Make This: Altoid Tin Mouse House Tutorial

This little mouse + bed in an Altoid tin has been quite the popular critter, especially on Pinterest.We’ve had several people ask us how to make this, so we came up with some directions.  You can use anything for the mouse body, but we used an old felted wool sweater for the body, wool felt for the tail, arms, legs, nose and ears.  The pattern pieces shown on the cutting mat will give you a rough idea of the dimensions.

Cut out the mouse body and all the rest.  Put a little pleat in the ears, and sew everything to the body pieces.  Embroider the eyes and mouth (we used the machine– too easy).  Place right sides together, tuck in the limbs, ears and tail and sew around the mouse body, leaving a small opening of 1 to 1 1/2″.  Turn right side out, stuff lightly and whip opening closed.  The mouse and pillow need to be lightly stuffed or they will be too fat and the tin won’t stay closed.  At least we think that’s what would happen to someone who stuffed things too full and then found out it wouldn’t all fit at the very end of the project . . .     Trace around the bottom of the tin to make a pattern for the bed liner.  Use this pattern to cut a piece of wool felt to cover the bottom of the tin.  Pinking shears give it that extra bit of pizzazz.
Glue the top half of the felt to the tin, but leave the bottom part loose so you can glue the blanket bottom in later.Now, make the little pillow.  Cut it out according to pattern size, fold in half with right sides together, and sew around, leaving a 1 to 1 1/2″ opening.  Turn right side out and stuff (lightly, remember).  Whip the opening closed and place it in the glued end of the tin.This may seem backwards to do everything this way, but with the mouse, pillow and bottom part done, it is easier to position the blanket in the right spot.Make the blanket by cutting 2 pieces of fabric according to pattern.  Sew with right sides together on only three sides.
Turn, press, and top stitch across the top.  Fold the top down about 3/4″ and press so it looks like a sheet.  The fourth edge is left raw so it can be glued into the other end of the tin, under the felt liner.  Adjust the blanket and glue the raw edge in place and glue the felt liner over the top of the blanket.
Once the glue is dry, tuck in your little mouse and snap it closed.  Using the top as a pattern, cut another piece of wool felt to cover the top (unless you want it to remain pop art and say “Altoids”– that’s cool too).  Decorate the top with little felt cutouts, buttons, crystals or whatever your heart desires.
Now, surprise one of the little people in your life with your creation.  If you give a child a mouse . . . all the other children will want one, too!

Diane & Audrey