"your layers will be: marble, glue, white disc, glue, image, glue, flat side of marble."

should that first layer be a magnet?

oops... that'd make for a pretty useless magnet, wouldn't it? (sigh)

thanks for catching the mistake. :) i've fixed it now.

This looks very cool - can't wait to try it!

Hey, I've been making these too. I saw it on another site. I even use the toothpick for the glue. Great minds think alike! I love them. I am giving some as gifts this Christmas and I wondered if you had thought of a way to package them. I want to put 4 or 6 each on something small and metal, so they are working as magnets in the presentation, if that makes sense. But I can't think of anything small and metal (and cheap). I don't know where or how to buy a sheet of metal and have it cut into small squares or circles, so I was trying to think of a product that already existed. Any ideas?

Here's something Ive been doing to personalize the magnets that you might try: I type my friends names with plenty of space around them in different colors and fonts, using the marbles as magnifiers to ensure the type is small enough. then I print the sheet of names on white or cream card stock and punch them out. This way I can give a friend some cool picture magnets and also one with her name!

I'm doing the exact thing -- giving them to my friends for xmas gifts this year. Except, instead of doing the magazine pictures, I'm actually drawing my own images on paper. A variety of images -- graphic lines, swirls, butterflies, mosaics, anything I can think of. The names idea is a great one too -- are you having any problems with the ink smearing when you apply the glue on top? (I'd heard one person mention that with printed images)

As far as packaging. I'm using Altoid tins. They fit 10 perfectly, and they stick to the tin to hold secure. I'm going to paint and decopage the tins (much like my "AOL tin" featured on my site that I did). If the Altoid tins don't work, there is also a mint tin product called Penguins. The tins seem to be the best and cutest ways to package the magnets, though, that I know of!

If you decide to use sheet metal -- One year, I gave my boyfriend a magnet frame with those poety magnets things. I just found a frame (8 x 10) and measured the glass that came with it -- this was the measurement for the metal. Then, I replaced everything back into the frame including metal (backing/padding etc) except the glass. If you need to, you can add a sheet of cardboard to fill in behind the metal. I wrote a message, a sharpie worked, on the back of the metal too. It worked really well though. Just be caresful of the sheet metal, because it is very sharp (and you also need tin snips to cut it). But, this could work for you, if you bought a smaller frame (5 x 7, 4 x 6, etc).

Thanks Michelle, great suggestions. I thought of the Altoid tin too. the citrus sours tins are really cool looking, and I think I would just give them as is. Although kudos to you for decoupaging the tins. But I can't eat that many altoids! I think they have the penguin ones in Trader Joes though, and they are smaller.

I have not had a problem with smearing. Maybe that's because when I'm sticking the marble on, I put the glue on the marble, not the image. So it just spreads out to cover the image when I press down.

hi there... i really like your page. it's quite helpful:)
where did u get all your tins? (your last picture..) and what are Altoid tins/how can i get those?
i went to Michael's today (ahh i love that store) and bought everything to make these magnets. but the marbles i got are too small. grrr...

ashley: altoid tins are small metal tins with lids that hold mints. you can get them at any drugstore or grocery store. they're usually at the checkout next to the gum.

here's their website: altoids

the round, clear-topped tins i use to sort all my images are from a store called lee valley. here's a link to them: watchmaker's case the one in the picture you're referring to is the aluminum box with 53 mm tins.

if you purchased marbles that are too small, you could always get the 1/2" magnets instead and use with them, if they look good together.

good luck!

hey it's me again lol. thanx for the reply!! um, do u think i have a chance of finding bigger marbles at a different store? cause i already bought the magnets and everything lol. do u by any chance remember the packaging/label of your marbles? considering we both went to Michaels i think i have the chance of finding them... cause if i use 1/2" magnets that means i'll hafta go get a 1/2" hole puncher and finding bigger marbles is just easier:\

ashley: if you go back to the marble magnet direction page, i've posted a new photo of the bag of marbles i purchased. it's the second photo.

i found them in an aisle next to the floral area of michael's. there are several shelves of all sorts of colors. these are called "marble accents" by panacea. it's a 3/4 pound net bag of "clear gems." just be sure to look at the marbles, you can tell if they're larger or smaller. and, if you need to, take one of your magnets that you've already bought to the store and hold it up next to the marble for reference... to see if it's the right size.

hey Michelle, thanx a lot for your help:)
the marbles i bought are actually the same as yours so i'm gonna go back to Michael's this Saturday and find some better ones.
anyways i'm gonna stop taking up your commentbook space, but thanx again for all your help!

ashley: no problem. don't worry about asking questions. it's not a big deal.

i'm going to make some new batches of these myself this week too. can't wait, i haven't made them in awhile now!

I'm so disappointed -- I used "contact cement" thinking it would be OK, and now have ruined some potentially fab magnets. Contact cement dries sort of yellowy, and gives a "crackled" look under the glass.

Beware! ;)

the silicone glue i've been using has given me no problems at all. it dries clear and almost to a gel consistency/texture. just be sure to let it dry overnight.

Hello I was just curious to know if you have a lead to where you bought the hole punch?

you can buy the hole punch at any craft store.

I did this with my nephews this morning (11 and 9) and we all enjoyed it!

the 3/4 circle punch was hard to find -- this craft is popular right now, and some stores were sold out! In Seattle, Michaels and JoAnn's were sold out in Tukwilla, and the Paper Zone on first avenue, too. So I got smart, went home, and called some rubber stamp stores. Impress at University village had one, so today's event could happen!

