Introduction: Photo Magnets

About: SAHM of 3 boys. wife. professional crafter. hobbyist cake decorator; addicted to nail polish, sour cream & woodworking. Visit my ETSY Shop: shescraftyllc.etsy.com

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.