Recycled Valentine Tea Tin

I was very excited when I emptied another tin of tea because I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.  I admired the tea tin that Yvonne Yam (Do More With Less) decorated a while back, so I was eager to make one too.  I started by covering the tin with Tim Holtz seasonal kraft 12x12 paper.  Double stick Merikan tape (available at House Mart Ben Franklin Crafts) was used as an adhesive.

Next I affixed a paper doily (stained with Tim Holtz Distress tea ink pad) and a trimmed greeting card (from a Barnes and Nobles Valentine greeting card box).   Flowers from my stash were glued on with 3 in 1 Beacon glue (a personal favorite from BFC).

Self-adhesive lace trim was attached around the cover, but you could just use Merikan tape if your lace is not the self-adhesive type.  I decided to add a calendar to this project too, because I thought after the tin is emptied it could be used to attractively store desk supplies.  It's always good to have a calendar on your desk.  The very pretty red lace with sequins was purchased at an after Christmas sale....now I am kicking myself because it was so cheap I should have bought two rolls!...hoarder alert....LOL!

I believe the beauty of a project is often in simplicity and the attention you give to the details.  The decorative top was made by combining  a printed flower and a pre-made lacey crochet rosette....no work, just glue. Just in case someone looks at the bottom of the tea tin, I glued on a circle of the same Valentine printed brown kraft paper....attention to details remember?

Anyway, although this looks nothing like Yvonne's beautiful decorated tins, I think it has a similar feel and stems from the desire to not waste a perfectly good tin just because it's empty.  Now what should I fill this one with....cookies, candies, embellishments.....maybe be a personally mixed tea blend?  How's that for recycling come full circle?