Magnets

I was so inspired by two pins on Pinterest creating magnet boards from an automotive oil drip pan or other sheet metal, and two craft leaflets using letters (or initials) to decorate as part of a craft project, that I combined my ideas into one blog post. I hope you enjoy my latest creative adventure!

I had the new Leisure Arts book Initial It! (item #7077), a papier-mache letter, and my clothespin magnets that I recently made for younger kids and older kids/adults. Now I needed to incorporate them all together. I wanted to display my letter and clothespin magnets, but what would be new and exciting to do?

I had seen smaller versions of creating a magnet board from metal pizza pans but this pin from Smart School House nudged me towards trying it as my next DIY. Since I wasn't going to use my oil drip pan like Smart School House (as a teaching tool in conjunction with learning the alphabet for a toddler), I thought I'd like to decorate it similarly to the edged cookie sheet magnet board seen in a pin from Sadie Seasongoods. Okay; I had my idea(s) collected -- off to the stores for my supplies!

I found an oil drip pan very easily in the automotive section of my general merchandise store. It seemed a bit narrower than the one shown in the pin mentioned-above, but I was thrilled to snag it.

I inadvertently threw away the empty spray paint can of Blue Ocean Breeze, the Krylon color used for my FIRST magnet board. Here are some of the other supplies I used.

I cleaned the oil drip pan, then applied Rust-oleum's Clean Metal Primer under the spray paint. I applied two coats of spray paint to get an even layer. I wanted to decorate my magnet board with some fabric swatches, so I cut out different sized circles from a cute bicycle print.

I adhered all my fabric swatches with Mod Podge® - the fabric acted like a sponge so make sure you have plenty on-hand! I discovered the difference in magnets and discussed in my two clothespin posts (linked above); see the photo below as a reminder.

If you are making your own magnets, because there are several layers of Primer, paint, fabric, etc., I encourage you to use the magnets without the adhesive backing and just glue them on yourself.

Here's a close-up showing more details of the final project...

For my second magnet board, I focused on using my papier-mache initial, the letter M. I decided to try using wrapping paper over the spray paint color, Vintage Blush by Rust-oleum. While the Vintage Blush was drying, I also spray painted the letter a deep turquoise.

I checked the oil drip pan and the second layer of spray paint was dry; I could start to adhere the wrapping paper. It was a little cumbersome to work with such a large piece of paper and Mod Podge®. You might want to try using smaller pieces to create a collage effect. I think I got lucky; the paper didn't rip while I was manipulating between paper and "glue". I used a brayer to assist removing most air pockets and wrinkles, but again, the task became more difficult because of the size of the project.

I thought of the projects in Initial It! and decided how to decorate my papier-mache letter without weighing it down. I used some of the wrapping paper at the bottom of the letter, and mimicked the polka dot pattern by painting some dots from the base upward. Here's a close-up of the finished letter on the magnet board.

I found the saying, 'happy' in a decorative metal script. It was a stroke of luck that I had purchased this weeks before I knew I was going to make magnet boards! Here's the final Floral Polka Dot magnet board; I am very pleased with the end-result!

In the opposite corner from my initial, is a coffee filter flower (a project from an earlier post), and other clothespin magnets.

Both magnets boards were hung in my office using Command™ strips; I used several not because of the weight of the oil drip pans, but because of their size. I wanted them to remain steady and secure to the wall on all sides.

I look to be ready to remind myself of upcoming events, showcase special memories, or assign myself tasks both electronically and now in-person. I hope you can be inspired by this and share with us your projects!

Have a great time exploring new ways to express yourself; enjoy!

Martha

 

 

 

Enjoying craft time is fun for older kids and adults when making clothespin magnets. Decorating can be easy to more complicated by using mixed media such as painting, coloring and gluing paper, fiber or other embellishments. This is one of those "more to explore" projects that can grow from simple to more advanced -- enjoy!

