Use Those Old Textbooks for Gifts

What else were you going to do with your old textbooks now that the semester is over? Plus, thrift store books make great charms and magnets, too.  Find the original tutorial here for the charms and for the magnets, here.

Happy gift making!

Jen

Magnet Ornaments - Easy, Peasy.....

I saw these adorable, couldn't-be-easier-to-make magnet ornaments at Young House Love here.  I enjoy reading YHL.  The couple who makes up YHL is silly, creative and oh-so-productive.  Three of my favorite descriptors.

Lil O and I made our own magnet ornaments.  We didn't follow YHL and use Liquid Nails to glue our magnets.  But, instead, we used our trusty hot glue gun.  This project cannot be any easier.  In fact, it may go down as the fastest craft completed ever.

Which isn't a bad thing.  Especially when Mr. UpCyclist is on me to finish my craft projects as many of them are a "work-in-progress" - like for several years a work-in-progress.

Here are the supplies:  Glue gun ($2.99); we purchased ours from Joann's.  Surprisingly, the mini glue gun sticks are more costly than I always imagine.  Not break-the-bank-costly, but about $7-9 a bag.  Go figure.  This is Lil O's new glue gun.  I've had my glue gun for years and it looks sticky and glorious.  Ha!

Magnets:  I bought these for $3 at Michael's with my 50% off coupon (they were originally $6).  They are a bit chubby, but strong.  Plus, I absolutely love having extra magnets at home for other craft projects (see photos and links at the end).

I bought these 50% off ornaments at Michael's.  Lil O loves disco balls and dancing, so I knew she would adore these.  The colors are energizing, too.

To make the magnet ornaments, all you have to do is open the packages (no, duh!?) and hot glue the magnets to the back of each ornament.  Hot glue dries within seconds.  So, the magnets were ready for their fridge debut within a minute.  

And even with slamming the fridge door, they haven't fallen off yet.  Thanks, Young House Love, for the idea.

It feels soooooo good to get back to crafting lately after a nationwide stressful week.  Did you see yesterday's post about DIY Chalkboard Ornaments?  That's another easy craft, too.   Again, crafting fuels my soul.

xoxo,

Jen

{More magnet ideas here.....}

Textbook Gems - Guest Blogger/Guest Upcyclist Series

Look at these wonderfully inviting textbook gems Professor KP created and wanted to share with Upcycled Education.

Professor KP, a regular here at UE, basically followed this tutorial for magnet gems using Mod Podge, but left off the magnet portion.  Of course, she found vocabulary and terms from some of her old textbooks to make the gems lesson ready.  Then, she challenged her college students to dream up clever ways to use the gems.  Look at what they came up with.....

Aren't her college students clever?  What creative ideas to incorporate textbook gems and upcycle old textbooks and of course, my fav:  Mod Podge.

Love this!

Jen

PS - Professor KP said she bought her gems at the dollar store.  She said to look for the longest gem-shapes possible.  Notice her gems are elongated, not the typical round shape used for DIY gem magnets.

PSS - I am laughing that I called Professor KP a "regular" here at Upcycled Education.  It sounds like we are a restaurant or bar.  Ha!

DIY Glass Magnets

Need an easy gift for a friend or colleague?  Or how about your students?  Lil O and I used this tutorial featured on Mod Podge Rocks to make our own DIY magnets.  We bought our gems at the dollar store, used scrapbooking paper and magnets from AC Moore, Mod Podge (of course!) and jewelry glue to secure the magnet.  If I was going to make 50 or more, I think I would buy these super strong and tiny magnets instead.  We did not use any clamps to hold things in place as described in the tutorial; the glues just worked on their own to adhere with a little bit of finger pressure.  One caution:  The magnets love to attract to each other (as you know).  Thus, make sure your magnets are spread apart while they dry, otherwise you'll learn, like we did, the magnets will fly off the gems and stick together quickly foiling a great, easy and kid-friendly project.

I love craftucation.

Jen

DIY Ski Magnets

This project follows the same steps and requires the same materials as yesterday's DIY Textbook Charms post with two additions - magnets and a ski map!  Yay, for skiing and snowboarding!  And yay for using two different Mod Podge products - regular Mod Podge and Dimensional, again.

You know how I adore Colorado and our cozy place there; Breckenridge is perfect for winter activities and craftucation, in my professional & personal opinion.  Since we like to keep the condo tidy and fresh for ourselves and our renters, these magnets will be great for holding notes, reminders, welcome information, and to-do lists.  Right now, this is the only magnet on our fridge.  You Michigan State fans will be proud.  Funny story:  One of our first renters emailed me from the condo and asked, "Did you go to MSU?"  Evidently, we were in college there at the same time!  Small world, isn't it?

Our new magnets will be helpful to keep me on track while we are there to ski, board, craftucate, snowshoe, shop, swim, hot tub, chow, pretend to be locals and basically frolic. 

Do you see the magnet with "Kids Castle?"  That is lil O's favorite ski trail at the resort.  It literally is a kids castle with a dragon and everything.  You ski (or board) through it!  We easily do that run five, if not ten, times a day and never get bored.

Yay for skiing, boarding, crafts and Mod Podge products again!  See yesterday's post on Textbook Charms for step-by-step directions.

All the best,

Jen

{A month long series}