DIY Dollar Store Mini Magnets Tutorial

For most crafters, finding inexpensive crafting supplies to make a wonderful DIY project is a real bonus.  Enter the Dollar Tree or Dollar Store!

Both the Dollar Tree and Dollar Store have realized the large demographic of crafters who shop at their stores.  Many items in the store can be used for crafting, and now the stores have designated areas full of crafting materials!

Our site has many tutorials on the page, Dollar Store projects!

I have made several crafts with Dollar Store supplies, and this tutorial teaches how to make a DIY mini magnet.

This is a great tutorial on how to make a refrigerator magnet as well!  Use this magnet wherever you'd like!

Three popular Dollar Store supplies that will be used in this craft are the Tumbling Tower Game, roll of magnetic tape, and calendars. 

On the back of the Dollar Store calendars are small pictures; it doesn't matter what year the calendar is from because they all have the mini pictures.

Another supply that is necessary for this project is Mod Podge.  Mod Podge is a glue-like sealant, often used for decoupage. 

diy magnet tutorial

WHAT YOU NEED to make dollar store mini magnets:

• Dollar Store calendar
• Three blocks from the Dollar Store Tumbling Towers game
• White or ivory chalk paint. (Other paints can be used as well)
• Mod Podge
• Scissors
• Sponge applicator
• Small bowl
• Glue gun
• Table protector (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS For making a dollar store mini magnet

STEP 1: glue the tumbling blocks together

If desired, cover the work surface with something to protect it.  Here, a piece of parchment paper is used.

To make the base for the DIY dollar store mini magnet, three of the blocks from the Tumbling Blocks game are glued together lengthwise. Take one block and using the glue gun, put the hot glue on the narrow side of the block.

It is not necessary to use too much glue, as the excess glue will squeeze out and need to be removed.  Taking another block, place it against the glued side of the first block.

It is important to press the two blocks together, making sure they are even on the top, 

and they are even on the sides.  Keep gently moving the Tumbling Tower blocks as the hot glue dries, gluing the blocks together as flatly as possible.

Once the hot glue has hardened, use the hot glue gun to add glue to the long, narrow side of the blocks that are glued together.

Take the final Tumbling Tower game block and glue it on the side of the two blocks that are already glued.

Once again, move the blocks as the glue hardens to make sure the base for the dollar store mini magnet is very flat, solid and stable.

Once all of the hot glue has cooled and hardened, remove the excess hot glue with your fingers.

STEP 2: paint the wooden base 

For this demonstration, Waverly chalk paint in "plaster" is used to paint the block.  Any brand of chalk paint can be used, but a white or off-white color is recommended.

I use chalk paint in all of my decoupage projects, but a neutral acrylic paint can also be used.

Begin by pouring a small amount of the paint into a bowl. 

This makes painting much easier and neater since the applicator is not being pushed into the small opening in the bottle.

Using the sponge applicator, paint the glued blocks with the paint.  Begin by painting the top.  

Holding the block by two opposite sides, paint the other sides of the block base.

Set the block on the work surface until the paint dries.

Once the top and sides are dry, turn the block over and paint the back and other two sides with the paint.

Allow the paint to dry before moving to the next step.

step 3: cut the small calendar picture to size

On the back of the Dollar Store calendars are small pictures of the calendar pages.

Choose one small picture to use for this project and carefully cut the picture away from the page.

Many of the small pictures are just a tad too large to fit on the painted block.  If it is necessary, cut small strips off of each side of the picture.

Place the picture on the block to see if it fits.  If necessary, cut small slices off of the edges again.  If the picture is just a little too small, this is not a problem.  The paint will fill in the small spaces around the edges of the picture.

step 4: glue the picture onto the DIY Dollar Store Mini Magnet block

This Mod Podge is the gloss variety. Matte Mod Podge works well too.  Pour a small amount of the Mod Podge into a small bowl.

Using a clean sponge applicator, apply a small and even amount of the Mod Podge on the top of the painted block. 

This will act as a glue to hold the picture in place. Learn more about adhesives on our glue and adhesive page.

Gently and carefully lay the picture onto the top of the block. Be sure to center it.

In order to eliminate bubbles and bumps on the finished DIY Dollar Store mini magnet, smooth the excess Mod Podge that is under the picture.

Begin in the middle and using the index fingers of each hand, smooth outwards toward the edges many times on the top of the picture. 

Smooth out to the sides and out to the top and bottom until the picture is very flat. Let this dry before the next step.

step 5: Seal and Decoupage  with mod podge

Once the Mod Podge has dried to adhere the picture to the wood, it is time to seal the entire piece.  This is called decoupage.  For more information on this technique, check out our decoupage page.

First, use the applicator to brush a layer of Mod Podge across the top of the piece where the picture is.  Because brush strokes may be visible here, it is important to brush in one direction only.

For this example, the Mod Podge is brushed horizontally.  Do not mix stroke directions.

Finally, seal the edges of the wooden Tumbling Block pieces by brushing a layer of Mod Podge with strokes going from the top of the side edge to the bottom. 

These will be vertical strokes. There is no need to decoupage the back of the DIY mini magnet block. 

Let the Mod Podge dry before the next step.

step 6: cut and adhere the magnet

Once all of the Mod Podge is dry, it is time to cut a piece of the magnetic tape for the back of the DIY Dollar Store mini magnet.

Cut a piece of the magnetic tape a little shorter than the length of the block.

The magnetic strip will have a layer that protects the adhesive and will need to be removed. Once the layer is removed, the magnet can be stuck to the back of the wooden block.

Place it in a diagonal position from one corner to the other.

If the magnet came in a roll, it may be necessary to hold the small piece in place so it is not curved.  These arts and crafts magnets also come in strips and would probably not need to be held in place.

And there is the completed DIY Dollar Store mini magnet!  These are perfect to give as gifts.  I've used them as stocking stuffers and have added them to larger gifts as well.

more crafts using dollar store supplies that you might like

• Sock Cell Phone Case  by Needlepointers.com
• Decoupage Pumpkin with Book Pages by Needlepointers.com
• Coastal Beach Lantern by Craft Bits
• Confetti Bowl by Mod Podge Rocks
• Decoupage Tea Light Holder by Needlepointers.com
• Dollar Store Doll Clothes by Old Days, Old Ways

Some Decoupage projects to try

• Decoupage Postage Stamps on Containers
• Decoupage Book Page Pumpkin
• Altoid Tin Project with Recycled Calendars - Recycle old calendars and Altoid tins into party favors or favors for Senior Citizens.