I loved using large, wide wooden clothespins so much for the younger kids' project (see the egg carton flower clothespin magnet in the second image), as described in my blog post on May 18th, I wanted to expand my decorative uses for the clothespins while still making them into magnets.

Remember, here is what the large clothespins look like before decorating them:

And here are some of my finished, decorated clothespin magnets (I even included the younger kids' version of the egg carton flower clothespin magnet -- pictured in the upper left-hand corner of the image]).

Now, grab your paint -- I used either spray paint or acrylic -- and start by placing at least two layers of paint on your clothespins. While you let the paint dry in between each layer, start gathering your embellishments: wrapping paper, coloring book pages, mini paint canvases, buttons, beads, artificial floral items and markers.

These uses of other embellishments can be as simple as gluing an artificial flower to the end of your painted clothespin, to the more complicated use of mixed media with multiple steps as seen by adding a mini canvas to a clothespin.

If you decide to use mini canvases to attach to your clothespin(s), determine the size clothespin you need. My mini canvases were so small, that I actually used a smaller 1.5" clothespin as its backing. I used a coloring book page from the Art of Coloring Vintage as part of my canvases' decor; read about it here from an earlier blog post.

I also learned that there are BIG differences in round magnets sometimes called 'button magnets'. I didn't remember that my first purchase of magnets had no felt backing. I quickly grabbed a package of adhesive-backed magnets that were in the same area as the acrylic paint; I thought this would save me the step of gluing.

But I didn't like the weaker strength of these adhesive-backed magnets and ended up using two per clothespin. I much prefer the strength of the plain magnets that needed to be glued onto my clothespins. See the image below for a visual comparison.

I thoroughly enjoyed using these larger wooden clothespins as part of another art project -- it was fun to do while I was making them, and upon completion the clothespin magnets are useful to me at home and office!

Have fun exploring; let me know what embellishments you used when making your clothespin magnets!

Martha

I was amazed at how many clothespin crafts for kids to adults there were available when researching on Pinterest. But, as always, Pinterest searches open a treasure trove of information. How to cull it down is the key. What really caught my eye were some creative uses of fairly common materials in kids' crafts: egg cartons and pom-poms. Include some clothespins, and an additional magnet, and many hours of crafting can result!

The wide, wooden clothespins carried by Leisure Arts are fabulous for painting, gluing and decorating. The smoother and larger surface area make it easy for younger and older crafters to create.

The younger crowd, with some assistance, can make egg carton flowers. I loved these cherry blossom flowers because of the incorporation of make-believe egg carton flowers with the real branches. Since I wanted to use the materials I had, I decided to make the flowers with the egg cartons and then glue them onto my clothespins.

If assistance is needed, it may come with the formation of the flowers' petals. The flowers do not have to be exact or perfect; the petals are formed by tearing the shapes. However, depending on the age of the child, your youngster may need assistance with this step.

The fun comes with the painting! Most kids can do this on their own with some guidelines regarding usage and cleanliness -- what they may/may not paint! Use your judgment when it comes to your choice of medium and make adjustments as needed. I used acrylic paints to paint my egg carton flowers.

I started preparing for my next craft: pom-pom caterpillars. Why was I excited about these so much? I was blown away with the ingenious use of essential oils and pom-poms to scent the air in a car; I just had to try -- especially since I only recently purchased three essential oils to make shower melts and hand scrub, I was looking for more uses!

The large wooden clothespins by Leisure Arts are 0.625" wide - that's like a mini palette! Kids can paint, glue and decorate more easily using these! So, I gathered my paints, pom-poms in various sizes and textures, bought some wiggly eyes and was set to go!

I don't have white School Glue so I substituted E6000 glue; again, use your judgment according to the age of the group of kids or other individuals with whom you are working!

As adults, we can over-think too much, even when it comes to fun crafts. I almost fell into this trap regarding the pom-pom caterpillars and their looks; then, I laughed out loud! Most little kids won't be self-criticizing. Let them have fun with different colors and sizes of pom-poms. I even had some pom-poms with a few extra-long shimmery fibers which added a nice touch (literally and figuratively) to the caterpillar.

