Find an old lipstick tube that is near empty. Rinse the tube out and let it dry.
Grab a mascara wand instead of discarding and clean it with warm, soapy water.
Take a little bit of cotton (such as from cotton balls) and put it in the bottom of the lipstick tube to serve as the inner layer of your travel needle and thread lipstick case.
Place a threaded needle and a few lengths of assorted threads in your lipstick tube and place it in your purse, cosmetic bag or small travel bag.