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Vintage Photo Refrigerator Magnets

Because many people are using vintage photos and bottle caps for crafting, many of these items are readily available at your local craft store and online. These instructions are for refrigerator magnets made from vintage photos, bottle caps, upholstery cover buttons (for making fabric covered buttons).

Supply List

Round Magnets -I prefer the round button shaped magnet

Strong adhesive

Decoupage' Glue

Bottle Caps, upholstery Cover Button Hardware

Vintage Photographs

Optional: Seed Beads and Jewel/Rhinestone Adhesive, toothpicks

How to Make Vintage Photo Refrigerator Magnets

Preparing the Photo

I used two methods to make the right-sized vintage photograph for my magnets. In both cases, I used my scanner to scan in the photo and reduce the size to fit inside my bottle cap and button hardware. You can also reduce the photo with a copier. The insides of the containers are about 1 inch in diameter.

Method one was to reduce the size of the photo and use an object the size of the inside of my container. In this case, I found a button that would exactly fit inside my containers.

The second method I used was to use the elliptical in my software to cut away parts of the photo.

You will need a photo for each magnet. I cut mine out using a regular pair of craft scissors.

Choosing Vintage Photos and Containers

I decided to try out a few different containers for my vintage photos. I haven't made the button back work out well for me yet, so I'm not including it in these instructions. My upholstery buttons came with a cardboard insert that works make it easy to glue the vintage photo.

Upholstery Button Vintage Photo Magnets

I decided to glue some beads around my magnets. Here is a list of steps.

Before you begin, it's always best to collect the pieces and make sure they fit together properly (1). Step 2 I glued the cardboard inside the bottom of the button. Step 3 I glued the photo onto the cardboard. I used decoupage glue. Mod Podge is a popular brand. Aleene's makes decoupage glue as well.

It's important to wait for the glue to dry before continuing on. This usually takes 10-20 minutes.

I sealed my photos with shellac because it has a slightly yellow tint that adds more of a vintage look. I used two methods to seal the vintage photos, one was to spray on the shellac, the other was to use a brush and brush on a heavy coat of shellac. The brushed on shellac does take a while to dry.

The last step is to glue the magnet to the back. I used E6000. I like it because it's strong and easier to use than epoxies.

To Bead or not to Bead

I like the looks with or without the beading. If you don't like the edges, the beading is nice.

Some people like their beads all lined up in a row and some like a little more random look, it's up to you. I did a little bit of both.

I started by squeezing a ring of jewel glue around the edge of my cover button bottom. I used a toothpick as a tool for picking up the beads and placing them along the edges. Aleene's makes embellishing glue called Jewel-it. A very popular rhinestone adhesive is Gem-Tac.

Easy Bottle Cap Vintage Photo Magnets

Making bottle cap magnets has never been easier. You can now buy the bottle caps and plastic buttons on the craft store when you pick up your magnets and adhesives.

The steps for making the magnets pictured above are pretty much the same as described for the button magnets; however, instead of sealing the photo with a shellac, you can just put a ready made bubble right over the top.

I didn't buy my bottle caps at the craft store. I recycled my bottle caps and used some caps meant for bottling beverages.

Buttons & Old Jewelry Findings for Magnets

Recycle and Use What You Have

You don't have to go out and buy everything you need to do your craft projects. Look around your home. You may find some old buttons, jewelry findings or other little containers that might work perfect for making magnets.