In which I show you how to make awesome Mothers Day gifts for cheapApril 25th, 2008 @ 7:01 am
It’s almost May. Almost May 11th, more specifically. Which means I’ve been thinking a lot lately about two things:
- Dude, it sucks to be so broke right now.
- What in the hell am I going to buy for our mom’s for Mothers Day (see first bullet)?
When I’ve found myself in this gift-buying predicament before, I simply relied on the craft knowledge of my bestest friend May. But um, since May deserted me moved to Reno, I’ve been on my own in the make-your-own-gift category. But whatever, I knew I needed to move past that. I asked myself, “what would May do?”
May would get herself to the craft store and buy some supplies and make her own damn Mothers Day gifts.
So that’s what I did.
I decided that I wanted to make those cute little glass magnets that you see all over places like Etsy. Guess what? They are so easy to make and so cute, and dude, so inexpensive. They turned out so cute, that I couldn’t keep this craft knowledge to myself. I must share it with the interweb.
First off, you need your supplies. They can be bought at your local craft store. I went to JoAnn’s.
You’ll need: clear glass stones (found in the flower arranging aisle) Gorilla glue (you need extra strong glue to hold the magnet), strong magnets (they need to be very, very strong), decopage glue (I didn’t have any, so I’m using Elmers glue mixed with a tiny bit of water), and a brush (I’m using a crappy make-up brush) and of course, pictures to cut. (You can also use decorative paper, maps, or even magazine pages. I found the little stickers from my Moo Sticker Book were the perfect size!)
Next, find the picture you want to use. I’m using this adorable one of Babboo’s new hair cut.
Trace around the piece of glass that you’re going to use. (Each glass piece is different, so you’ll want to customize each one.)
Next, cut the picture.
A lesson-learned; you’ll want to make the picture smaller then the actual glass stone. (I didn’t figure this one out until I had made quite a few. If May were here, she wouldn’t have allowed me to be such a craft-reject.)
Next, brush a coat of your decoupage (or glue, if you’re too poor to buy decoupage) onto the back of the glass (the flat part).
Just like so….
(Thanks to Vesper for being my lovely hand-model.)
Another lesson learned; don’t use pictures printed out on your ink jet printer. The glue will just make the ink smear. You don’t want smeared pictures!
Next, brush another coat of decoupage onto the back of the picture that you just glued onto the glass. Make sure you put enough on there to ensure your picture is secure.
Set them aside, as you finish the others, so that they can all dry enough for the next step.
After the picture is plenty dry, apply a tiny bit of the Gorilla glue to the back of the picture. If you’ve not familiar with Gorilla glue (and you might not be), this stuff is awesome. And strong. And will ruin anything you let it touch. (Keep it away from your cute skinny jeans. That’s all I’m saying.)
Now you’ll want to apply the magnet (make sure you have the magnetized [is that the right term?] side out or it won’t stick to your fridge), to the Gorilla glue.
Press the magnet down firmly, to ensure correct placement.
Next, lay (lie?) your completed craft goodies out, preferable overnight, to dry completely. Lesson learned; don’t put them too close together as the magnets will be drawn to one another and will mess with the glue placement. The magnets…they are strong. You have been warned.
Wake up the following morning and bask in your (semi) glorious craft skillz.
Because, holy crap, they are cute. And fun. And inexpensive. Plus, I just know our mom’s are going to love them.
So tell me, what are you giving your mom for Mothers Day this year?
I rock · How-To's
Kim
said,
April 25, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Mad crafting skillz indeed! I believe I’ll send you some pictures and some money and requisition some of these.
I also just ordered $100 worth of candles for my dad’s wife, my sugar’s mom and my ex MIL. ’cause I’m cool like that.
Chas
said,
April 25, 2008 at 4:46 pm
What am I giving my mother for Mother’s Day?? I hadn’t thought about it yet, but I see magnet making in my future!
Audrey
said,
April 25, 2008 at 4:58 pm
This is a great idea — thanks for the tutorial! I might make these for my MIL
Marci
said,
April 25, 2008 at 5:04 pm
OH MY GOSH- I was totally planning on doing that for my mom/mother- in - law and my grandma for mother’s day! We are so smart!
I’m glad to know that it works!!
Operation Pink Herring
said,
April 25, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Dude, so cute. Where do you get the ideas for this stuff??
Keri
said,
April 25, 2008 at 5:56 pm
So cute. I might have to try these. My MIL would love it.
I am getting my mom one of these bracelets:
http://www.angelamoore.com/pri/mag2.asp?product_id=ME22651&menuCat=Jewelry
My mom is a breast cancer survivor and so I am getting her one from that collection. Alot of mother’s Day’s I get her something related to being a survivor. It reminds me how special it is that she’s a fighter & still here w/us.
Fraulein N
said,
April 25, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Oh, those are so cute! And simple enough that even I can’t mess them up.
Liza
said,
April 25, 2008 at 6:24 pm
YOU are a genius.
I am stealing this idea.
Liza
said,
April 25, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Oh, and you know what else? Mir at WantNot has a post about getting 400 free prints from some startup photo site. So you could get TONS of real pictures, no ink jet smears, for the cost of shipping. http://wantnot.net/2008/04/24/thats-a-lot-of-free-prints/
Emily
said,
April 25, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Seriously….the best crafty gift idea ever. I’m so stealing it.
Marilyn
said,
April 25, 2008 at 6:35 pm
I’ve made these at MOPS, so cute.
