How to Make a Magnetic Board From an Old Frame
If you have an old picture frame and an extra hour on a weekend, you can create a custom magnetic board with very little effort. Magnet boards can be used as a family message center, a spot for snapshots or a place for kids to play with magnetic puzzles and games.
New products on the market are making it simple to turn almost anything into a surface that attracts magnets: Rustoleum advertises that magnetic primer can be used on drywall, wood, masonry, plaster and glass.
Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Prepare and clean your picture frame with a de-greasing cleanser. Be sure to get into any nooks and crannies. Grease will repel the primer and cause an uneven surface on your finished product.
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Stir the primer. Do not short-cut this step. The primer will separate in the can, and if not properly mixed, it will not bond with the paint. You will end up with a very pretty, but completely useless magnetic board that won't hold magnets. If you are doing this project the same day you purchase the primer, ask the paint store personnel to mix it for you.
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Paint the glass with primer in a thin even coat. Allow it to dry 30 minutes and apply a second coat. Depending on the shape and design of your frame, you can prime it as well. The primer works on almost all surfaces.
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Use your imagination when choosing paint colors for the glass and the frame. You can paint the whole thing the same color, or stick with a more traditional look by leaving the frame unpainted and painting only the glass. Apply two coats of latex paint, allowing time for each coat to dry.
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Add decorative elements to your magnetic board. Using latex paint really opens up your options. You could paint a checkerboard on the glass and use red and black magnets to create an instant game board in a playroom. Or paint a tic-tac-toe grid and use magnetic X's and O's.
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Tips & Warnings
Magnets can also be a fun do-it-yourself project. Buy magnets from a craft store and use craft glue to turn almost anything into a magnet. Try polished rocks, pennies or beads.
