort of design that you wish, or just leave the base colors as they are. Put felt on the inside of the tin, if you wish, using the cement.

Cover your box in polymer clay. Flatten out the clay on a sheet of wax paper. Cut out a section for the bottom. Flatten it out evenly with the Lucite roller, and trim any excess. Do the same for the top. Cut strips to wrap around the sides, and apply those. Trim around hinges. Heat in an oven for about 15 minutes at 300 degrees.

The rest is wide open to your own creativity. Attach rhinestones. Inscribe poetry on the inside.