Monday, August 13, 2012

DIY Business and Calling Card Tin Case

When I signed up to attend the Haven Conference back in June, I knew (from reading tons of conference recaps) that everyone would be trading business cards. I ordered some super cute cards, but I had nothing besides a ziploc bag to store them in. I knew that my cards would get lost in the caverns of my bag, so I cooked up a little DIY Business Card Case...also perfect for those cute little "mommy calling cards" that I've seen floating around.
DIY Business Card or Calling Card Tin, from Serenity Now

I was inspired by this cute one from my friend Shannon at Madigan Made!

Here's what you'll need to make your own:
DIY Business Card or Calling Card Tin, from Serenity Now

-Small (card-sized) tin
Mine was a Hello Kitty tin from Target's Dollar Spot!
-Spray paint
I used my favorite Krylon shade of Blue Ocean Breeze and a super fun shade of hot pink
-Painter's tape
-Silhouette SD/CAMEO machine, vinyl, and transfer tape (optional)

Instructions:
DIY Business Card or Calling Card Holder, from Serenity Now

1. Use the painters tape to mark off a border where the cover overlaps the lid (you don't want paint scraping off when you open and close the tin).
2. Spray paint your lid and the body of the tin in your chosen color(s).
3. Use your Silhouette machine to cut a fun monogram or design for the lid of your tin.
4. Adhere your vinyl to the lid using the transfer tape. 
Note: Let your paint "cure" overnight before adding the design. I added it the same day, and some of the paint peeled off when I removed the transfer tape. I touched it up by spraying some extra paint in the can lid and dabbing it on with a Q-tip. Waiting would have saved me that trouble.

And now you have a totally cute custom card holder!
DIY Business Card or Calling Card Case, from Serenity Now
DIY Business Card or Calling Card Tin, from Serenity Now
DIY Business Card or Calling Card Tin, from Serenity Now

If you don't need business cards, consider ordering some fun "mommy calling cards." So much easier to pass out to new friends at the mall, park, or MOPS. Here are a few examples (I'm not affiliated with these, just did a Google search): zazzlevistaprint, and minted. Totally adorable, right?

How do you organize your cards or contacts?


23 comments:

Jill @ Create.Craft.Love. said...

That turned out so cute! Love the colors!

Richella said...

Your case is so cute, Amanda! Love the way it coordinates so well with your business cards. That was a great idea. I took cards in a little card wallet to BlissDom, and sure enough it was a pain--the tiny wallet didn't hold enough cards, and it was so small that it slipped to the bottom of my bag. I'm going to look for a small tin to repurpose!

Susan said...

Amanda - I love your business card! Did you get the one sided or two sided card? I haven't got cards yet (I've never been to a blog conference), but it's something I'm planning on doing.

I love your calling card tin - it's so adorable!

Kelli W said...

Amanda it turned out so cute! I am amazed at all the stuff that people craft from those little Altoids tins.

Ashley Urke | Domestic Fashionista said...

Super cute! Make me one? ;) Though I do have to admit I do love Hello Kitty as she is! Your business cards are super cute! Mine are getting boring and I need to order some new ones! Not to mention that having your header match your cards is good consistent branding...hmmm...good things to think about!

Erin {Home Everyday} said...

How adorable is this?!?! This would be a great gift for someone with a new job. Thanks for sharing.

Krystle @ Color Transformed Family said...

Cute idea! It would probably be great to make one for all the business cards you receive also.

ReiLynnDesigns said...

This is adorable! I'm not sure that I could get away with painting over Hello Kitty- It's Domino's favorite this week! However I have been looking for something very cute to keep my business cards in and this will be perfect! Thank you so much for sharing!

Christina said...

very cute! Great idea! :)

Vel Criste said...

Too cute!

Paula said...

What a cute thing to keep in your purse for business cards.

I need to remember to tape the top lip of a container the next time I spray paint one. The paint does peel and it won't easily close.

Laura / The Shed blog, by Pet Scribbles said...

Love this sweet project! :)

Shannon Madigan said...

Adorable! I love how the colors match your biz cards! (Thanks for the shoutout, too!)

Katie said...

Love your business card holder! I bought a tin of altoids in hopes to make something similar and I just never got around to it!

Nadir@StitchSense said...

LOVE this! And its so fortunate that you got a smooth top tin. I saved an old altoids tin to remake to hold my cards in but the top is indented with the brand logo so it makes it harder to decorate. Thanks for sharing!

Amy @ Positively Splendid said...

So clever, Amanda! I love it.

Xazmin said...

Adorable! I love it!

I keep my cards organized by stuffing them in a pocket of my purse until they get all tattered and dirty on the edges, and I have to chuck them in the garbage and replace them with new ones.

Michele {The Scrap Shoppe} said...

So cute, Amanda! I love that you can store so many. I have a little fabric business card holder that only holds about 20. Definitely need more for conferences!

nest of posies said...

so clever. i agree. love that it can hold so many!

xo
kellie

Emily said...

Amanda, I love everything about the case and your cards. The colors are just so great and cheery and clean. I'm so doing this soon. Thanks for the great idea. WE even have two of those Hello Kitty boxes from the $1 bins. Now I just have to find them and confiscate them.

Johnnie said...

Simple, functional, adorable. Great colors too, Amanda!

Jenn "Rook No. 17" said...

Beautifully done! I love the way you painted and personalized for a very chic outcome!

I recently converted a small tin for the purpose of toting club cards. Totally different techniques though. Fun to see the way that different creative minds approach a similar object -- inspiring!!

Carrie said...

Clever idea for storing your super cute cards! I'm hoping there's a Haven 2013 so I can make one, too. ;-)