Thursday, April 5, 2012

DIY Number Magnets

A couple of months ago Max learnt to count to ten, and it's still pretty much his favourite thing ever. Just recently he's also gotten really interested in recognising and drawing numbers as well.

So, I decided to make him some number magnets to go into his Easter basket this year. They're a lot cuter than the plastic magnet numbers you buy at the shops, and they were really easy to make too.

But before I get started on the 'how to' check out this video of Max counting. Is it not the cutest thing ever!?




Ok, onto the DIY...



I picked up some wooden number from Bunnings, it cost me $12 for all ten. The other supplies I used were all things I already had at home:
  • coloured paper
  • home-made mod podge (water mixed with PVA glue)
  • craft files
  • a small paintbrush
  • scissors
  • a mini exacto knife
  • craft glue
  • magnet strips (my tip is to save up the ones you get free in the mail and use them for these kinds of crafts)

I started out by roughly cutting my paper down to the size of each letter and sticking them together with mod podge.


Once I'd done that for all ten of the numbers I went over the surface of them with another coat of mod podge and then left them to dry.

I got a little bit impatient and tried to trim the cardboard back before they were completely dry. Bad idea... I tore some of the cardboard and had to start the number one again. My advice, wait until they are completely dry before moving on to this next step.

(After trimming them, before filing them back)


After trimming the paper back as close to the wood as I could I went around each number with a craft file and made sure everything was perfect and neat.



I added another coat of mod podge just to make sure that they would hold up to serious toddler abuse, left them to dry again and then glued some magnets onto the back of them.



And here we have it, the finished product (only they're not on the fridge anymore, I've wrapped them up ready to be included in Max's Easter basket on Sunday. I think he is going to love them!!


Happy Easter!





10 comments

  1. That video is so adorable I can't wait till my Maks can do that we get to about 4 at this stage. The Numbers are such a fab idea they look way better than the usual plastic ones I will have to make some for Maks

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    1. Awww, Maks would sound so cute couting to 4!! I definitely agree that they look better than the plastic ones :)

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  2. I did the exact same thing for Carter's room, but used 3M strips to stick them up. I love the idea of the magnets! Max is such a cutie too!

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    1. Thanks Rhi, that's a great idea using 3M strips too :)

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  3. These look awesome!! Great idea and I love your paper choices, adorable and yes WAY better than plastic ones from store

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    1. Thanks Leah, Max loved getting them in his Easter basket and they look great on the fridge :)

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  4. He is too cute! And the letters are too of course ;) I agree, they're are WAY better than the plastic ones. Great idea!

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    1. Thanks Britni! They're still on the fridge and get used almost every day :)

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  5. I like your number magnets and I've got this linked to my letters and numbers roundup post too today!

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