DIY: Magnet Redo

Magnet Introduction

Introduction

Do you have a desk crowded with receipts, anouncements, notes to yourself, etc? I sure do. It sometimes requires a major expedition just to find my to-do list. Honestly, it's a great achievement for me to cross off Find To-Do List from my to-do list. So with this project, I hoped to vanquish - or at least diminish - my personal paper avalanche. I decided a sort of message board would be just the thing to display papers and keep my desk clear. I had an unused magnetic whiteboard and some old magnets which would do the duty of holding up my important papers. But the magnets, while serviceable, were rust-covered and seriously unencouraging in my decluttering goals. When choosing between sorting through files and prettying up some magnets, my choice was obvious. The results of my magnet-painting efforts are shown here.

Getting Started

Gather your materials:

The Project

  1. Spread the newspaper out on a flat surface. I would suggest a desk, as you are going to be spending some time bent over your work surface.
  2. If the magnets are rusty, use the sandpaper to get as much as possible off. A face mask can be worn during this, but you should be OK if you sand the magnets directly over a trash can and don't stick your face right next to them.
  3. Prime the magnets. One coat should do it on all but the brightest of colors.
  4. Wait for the primer to dry completely, then paint a coat of your favorite color paint over it. Do not layer the coat too thickly. After the paint dries, add another coat or...
  5. Sharpie some fun designs on your finished magnet. As mine were cat-shaped to begin with, I went with cat designs.
  6. Finish by sealing the magnets with Modpodge or something similar.

    7. Tip: Create a fun and inexpensive display by using your new spiffied up magnets to hold up old travel postcards. Along with your to-do list, of course!

    Further Inspiration