Custom Baby-Safe Magnets

Okay, so you know how when you have a great idea you are like "Oh. My. Goodness. I am such a genius!!! I must share my genius with THE WORLD!!!!!"? Well today is that day for me.


I have been looking for magnetic toys for the baby. She creeps and crawls now so when we are cooking and cleaning, she likes to hang out in the kitchen and play with the fridge magnets. The only magnets we feel comfy having her play with are the big rubbery ones that spell out city names that you get while waiting in an airport during a layover on your way home from vacation and feel like you just haven't quite spent enough money. Yeah, you know the kind.


"Why not get those alphabet letters" you ask? I've looked into those already. No go. They are 1) made in China (blech!) 2) have tiny and, I'm quite sure, poorly adhered magnets on the back, and 3) not intended for babies anyway.

So strolling through Target today I found this $5 puzzle.





I also remember that I have 8.5x11 self-adhesive magnet sheets at home left over from another project. You are already doing the math.





I will cut the magnetic sheet using Spellbinder's dies, stick it to the back of each animal and vwah-lah! Instant (and safe) baby toy.

***UPDATED***

Okay, as I was typing this up I heard some clanking sounds in the kitchen. Apparently the puzzle pieces are made up of some type of balsa wood = not great for sticky back magnet sheets. I am going to glue the magnet sheet on with some fabri-tac glue or glossy accents. I'll report back if this works.

***UPDATED***
The extra glue worked! Yay!

Sunburst Card

This is basically a copy of a card I saw on the cover of one of the card or paper crafting magazines. Can't remember which one. But anyway, here is my version.

Bathroom decor

Our bathroom is decorated with beachy typed items. I thought this picture of Brooklyn would work well framed in the bathroom. It's her first school picture. Well, daycare picture.

This canvas mat used to hold a beach photo print and was purchased together. We decided not to frame it because it would take up precious wall space.



I used Spellbinders dies to make the seashells. I love how the dies cut and emboss but to use the dies for stenciling in color...didn't work so well. Not for me anyway. My sand dollars are a mess but since it took me forever to finish all the pieces, they stay.



I dressed up the starfish with diamond stickles. Also added this to the chipboard letters, although I haven't yet mastered how to capture the sparkle of glitter in a photograph.

Awe, my first project entry.

I made this for my sister for her birthday....



Inspiration came from this.

The picture frame cost $1...and it's matted??? Get OUT! (Dollar Store)

The flowers and leaves are die cut (Sizzix dies run through the Cuttlebug.) I love using patterned paper for leaves & stems.

The centers are cardstock coated with diamond Stickles and covered with thick layers of Glossy Accents, then pierced to look like buttons.

"happiness" is stamped on the bottom of the mat (Stampin' Up.) Usually I'm a sloppy stamper but I had one chance to get this right and *WOOT!* it came out perfect. Yay me. And there's so much dimension

It's pretty simple but I think sis will love it. I know...no real spectacular or new techniques used to make this. I thought it was neat because it's my first paper-craft wall hanging. I have ideas to make another similar project for a friend's bathroom. Can't wait!

Yep...another new blog!

My heart longs to make stuff. It doesn't even matter what kind of stuff. I used to lean towards paper crafts but I've found that creating in general is very fulfilling.

Things I'd like to do if I ever had time not occupied by cleaning the house, wiping a baby butt or nose, and working a full time job:

~ improve my cooking skills
~ sewing simple projects like beach totes or place mats
~ scrapbooking (my first love!)
~ make cards for all my loved ones
~ make felt toys
~ grow veggies & herbs
~ home decor
~ find awesome stuff at a thrift store that I could repurpose, refinish or refurbish
~ design my own line of stamps

Until then, a girl can dream can't she?