Magnets on the refrigerator pleases the eye and keeps our lists, photos, cards, business cards and coupons in sight. Do it yourself with your own hands or as a gift is very interesting and easy. After all, if you think about it, you can use almost everything that is at hand to make magnetic handicrafts, just include fantasy, stock up on glue and mini-magnets. In this article we presented 70 inspirational photo-ideas, as well as 5 step-by-step lessons on how to make cool magnets for a refrigerator (and not only) from improvised, natural and even junk materials.
General recommendations for beginners
- For the manufacture of magnets on the refrigerator, you can use three of them: ferrite, neodymium (super-magnets) and vinyl (rubber).
- If you want your magnetic handicrafts to hold only light and small sheets of paper, cards, etc., then you can use ferrite (ordinary graphite-colored magnets, which are most often used for souvenirs) or vinyl. The latter is a flexible vinyl material with a glue base, which has a small traction force, but can be cut into segments of different shapes and sizes. An example of the use of a flexible magnet is shown below.
- If you want a magnet to hold things heavier, then you need to use neodymium magnets (super-magnets) to make crafts, which have a 10 times greater adhesion strength. So, for example, to make a magnetic hook for a chef or a cutting board you need one magnet the size of a 1-penny coin. Keep in mind that, ideally, the magnet's grip strength should be 2 times the weight of the craft and the object that it will hold.
By the way, the neodymium magnet, in contrast to the ferrite magnet, does not lose magnetic properties in the course of time. Ferrite in 8-10 years turns into a useless piece of iron.
- Where to get or buy magnets for making crafts? They can be unmarked from souvenirs or bought / ordered in construction markets, shops for creativity, as well as on specialized online stores.
- When working with neodymium magnets, observe precautions and do not involve children in the manufacture of diy products. Keep in mind that two magnets magnetized to each other can even pinch your finger.
- For gluing the magnet to the handmade in most cases, suitable superglue, universal adhesive "Moment" and its analogs, as well as a hot glue gun. If your craft is meant to hold really heavy things, then it's best to use a neodymium magnet with a countersink and a screw to mount it.
- It is best to look at the refrigerator magnets, made in one style and united by theme, color or shape.
- Magnetics can be hung not only on the refrigerator, but also on any metal surfaces, for example, on a magnetic board-organizer, hood or gas column.
In turn, the magnetic board-organizer can be installed anywhere, for example, on the door of the locker
See material on the subject: 8 ways to decorate the refrigerator
Master Class. 1. Magnets-hooks made of branches
These hooks can be hung with keys, towels, cookware and other things.
Materials and tools:
- Dry small but strong branch with branch;
- Hand saw or jigsaw;
- Small neodymium magnets;
- Glue;
- Drill and a drill equal to the diameter of the magnets;
- Acrylic paint (optional).
Instruction:
- Using a saw cut the branch so that it looks like a hook. Then cut the branch along so that its back is flat as shown below in the photo to the left.
- In this flat back of the branch, drill a hole for the diameter of your magnet.
- Glue the magnet in the resulting cell.
- If you wish, paint the hand-made article and cover it with matte varnish. Done!
Master class 2. Banks for storage on magnets
If you have cute tin cans or glass jars, let them in, turning the refrigerator door or the magnetic board into an organizer.
Glass jars with baby food are great for storing spices on the refrigerator or hood.
Next, we present a lesson on how to make magnetic cans for storing small things by yourself as in the photo below.
Materials and tools:
- Small aluminum cans (banks like in our master class can be ordered at Alyekspress for 300 rubles / 10 pcs.). Replace tin cans with glass jars or small plastic containers;
- Paint the desired color (it is more convenient to use paint in the spray) and matte varnish (not necessary, but it is desirable to protect the coating);
- Neodymium plate magnets (especially if you want to use large cans and store heavy fines in them) or magnetic vinyl self-adhesive sheets with a thickness of 0.6 mm;
- Superglue "Moment" (needed in case you use neodymium magnets).
Instruction:
- Make sure the prepared cans are clean and dry. Paint them, as well as their covers in 2-3 layers, giving each layer a good dry out. Then cover the jars with varnish, if any.
- If you use cans with a glass insert on the lid, then before painting it needs to be removed or sealed with paint tape.
