How to Make a Family Magnet Set
You can add personality and a whimsical touch to your refrigerator or magnetic bulletin board by designing magnets that represent the members of your family. Turn basic craft supplies as foam sheets, cookie cutters, chipboard shapes and buttons into magnets that showcase each family member's photos, initials or interests. Use the personalized magnets as a spot for the family to check for notes, "to do" lists or pertinent papers.
Things You'll Need
- Foam sheet
- Scissors or craft knife
- Markers
- Themed stickers or foam shapes
- 2-by-2-inch photo
- Tape
- Magnetic adhesive tape
- Chipboard letters
- Acrylic paint
- Paintbrush
- Adhesive dots
- Shaped buttons
- Button shank remover
- Flat magnets
Instructions
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Frame Magnets
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1
Cut a four inch square piece of foam--sold at craft or teacher supply stores--using scissors or a craft knife. Cut out the center of the square one inch in from the edge to create a frame with a two inch square opening.
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2
Decorate the frame by letting each family member sign the bottom with a marker. Add embellishments such as themed stickers and foam shapes that represent each family member's interests.
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3
Attach a two-inch square photo to the back of the frame with tape.
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4
Apply two strips of magnetic tape adhesive to the back of the foam frame.
Initial Magnets
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5
Paint plain chipboard letters--sold at scrapbooking and craft stores--with two light coats of acrylic paint in each family member's favorite color. Allow the paint to dry at least 20 minutes between coats.
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6
Affix the painted letter to a piece of colorful card stock with adhesive dots. Use scissors or a craft knife to cut a square or circle shape around the letter to create a mat for the embellishment.
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7
Apply a strip of magnetic adhesive tape to the back of the card stock.
Shape Magnets
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8
Turn shaped buttons into custom-made magnets by using a button shank remover--sold at fabric and craft stores--to snip the plastic shank off the back of each button. For example, if a family member is a golfer use buttons shaped like golf balls or golf bags.
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9
Add an adhesive dot to the back of the button.
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10
Press the button onto a flat, round magnet that is smaller than the width of the button so the magnet is not visible on a refrigerator or magnet board.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Design family magnet sets as gifts for teachers, neighbors and friends. Enclose the magnets in a metal tin or decorative lunch box tied with a ribbon.
If children help you create the family magnets, do not let them handle sharp craft knives or tools like a button shank remover. Use the tools yourself to prepare the materials and then let the kids assemble or decorate the magnets. Store the tools in a spot that the kids cannot reach.
Do not create magnets using buttons and flat magnets if you have very young children. If the kids are still in the stage of putting small objects into their mouths, the accents and magnets can become choking hazards.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty Images
