Display those Magnets on more than your WIP’s

My magnet board is an inexpensive one from IKEA. They make both bigger and nicer ones now, including this charming one, but my plain Jane one is fine because it’s pretty much covered with magnets.

But you don’t need to be so dull. With magnets of all kinds, especially fridge magnets, being so popular, it’s easy to find magnet boards and to make ones for yourself that are even nicer.

Pinterest has a new way to explore topics. One of these is magnetic boards. You’ll find there one of my favorite ideas. Buy a small cookie sheet at a thrift shop. Paint it. You can hang it this way and use it or go one step further and line it with wrapping paper or wall paper. Glue down and seal with ModPodge.

Another nice idea makes a framed board. Just cut the edges off a cookie sheet (or just get a sheet of metal). Cover it and then insert it in a thrift shop frame that has been painted. Along with being fancier, this will be easier to hang. Instead of paper cut a sheet of metal ceiling tile to fit and you may not need to use the cookie sheet.

Instead of a frame you could repurpose a drawer. To do this begin by painting the inside of the drawer. Put the metal on the floor of the drawer and glue it down. Cover the board with decorative paper.

If you can find round burner covers, these can work well as great, if small, magnet boards. Cover with paper (scrapbook paper will work here) or fabric and seal with ModPdge.

Once painted any of these bases could also be decorated with stencils. A nice bonus is that you can also use the stencils to create needlepoint (I’ll have an upcoming surface design post about that).

Another thirft shop idea is to find metal trays. Often these will not be magnetic. If this is the case, cut sheet metal slightly smaller than the tray bottom. Glue or screw it to the back. If you use screws, glue buttons or vintage pins to the tops to hide them.

No thrift shop nearby? Go to the local dollar store.

If you can find metal letters, why not use them as a magnet board? You could even get several to spell out words.

If you are repainting, think about setting out an area and painting it with magnetic paint. Rustoleum makes a magnetic primer. Mask it off from the wall and be sure to paint the area a different color so you can find it. Do this project either before or after you paint the wall.

Home Depot has a step-by-step tutorial to make a board with a rope moulding frame. Ignore their magnets, we have our own. You could also use other kinds of flat moulding for this.

If you don’t want to make your own, consider looking at Etsy. I saw many lovely fabric-covered magnet boards.

Tips

If you are buying thrifted items for your board, take a magnet with you. Use it to be sure any cookie sheet you buy is magnetic.

If you use a cookie sheet as is, be sure it has a hole you can use for hanging. You’ll need to have these hang from a decorative hook, picture hooks don’t stick out enough.

You can also use a soda can tab glued on the back to have it hang from a regular picture hook.

Another hanger for cookie sheets to to buy ribbon and create a ribbon loop going through the hoe. Make it long enough to go through both holes and you have a triangular hanger to hang it horizontally.

Many sites recommend using scrap book paper, but I prefer wrapping paper or other paper on larger sheets. Using these avoid seams which are tricky to match and can stick up.

For paper I really like the heavy single-sheet wrapping paper you can buy at PaperSource. It has great style, comes in single sheets, and is heavy enough not to wrinkle.

With great ideas like these, do you really have to keep your magnets jumbled in a drawer?