- Cut out circles from the magnetic sheet, their diameter should be slightly less than the diameter of the cans. If you use neodymium magnets, then glue them on superglue.
- Glue the cut circles to the bottom of the jar by removing the protective backing.
- If desired, cans can be additionally capped. For example, as shown in the photo below.
See also: Remaking tin and glass jars: master classes and ideas
Master class 3. Magnets from tin caps (crown caps)
The idea of secondary use of lids from bottles from soda or beer as magnets on the refrigerator will appeal not only to ecologists, but also to decorators. After all, they are completely worthless, but they provide a lot of opportunities for decoration.
For example, inside the covers you can paste family photos or just a pretty paper (trimming cards, clippings from magazines, etc.).
Self-made magnets-photo frames
Covers can be painted, fill their inner part with hot glue or a stopper, and then glue the magnets to them.
Sometimes the lids from bottles can not be decorated at all.
Instead of beer caps for making magnets on the refrigerator, you can use more covers, for example, from Nutella cans or baby food.
Materials and tools:
- Scissors, and better punch for scrapbooking for cutting circles with a diameter of 2.5 cm (sold in stores for creativity and costs 200-300 rubles.);
- Epoxy resin, solution tank and stirring stick;
- Glue PVA, as well as superglue;
- Small magnets;
- Photos that match the size or any other pictures, for example, from a magazine;
- Beer covers (it's best to use bottles with unscrewed, not uncorking bottles).
Instruction:
- Using a punch or scissors, cut out round fragments with a diameter of 2.5 cm. Of course, if you use scissors, you must first make a marking using one of the covers (or the plastic lid from a plastic bottle) as a template.
- Glue the pictures to the inside of each cover with the help of glue PVA (glue to be applied on top of the picture including). Allow the adhesive to dry completely (!).
- Following the manufacturer's instructions, prepare the epoxy resin in the quantity you need. To find out exactly how much resin you need, fill one of the lids with water, then multiply the resulting volume by the number of lids. Cover the work surface to protect it from spills, then fill each cover to the brim. Let the crafts dry for the night.
- Glue the magnets to the workpieces. Done!
Look also: Crafts from bottle caps for adults and children
Master class 4. Magnets from plastic mini-toys
The most stylish magnets can easily be made from plastic toys, namely animal figurines.
Materials and tools:
- Scissors or sharp knife;
- Thermo-adhesive in the gun;
- Paint and brush if necessary;
- Small magnets;
- Plastic figurines of animals.
Instruction:
- Cut the toy in half or along.
- Fill the inside of the resulting blank with hot glue to the very ends and leave to dry.
- When the glue solidifies, proceed to painting the crafts (including "filling") in 1-3 layers. At the end it can be additionally varnished.
- Now just glue a magnet to the figure and enjoy the result!
Master class 5. Magnets from clothes pegs
Let's open you a little lifhak - magnets from clothespins can not only store lists and bills, but also clamp packets with food as shown in the photo below. It turns out very convenient - took off the clothespin from the refrigerator and immediately fixed her an open package.
And wooden pegs can hold a piece of paper on the refrigerator door and at the same time clamp something between the teeth.
Clothespins can be painted, decorated with sequins, pasted with colored tape or appliqués, or you can decorate the decoupage technique by following the following simple instructions.
Materials and tools:
- Wooden or bamboo clothespins (you can take the usual or decorative for scrapbooking);
- Scissors;
- Two-layer napkin with a pattern;
- Brush for applying glue and one brush for varnish;
- PVA glue;
- Glue "Moment" or its analog;
- Matte acrylic lacquer;
- Small magnets.
Instruction:
- Separate the layer with a pattern from the napkin, then cut out of it a strip the size of a little more than the end of the clothespin.
- Glue the cut strip to one of the ends of the clothespin using PVA glue, then gently spread the glue and over the napkin with a brush. Leave the artifice to dry.
- Cut off the excess napkins with scissors.
- Cover the clothespin with varnish and wait about 2 hours until it dries.
- Glue a magnet to the other end of the clothespin. Voilà! The handicraft is ready!
Photo gallery of ideas
In this photo gallery you can learn other original ideas of crafts made from magnets that are easy to make with your own hands from available materials.
