Marble Magnets

Marble magnets made of a cabochon and silicon sealer are great for making inexpensive gifts for people you barely know, or people you know well. You've probably seen them around—it's a magnet with glass on top. It is sort of like a marble which was set down while hot and is now more flat than round. Through the glass, you can see a picture. I think colorful pictures work best.

Shopping List

• Pictures - Magazine pictures work, or printed on computer paper.
• Magnets - Sizes range. For your first try, 1/2 inch fits the most common cabochon size.
• Cabochons - These are the marble part. You can get a bag for a few dollars at Wal-Mart or any craft store, in the floral department.
• Silicon Sealer - Clear-drying industrial strength glue. I used E6000, 3$ at Hobby Lobby.
• Toothpick or miniature craft spatula - I use something I stole from a women's mustache waxing kit.

Cut the picture down to size for the cabochon you've chosen—this can be hard, since every one of these flat marbles is a slightly different size. Place a small smear of the sealer (or some Elmer's craft glue) on the magnet, and attach the picture to the magnet. Let it dry for about 15 minutes, while working on more magnets, then get a pea-sized glop of glue and put it on the back of the cabochon. Smush the flat marble and magnet/picture together, so the clear glue spreads to the edges. You can move the marble around to get it just right over the picture, and to spread the glue, but try not to move it too much. It tends to smear colors on the picture after a few rounds. Leave the magnets flat for 24 hours before putting them on the fridge.

Steps by Picture

Print pictures, or cut them from magazines. I printed mine in black and white then colored them with markers, because my printer was out of color ink.

Trim the pictures to the size of the cabochon you're using.

The cabochons I used beside the glue.

Some completed magnets in the top right, and a lot of glue that dried before I could use it.