Leave room at the end of the clothespin for the wiggly eyes if you decide to glue them there. After the glue is set, place one or more drops of essential oils onto one or more of your caterpillar pom-poms.

You may prefer less of a scent if planning on using your aromatic caterpillar in a car attached to the air conditioning vent, rather than attached to a room fan.

Older kids and adults can be creative with these large natural clothespins, too. Extra detailing using paint, buttons, brads, coloring book art, artificial floral and fauna all are great to add a special theme to the clothespins.

Gathering my clothespin crafts and other items that I want to make into magnets; this adds versatility for my clothespins.

All magnets are not created equal; even when they are the same diameter. Here are packaging examples of three magnetic "buttons". The magnet strength nor thickness/height are list; only the diameter as 0.75 inches. I chose to use the ProMAG Ceramic Magnets (the yellow packaging pictured in the upper right-hand corner of the image).

Here's a close-up of the magnets themselves.

Now to decorate! But I think I'll need more room than one portion of my refrigerator's side. I don't have anything else that is readily available; do you? If not, stay tuned for my next installment and what you can do to create a board for your new clothespin magnets!

Bye for now,

Martha

It's great fun to bring out seasonal decorations; let Leisure Arts' #6993 - Bountiful Wonders Color Art for Everyone help to brighten your home with an autumnal theme! The familiarity of old treasures combined with a new season can get one excited for many annual celebrations.  This year, why not try incorporating some newly made decorations along with your love of coloring? Using and sharing your creativity makes your craft come alive! Enjoy your coloring and pass it on: love it, make it, share it!

If you haven't seen Leisure Arts' new Bountiful Wonders Color Art for Everyone coloring book you haven't seen some outstanding designs. It has gorgeous thematic pages filled with drawings that include leaves, pumpkins, turkeys, gourds, and beautiful decorative patterns. I fell in love with it and knew right away that I must incorporate my coloring in to a new seasonal project. I had saved a pin from Pinterest that was the perfect answer to my search for something new to create.

My new seasonal creation were magnets using at least one of my completed coloring book pages from #6993 - Bountiful Wonders Color Art for Everyone. But to make it a bit more fun, I liked the idea presented in this pin by Average But Inspired showing how to use small paint canvases to help create your magnet.

Small paint canvases shown below are 2-inch square board canvases, or 2.5-inch stretched canvases. The board canvases came in black; the stretch canvases were unpainted.

I got the idea of cutting out some of the finished colored leaves from my page instead of cutting a square section of the page for adhering to the canvas. Having individual leaves lets you decide how the leaves will be positioned on the canvas.

Having imagined the finished product, I experimented by painting one of my stretch canvases first with acrylic paint before mounting any of the colored leaves onto it. I adhered my coloring book leaves onto the canvases using Mod Podge® by Plaid. Add at least one more coat of Mod Podge® over the canvases; let each coat dry in between applications.

Now to make your canvases into magnets...turn them over. You can see by their very construction that they are different from each other. The stretch canvas is truly stretched over a wooden frame. The board canvas is a solid piece of board covered with canvas. Purchase your magnets from a craft store.

Helpful hint: The placement of my magnets differ between the stretch canvas and the board canvases. Why? It wasn't a functional reason; the stretch canvas isn't heavier requiring two magnets. It was a visual reason. If I placed one magnet centered on one side of the wooden frame, I could see the top of it when I turned the frame over facing right-side up. It just bothered me to see the round magnet showing above the canvas. So before the glue set, I repositioned the magnet to one corner and then added another magnet in the opposite corner.

This project made me happy; it made me smile because I transformed a coloring book page that I truly enjoyed creating into something else that could be shared. Even if the magnets are not given as gifts, by using them in your home or office setting you are sharing them. You are giving a bit of your artistic self to others for everyone's enjoyment.

Now I have my eyes set on making more themed canvas magnets. Can't wait for the next season coming up!

See you next time -

Martha