The punch got a bit tricky after my younger nephew dropped it, so, don't drop it!

the hints about using it upside down really helped! we made sets of NBA players, lego figures, and some abstract ones. I did find the marbles a little bit smaller than I would have liked, but the kids didn't mind.

Thanks, Michelle!

I've been making these using the glass craft marbles but I've been looking around for a source for ones that are more clear. I saw the acrylic ones at Tap plastics and I think I am going to try those, but does anyone know of a company that makes 3/4 inch flat glass marbles or cabochons that are perfectly clear? I've been looking around on the internet at jewelry, craft and glass sites for two days now, it just seems like it should be simple to find. Thanks!

karen: have you tried floral suppliers? maybe you could ask your local florist where they get any vase marbles from.

i've only heard of the acrylic ones at Tap plastics, too...not sure of any other sources on the internet for them though.

i bought a huge bulk of flat marbles and i've hardly found any that's close to clear? there's bubbles and scratches everywhere. is it better to buy the small bags? any suggestions? please help!

the marbles, on the whole, are pretty much all like your describing jean. the scratches on the flat side will disappear when you apply glue to them (at least, using silicone glue did that for me). i've heard some people talk about rinsing them in either alcohol, water or vinegar (can't remember which) helps clean them.

what a great site you have!! your crafts are so cute and thoughtful:)

your marble magnets are the cutest. that's a real good way to keep or give something to someone they will remember you buy. GOOD JOB!!

michelle, i tried this with a photo i wanted to keep, and i forgot to put the white cut outs behind the pic. it looks horrible. is it because i forgot the white cut out?? thanks for you help.

sandra: i imagine it's showing the dark of the magnet through the photo, right? i think it'd really help to have the white piece inbetween the magnet and photo just in case the glue bleeds through, it won't mess up the picture and show the darkness of the magnet. good luck!

Does anyone have any good ideas for using the reject (too small) marbles? I have tons! I did crack some and glued them to a small glass votive holder any other ideas would be great!

??????

I found a bag of clear lustre marbles . .but they're not all the same size as 3/4" . .did you buy a specific bag of just 3/4" marbles. I went to Michaels' who said .. we have what we have.

Also . .i found the package of magnets . .3/4" also . .they kind of look enormous and heavy .. am i looking at the right thing?

Thanx . .this looks like a great project for my neices and nephews to do during the summer for Christmas gifts . .

Nini

Nini: The "marbles" I bought are found in the fake floral department at Michael's -- and there is a picture in my instructions page of the bag. They don't say what size they are... I just kind of looked at several bags and compared them to one another and chose the biggest (that I thought was closest to my magnet). If you get a marble that is a little bigger, it won't really matter because it will just add to hiding the magnet behind it.

You could always change the glue process if your marble is a lot bigger than the magnet -- you would glue your image to the flat side of your marble. Then apply a white disc on your magnet. Then glue on top of that white disc and press your marble onto that.

As far as the magnets go -- I bought 3/4 inch round ones that came in a pack of 50. They're all stacked up and stuck together in, I think, four rows and package on a bluish piece of cardboard. The magnets I bought might be a little chunky, but they aren't heavy at all and I'm pleased with them. I guess it's a matter of taste -- whether you want the thick magnet behind the marble or you might could find some thinner ones... You want something that will be strong enough to hold the marble up on the fridge, though. If you like, I'll post a photo of the package that my magnets came in, so you can compare.

I've been making these, and discovered some better marbles at Walgreens. I had been buying the ones at Michael's, but there were so many marbles that I'd reject due to peculiar shape or being too small, or having major flaws...

Anyway, I found a different brand at Walgreens that are all pretty much perfectly round, symmetrical, and work much better for me!

Where do i find this glue you used?

the glue is found at Michael's craft store.

i also did this project, it worked great. i used small stamps. i found a cheap place to get the gems. i found them at the dollar tree. only a buck you can not go wrong!!!

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sorry this is so long, but I just found this site & it's pretty weird....
I've been searching the net & ebay for weeks, going crazy trying to find the clear,flat glass gems that are larger than the typical 1/2" size that ya find at Michael's!!! And then, I somehow come upon this site with all the chat about the very craft that I've been playing with lately, with the Altoid Sour Tangerine tins and all!!! I found out about this crafty recipe in the latest issue of BUST magazine & my friends & I jumped on it immediately and made bunches of them.
About the magnets...I got the small chunky disc ones at M's too, but I also had some sheets of magnet among my craft supplies already, which I think works lots better b/c it's thinner. M's also has sheets of magnet & it's simple to cut. The stuff I had is also white on one side so no need for the 'white disc'. But I still bought a 1/2" craft punch for the images (my fave catalog ever, Femail Creations, has the BEST images you'll ever find! Just don't try to sell yours in my area, Pacific NW, b/c I'm selling mine!)I thought I'd won the jackpot when I stumbled upon crystalrivergems.com b/c they have the larger gems but when I emailed the owner & asked if they were truly CLEAR he replied NO. sigh...
So I'm still spending way too many hours online searching for the larger gems I mentioned above, plus ring & bracelet settings that would hold these gems instead of just making them into magnets. In BUST they suggest www.ornabead.com but I didn't find the settings anywhere on that site!
PLEASE.....ANYONE!!! If you know where to find the goodies I'm dreaming of please email me:
farmofun@inlandnet.com

I stumbled across this site while searching for a manufacturer to make marble magnets with my art.Me being the dingbat in the craft area never thought about making my own. I love all the ideas I have found here and am off to pick up the needed supplies and give it try myself : )

Does anyone know where to find the ring and bracelet bases that will hold the marble magnets???????????

Has anyone tries the magnet project with Ailenes tacky glue? I dont want to ue to thick a glue. Leigh