A fun, super-easy, inexpensive craft that can be thoughtful, goofy, or useful depending on what images you choose
There are different ways to make unique magnets, including: using homemade clay and imprinting words; hot-glueing jewels, old brooches, earrings that have lost their mate, and the like, to make fancy, girly magnets; and there are even websites where you can simply pick some of your Instagram photos and they'll be made into mini refrigerator magnets for you - but this has to be the easiest way. And it produces something functional (who doesn't need more refrigerator magnets?) that, while I'm biased having made them, doesn't look sloppily cobbled together.
Here are the easy steps and the, very few and inexpensive, things you need:
The part that I think makes this magnet-making method easiest is: I chose some images I wanted to use, sized them down and put some fun frames around them (faux bois, leather, houndstooth), then put them all on one page and printed them out on shipping paper, so they were already on something adhesive. If you wanted the magnets to be glossier, you could print on photo paper or simply use photos you have around, but then you'd need to adhere them to something sturdier, which adds an extra step to these super easy magnets.
Cut the images out of the shipping label paper they were printed on and adhere them to cardboard.
Paint the images with a thin layer of Mod Podge to add some shine and make them a little more substantial. And also because all projects call for Mod Podge!
I have a tendency to go a little Mod Podge crazy, but I exercised restraint and only used two thin layers and it worked out well. Also, painting the images with Mod Podge while they are all on one sheet of cardboard is way easier than cutting them out first then Mod Podge-ing them.
I made these for my friend, Liz, and because I had bought the roll of magnetic tape for something else and never ended up using it. She and I are both fans of Andy Samberg, so I enjoyed scouring the internet for just the right photo I thought she (and her husband) would want to see on their fridge everyday. The other photos are of where they live in Hawaii, their dog Reese, and a graphic I made that says "Dirty/Clean" to put on a dishwasher. I can't imagine anyone having quite the same amazing taste in funny men and German Shepherds that she and I have, but here are the original images I used if anyone is curious and must have a Shy Ronnie magnet for herself.
Once Mod Podge layer is dry, cut out the images from the cardboard. I went over the sides with a layer of Mod Podge after I cut out the images (then laid them on wax paper to dry), but it wouldn't be noticeable if this step wasn't done.
Cut up the magnetic tape into the right sizes for your images, adhere them to the back, and you're done!
The magnetic tape works well but if you really wanted your magnets to be sturdy and long-lasting, you could use additional glue to make doubly sure the magnetic tape stays affixed to the cardboard.
These turned out cute and deciding on the images was fun. Black and white pictures or cut out flowers would make pretty magnets if one didn't want to go the goofy route, and these could be a cool, and easy, inexpensive, housewarming present, too.