Picture Preparation

• 1). Place the Altoids tin on top of a piece of card stock on a steady, flat surface. Hold the tin in place with one hand. Hold the fine-tipped marker in your other hand and trace around the outer edge of the tin. Cut along the traced lines to create a template for your picture. Place the piece you cut out on top of the tin to check the size. Adjust the template or cut a new one, if necessary.
  
  
• 2). Make a photocopy of a photograph, or scan it and print it out so that you can freely experiment without risking damage to the original photo. If you are using a picture cutout from a magazine or other source instead of a photograph, you may skip this step.
  
  
• 3). Place the template over your picture and move it around until it's framed the way you'd like to see it on the Altoids tin. Hold the template firmly on top of the picture and trace around the inside edges of the cutout.
  
  
• 4). Cut out your picture, working just inside the marker lines, so they will not show up on the final picture.
  
  

Assembly

• 1). Use your paintbrush to apply a layer of decoupage adhesive to the back of the picture.
  
  
• 2). Place the picture with the adhesive-coated side toward the Altoids tin. Press the picture down firmly and smooth out any bubbles.
  
  
• 3). Allow the adhesive to dry overnight, or follow the guidelines on the jar of adhesive.
  
  
• 4). Apply a top coat of adhesive over the picture to seal and protect it. Allow this coat to dry according to the guidelines on the jar of adhesive.