Introduction: Photo Magnets
DIY Photo Magnets!
These are fun and easy (and cheap) gifts. We made ours as Mother's Day gifts, but they can be for any occasion.
WHAT YOU NEED
- Glass Beads (about 1-2 inches) – I got mine at the dollar store for $1, but you can also find them at craft stores.
- Photos – You’ll need small photos. You’ll want the face to be an inch or less to fit nicely in the center.
- Glue – I used Mod Podge
, but any glue that dries clear will work
- Magnets – You need a strong magnet to hold it up; I found ceramic magnets work the best and come in the perfect round shape. I got mine at Michaels, although I'm sure you can find them at any craft store.
Step 1: Print Photos
First step is to pick out the perfect photos. These are pretty small, 1" diameter, so you'll need to use faces or close up objects printed in a small size.
I found the photos I wanted to use and in Photoshop and resized them so that the face was just an inch or smaller to fit. I printed mine at Walgreen’s, but you can also just print them at home as well. I find it cheaper to print them there than to use up all of my color ink at home.
Step 2: Trace, Cut & Glue Photos
Trace & cut the bead
Since each bead is shaped and sized a little differently, I took the bead, laid it on the photo and traced around it before cutting it out. I cut it inside of the line I drew so that it doesn’t hang over the edge of the bead.
Glue the photo to the bead
I then took the glue and made a circle around the edge of the photo. I pressed down and then placed a weight on top while it dried. I used a wooden cutting board as my weight.
Step 3: Add Magnet
Glue on Magnets
Once the photo is dry, you’ll want to add the magnet to the back. I just put a dab of Mod Podge on the magnet and placed it on the back. I let it dry and then I wrapped them up in a pretty package as a gift.
Don't have kids? Use photos of flowers or whatever else you like to make your own custom set of magnets.