And I just love handmade gift ideas!
Ashley
said,
April 25, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Magnets. I’m making magnets.
Carrie
said,
April 25, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Those are very cute! Thanks for the idea — I might just give it a whirl next week!
janet
said,
April 25, 2008 at 8:20 pm
so freakin’ cute! I tried these once and they were like 1/8th the cuteness. I was depressed about it and never tried again.
ie
said,
April 25, 2008 at 8:31 pm
My Mom will be 76 this year, and when I asked her what she wanted for Mother’s Day, she told me she was thinking about getting her ears pierced. And then I fell off the chair. (I’ve only been hinting around about the abundant gift ideas earrings make for like, years…)
I don’t consider myself a “craftsy” person, but I think I could do the magnet thing. I think she would like them.
sarah
said,
April 25, 2008 at 8:33 pm
dude! I am so making these!
Joyful Mama
said,
April 25, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I’m so proud of your crafty skills, and willingness to share! I have the same dilema you do, however, anytime I make anything for my MIL, it ends up stashed in some backroom somewhere. And I make cute stuff, dang it! (Just ask mom~)
michael
said,
April 25, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Hey Isabel, you can watch the video from The Tonight Show here for now. http://homepage.mac.com/drdavidwelsh/iMovieTheater36.html
amieable
said,
April 25, 2008 at 9:08 pm
OH MY GOODNESS YOU ROCK MAGNET ROCKS! Not only are they cheap, but they are really cute and have a nice personal touch.
What is Babboo giving YOU for Mother’s Day?!
sizzle
said,
April 25, 2008 at 9:25 pm
How crafty and fun! Smart thinking…I was going to send flowers but these might last longer.
Liz
said,
April 25, 2008 at 10:33 pm
HEH HEH, you said decoupage!
Also, my mother appears to be receiving some magnets.
Wickedly Scarlett
said,
April 25, 2008 at 10:35 pm
I am totally going to send adorable customized magnets now! Thanks for the tutorial!!
Viviane
said,
April 25, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Ohhh wow those are so cute! Maybe I’ll try that sometime.
Jenny
said,
April 26, 2008 at 1:21 am
What an excellent idea! Makes me feel crafty!
Jozet at Halushki
said,
April 26, 2008 at 2:09 am
Great idea!
And the how-to is perfect! Thanks, Martha!
May
said,
April 26, 2008 at 5:45 am
SHUT UP!!! This is CRAZY!! I JUST made some of these last Sunday!!! It’s like we have a psychic crafting connection! YAY for us!!!!
Amanda
said,
April 26, 2008 at 11:17 am
What a cool idea! In Britain Mother’s Day falls in lent (usually March time) so our mothers usually get Daffodils from church (the years I attended) and something handmade (’cos I’m nearly always broke!) I had to ask T what I gave my mum this year as I couldn’t for the life of me remember, though I knew exactly what I made her the year before (a crochet flower corsage). We gave her a necklace that we bought from his mum (she makes beautiful necklaces - I have a pearl and swarovski crystal necklace she made me for valentines!) My Nan and Grandma received embroidered handkerchiefs and shower gel (not the most original this year but I didn’t have time to make them something as I usually do). Most people ask me why I give to my grandparents as they aren’t MY parents - but we just always have done because if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t have my parents… to me it’s strange that other people don’t lol
Dugi.
said,
April 26, 2008 at 4:47 pm
very cute. i love the moo site. i’m going to get me some stickers.
did vespa have her baby?
Angella
said,
April 26, 2008 at 8:02 pm
I had a blog buddy send me some of these that she made, and had yet to ask her the step-by-step instructions. This would be a great craft to do with the kids!
I’m sending my two moms, and my MIL handmade cards. And maybe some magnets
Kathleen
said,
April 26, 2008 at 10:15 pm
What am I getting my mom for Mother’s Day? I have no idea. But I am quite tempted to use your idea! The magnets are SO cute! You always amaze me with your mad crafty skillz.
liz
said,
April 26, 2008 at 10:58 pm
thanks for the reminder….must get mom something for mother’s day. my husband bought me a great mother’s day gift (yes, he already told me what it is)….tickets to see the old 97s on june 10th! whoooohoooo.
SJ
said,
April 27, 2008 at 2:12 am
Hmmmm.
Well, I think I might take your suggestion and make these! Who doesn’t need personalized magnets? Great tutorial and the final result is awesome!
heidikins
said,
April 27, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Those are adorable! I’d always wondered how to do this; so easy! so cute!
A friend of mine made a few of these for a wedding shower gift; she simply lifted photos from the wedding announcement and gave them back to the couple; it was adorable!
And now? I plan on making these for myself using pictures of my favorite shoes…brilliant!
xox
stacey
said,
April 27, 2008 at 9:09 pm
What a great idea for any holiday/birthday!
And THANK YOU so much for reminding me that Mother’s Day is coming up.
HollowSquirrel
said,
April 28, 2008 at 7:53 pm
I love these magnets! I made some for my bridal shower (why was I making gifts for my guests at my own bridal shower? Because clearly, I had too much time on my hands.). These are easy to make while multi-tasking (watching tv). I still have all the supplies…I guess I should make some for my mom!! Thanks for the mental poke.
Margaret
said,
May 16, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Isabel, I was just about to say thank you for such a truly awesome idea and show you my Isabel-inspired handicraft but seems you found it already! I loved this little crafty project and always love reading your blog. You are such a funny girl! Keep up the good work.