So, I love love LOVE to take pictures. I started making these to display some of my favs on our fridge. When I love something, I like nothing more but to share it---so now I make these as gifts too. Here’s how I made these cheap and easy photo magnets.
What you’ll need:
Preparing the Photos
You might be wondering how I have these pictures so small. When I initially started making these a few years ago, I would PhotoShop each one individually and had to print them out several times to assure appropriate sizes. Then I remembered that CVS Pharmacy has this awesome mini-collage option that I use all the time for my class. Basically you can print 9 pictures onto one 4X6 photo. There you go, perfect size for the jumbo sized gems for about 29¢. Unfortunately, I’ve found that I can only order them at the store’s kiosk and not online but no biggie. When you go to the Kodak kiosk, select the Collages option and then select the Mini-Collages. Make sure the object/person in the photo is in the middle, you will be cutting a circle out of the itty bitty rectangles.
So now that you have your pictures printed here’s what I did:
First, fish through the gems and pick ones that do not have any cracks or that are starred. I know some have an iridescent look but those are kind of hard to see through so I don’t like using those.
Next, place the gem on top of your picture and trace the gem as close as possible using your pencil. Carefully cut around your markings, I made sure to cut inside my line so it wouldn’t hang off.
Then, you will want to place the glue directly onto the back of the gem, I have used this adhesive that’s especially for glass but I also like the Aleene’s Clear Gel Tacky Glue. When I notice that the glue is getting to thick or old, I’ll put them in a cup of hot water before I use it to soften them up so it’ll be easier to spread and it will minimize the bubbling also. Just a suggestion :-)
I spread it with my finger or a toothpick, the key is to make sure to have an even layer so that you have not bubbles…I hate bubbles on these.
Carefully place the gem onto the photo. Be sure to PRESS FIRMLY onto the photo…again, so that there will not be any bubbles. I basically was putting all my weight on these little boogers. Some adhesive will run off, just wipe them off. Try to work off as many bubbles by pressing firmly.
Now use some Tacky Glue on the back for the magnet, you’ll want to put enough so that it’ll barely spills out from under the magnet.
Now you’re done…just make sure to wait til it’s completely dry before you hang it up or else it’ll slip off the magnet. Enjoy these cute magnets and make some for your friends and family…they’ll love the personal thought.
What you’ll need:
- Glass Jumbo Clear Gems (I found some at Jo-Ann’s and Michaels but the Dollar Tree had some small ones that aren’t too bad…a few of the marbles were cracked out of the whole bag but not bad for a buck)
- Aleene’s® Glass and Bead™ Adhesive or Clear Gel Tacky Glue
- Photos
- Magnets (I bought these a long time ago at Walmart but you can find them at craft stores also)
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Toothpicks (optional)
Preparing the Photos
You might be wondering how I have these pictures so small. When I initially started making these a few years ago, I would PhotoShop each one individually and had to print them out several times to assure appropriate sizes. Then I remembered that CVS Pharmacy has this awesome mini-collage option that I use all the time for my class. Basically you can print 9 pictures onto one 4X6 photo. There you go, perfect size for the jumbo sized gems for about 29¢. Unfortunately, I’ve found that I can only order them at the store’s kiosk and not online but no biggie. When you go to the Kodak kiosk, select the Collages option and then select the Mini-Collages. Make sure the object/person in the photo is in the middle, you will be cutting a circle out of the itty bitty rectangles.
So now that you have your pictures printed here’s what I did:
First, fish through the gems and pick ones that do not have any cracks or that are starred. I know some have an iridescent look but those are kind of hard to see through so I don’t like using those.
Next, place the gem on top of your picture and trace the gem as close as possible using your pencil. Carefully cut around your markings, I made sure to cut inside my line so it wouldn’t hang off.
Then, you will want to place the glue directly onto the back of the gem, I have used this adhesive that’s especially for glass but I also like the Aleene’s Clear Gel Tacky Glue. When I notice that the glue is getting to thick or old, I’ll put them in a cup of hot water before I use it to soften them up so it’ll be easier to spread and it will minimize the bubbling also. Just a suggestion :-)
I spread it with my finger or a toothpick, the key is to make sure to have an even layer so that you have not bubbles…I hate bubbles on these.
Carefully place the gem onto the photo. Be sure to PRESS FIRMLY onto the photo…again, so that there will not be any bubbles. I basically was putting all my weight on these little boogers. Some adhesive will run off, just wipe them off. Try to work off as many bubbles by pressing firmly.
Now use some Tacky Glue on the back for the magnet, you’ll want to put enough so that it’ll barely spills out from under the magnet.
Now you’re done…just make sure to wait til it’s completely dry before you hang it up or else it’ll slip off the magnet. Enjoy these cute magnets and make some for your friends and family…they’ll love the personal thought.