more magnets and hopeful projects

OK, so I admit, this past week was a busy one at work. I didn't get much time to really think about awesome crafts, much less go through with them.

The one small thing I did was making some more magnets. I didn't want that to be the focus of my post so I had hoped to complete something else as well...but....hey these are still cool.

I posted about bubble magnets a while ago. Recently my roommate hung up a big magnet board in our kitchen. However, we haven't used it and wouldn't have many magnets to use anyways. So I wanted to make some that could be decorative and useful.

I picked out a bunch of fake flowers at the dollar store. I'm hoping to also use these to make some cool hair accessories. But they are basically the same as regular magnets, except you put the flowers between the colored paper and the magnet. Ta-da! Quick and easy.

So in hoping I get to some more projects soon, here are some of the hopeful projects that have been inspiring me. And yes, some are quite random.

P.S. Any inspiration and ideas would be awesome, and I'd love to try anything out.

Every since I became a major fan of Hungry Girl, the Laughing Cow Light cheese has become a staple in my fridge. (seriously check out that link) And the stuff comes in the cute, round containers that always have me itching to get crafty with. I just can't throw them away because I personally want to recycle them and keep using them. They are too small for cd's but might be perfect for gifting bubble magnets, holding coasters, or something else. We shall see.


I ventured away from my normal breakfast cereal when this large box of Honey Nut Cheerios was on sale. I'm definitely going to have to try Ritz's tips for a magazine organizer; this box seems sturdy.


Even a couple of weeks before Halloween, Roberts Crafts had all their Halloween stuff 50 percent off. I picked up a couple of the containers and signs. I hope to make a sort of welcome sign for my apartment and possibly decorate the others as Thanksgiving or Christmas stuff. These things are only Halloweenish if you choose to decorate it as such. So it was a great deal getting each item for maybe 50 cents.

I've been holding on to this one for several months now. You might not be able to tell, but it's a big, thick frame-esqe of a box about an inch deep. There is a flannel board with a stand on the back that fits inside. I found this at Savers and knew some project was screaming out at me....I just haven't figured out what yet.

These are some mirrors that fell out of some frames I decorated years ago. I don't want to throw them away because I want to do something cool with them. Oh I also have the glass center from the frame I used to make my earring hanger. (Look close in the pic and you'll see a pile of my craft stuff...oh fun, it's time to organize.)

I got this cardboard Christmas tree at D.I. for a dollar. And yes, there are about 4 smaller stacked trees inside. This was quite the deal as just one of these can cost close to $10. This project is screaming mod podge to me, but I might have to play around with options.

Bubble Magnets

This is a pretty common craft project so most of you have probably seen other examples.

Bubble Magnets.

I think they are fun; you can make them to match whatever you want. The possibilities are endless. When I first tried this project, I was really excited and wanted to try every possibility. I made individual sets for various Christmas presents last year and still have a ton of supplies that I want to play with. (One of these days, I will have time for crafts...one day.) I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up with more magnets than I have places for!

This project is really quick and easy so if you haven't made them before, I hope you give it a try.

Supplies:
First you'll need the glass stones. You can usually find these in the wedding/special occasions section of crafts stores, Wal-Mart, or your store of choice. Pick the size you want, big or small.

Next, grab some magnets from the general crafts area. You can usually get some pretty strong ones or if you are working more for decoration, you could get by with the thin magnet strips and just cut them to fit.

You'll also need some reliable glue that dries clear (or Mod Podge) and cute paper! (This is a great project for double-sided paper.)

Each stone has a slightly different size, so you can trace the flat side before you cut out a circle. Usually the difference isn't much, so you can use a circle punch or the same template for all the magnets.

Once you have paper cut out, cover one side with glue and apply the paper to the bottom of the stone. Let this dry.

The strength of glue needed for the magnet depends on the strength of the magnet. If you have a strong magnet, use strong glue. Otherwise the magnet will detach itself. :( Let the magnet glue dry REALLY WELL before using, so the magnet doesn't move/detach.

Be creative and customize your magnets to match whatever area they'll be used in; the kitchen, the office, the locker, the to-do board. The possibilities are endless.

The magnet set I made for Ritz's kitchen.

Thanks for reading! Keep the juices flowing.

-KK