We've all been there before. You're on the go and disaster strikes. You forget your lip balm, your favorite jacket gets a tear, or the dreaded paper cut strikes. Any one of these scenarios can put a cramp in your daily style, but did you know that even in these cases, tea can help? Or rather, given that tea always helps, did you know your sample tea tins can help? Using these easy to make survival kits, you and your empty tea tins can conquer almost any everyday struggle.

1. Sewing Kit

This one is super easy and practical. We suggest including the following items:

Mini-scissors

Thread in a few different colors. We recommend using the small spools for sewing machines or embroidery floss spools to make the most efficient use of your space.

Needles in a few different sizes. To avoid losing them, you can put a magnet on the bottom or lid of your tea tin!

A needle threader. These come in a variety of sizes and styles, all of which should fit easily in your tea tin.

A thimble.

Pins/safety pins.

A mini-seam ripper.

Bonus tip: You can also make a knitting or crochet kit instead, using tapestry needles, stitch markers, and counters in place of other items.

2. Purse | Bag organizer

Purses and bags are great catch-alls for anything you might need during your day, but if you've ever spent several minutes in line trying to fish out a pen to sign a receipt or despaired of ever finding your hair ties again, this kit is for you. We suggest including:

A few different sizes of hair ties

Hair clips or bobby pins

Lip balm

A small pen or pencil (with eraser if needed)

A nail trimmer

Ear buds or connectors

Bonus tip: If you are particularly rough and tumble with your bag, you might want to consider putting one of your larger hair ties around the outside of the tea tin to keep it from sliding open in your bag.

3. Makeup Kit

If you're ever needing something small to keep your clutch organized for a night out or something to fit in your dress pocket for ladies' night, this kit will be a lifesaver for you. Some useful items you could mix and match include:

Mini-mascara

Mini-lipstick, lip balm, or gloss

Floss or a brush-up

Nail clippers with a small emery board

Mini-tweezers

Bobby pins or hair ties

Perfume or lotion

4. First-aid Kit

This versatile kit is great for at home, in the car, the office, or on the go. We suggest including:

Bandaids in a couple different sizes/types

Antibiotic ointment or wipes

Anti-itch cream

Cough drop

Aspirin or pain killers

Antacid

Allergy medicine

Mini-tweezers or nail clippers for splinters or hangnails

Bonus tip: Make sure any medicine you include in your tea tin is properly labeled and stored and that you have instructions for dosages on the label or on a sheet of paper in the tea tin. If you put it on a post-it note, you can simply stick that to the bottom or lid of the tea tin for easy access.

5. Outdoors Kit

If you like to enjoy the great outdoors, whether going for a run, fishing, camping, or hiking, this kit is a great way to condense your gear into a easy, on-the-go tea tin. Mix and match items such as:

Matches

Flint, tinder, or other fire starters

Bandaids or other first aid equipment

Swiss army knife

Extra batteries for a watch or flashlight

Spare keys for the car or house

Ear buds

Activity specific equipment or gear

Bonus tip: Try mixing and matching with gear from the other kits above or our other storage and alternative use posts for our tea tins. For example, if you're going fishing, pack hooks, lures, or weights in a tin. If you're going bouldering or hiking, make sure to bring bandaids and wipes for scrapes or bug bites or nail clippers/tweezers for hangnails and splinters. Particularly adventurous? Pack multiple specialty tea tins for each activity and mix and match them on the go!

6. RPG Kit

For those of us who prefer the great indoors, make sure you're always ready for your next session by making an RPG kit. We suggest including:

Miniature dice

Effect markers for you miniatures

A small pen or pencil for taking notes or keeping track of your loot

Coins, bingo markers, or other game pieces to serve as character trackers on your map

Bonus tip: Does your character look like a special someone from one of your favorite shows, or are you playing in the world of a favorite fandom? Try getting a tea sample to match your hero, or better yet, make your own!