DIY :: Tile Magnets

I purchased a tile magnet at a craft show I was in a couple years ago. It had a lovely image of vintage flowers somehow transfered onto it. Unfortunately, it fell off the refrig one too many times and now sits in a basket on my desk in about a million pieces (I can't bear to throw it out). I decided to start hunting for a tutorial on how to transfer images to basic bathroom tiles and couldn't really find anything that didn't require purchasing a type of chemical/adhesive help I did not already have. So I tried just using ModPodge and it was a fail. An epic fail. Half of the image transferred, and then peeled right off. So I thought I would try to ModPodge the printed images straight to the tiles. 

I decided to just go with it and start using different materials to see what would work and look best - I used the printed images from here, here and here, vintage sheets and clothing I found at a thrift store, and washi tape, and all three turned out great. I also found sheets of magnetic material at the thrift store (random, right?!).

These little magnets are super cute, super inexpensive to make, and of course, super fun to make. I purchased a sheet of 2"x2" tiles (they come in sheets of 36, glued together for about $3.25) from a home improvement store and then broke them apart at the glue (*edited: they come apart fairly easily by bending them back and forth at the glue) and trimmed off the excess glue with an x-acto knife. 


Materials:
- 2"x2" bathroom tiles
- ModPodge and foam brush
- Magnets (you can buy this on a roll, usually at craft stores)
- Glue (super strong, for adhering the magnet - I recommend Gorilla Glue)
You can use any of these (or all of them!)
- Fave papers, cut down to 2"x2"
- Fabric (either new or repurposed clothing, sheets, etc. I recommend using a fairly light-weight fabric, so that the ModPodge will hold it - ie. no upholstery)
- Washi tape

If you are using Washi tape, you can directly adhere it right onto the tile in a fun pattern, glue on a magnet and call it finished.


If you are using paper or fabric: Using the foam brush, apply a thin layer of ModPodge over the top of the tile. Adhere the 2"x2" piece of paper or fabric and gently smooth out any air bubbles. Apply another thin layer of ModPodge over the paper or fabric and around the edges of the tile to smooth out - this will ensure there are no edges of paper or fabric hanging off of the tile. Let dry completely.

Then glue a magnet onto the back, and voila! A fun magnet to add some lovely to your refrig. You could also print out letters, a quote or Scripture and adhere that to the tile. What an easy, inexpensive, but thoughtful gift! :)