How to Make Your Own Polymer Clay Refrigerator Magnets

Making your own polymer clay refrigerator magnets is a fun and creative project that can be completed with just a few simple materials. You'll need some polymer clay, a rolling pin, a cookie cutter, and a surface to work on.

Polymer clay is a type of modeling compound that can be baked in a home oven to harden. It's available in a wide range of colors and can be mixed together to create unique hues.

To get started, condition your polymer clay by kneading it until it's soft and pliable. This will help you achieve the desired consistency for your project.

You can use a variety of shapes and designs to create your magnets, from simple shapes like hearts and stars to more complex designs like animals and objects.

To start making your polymer clay refrigerator magnets, you'll need to gather the necessary supplies. You can choose from a variety of polymer clay brands, such as Sculpey Premo.

Polymer clay tools, like rolling pins, butter knives, and toothpicks, are also essential for shaping and molding your designs. You can also use a glass cup to flatten out your clay.

For added decoration, you can use liquid polymer clay or Glitter Mod Podge, but these are optional. It's also a good idea to have some Super Glue on hand for attaching magnets.

To attach the magnets, you'll need magnets themselves, which can be purchased in packs or individually. Some magnets come with self-adhesive, so you may not need glue in those cases.

Here are the basic supplies you'll need:

Before you start, make sure you have a toaster oven to bake your designs in, as the baking instructions may vary depending on the brand of polymer clay you're using.

To create the magnet, you'll need to add a magnet to the back of your clay design. Glue 1-2 magnets on the back, depending on the size of your sculpture and the magnet. We used superglue and loved how easily you can control the amount of glue that comes out.

You can also use a cheap sculpting kit to work with a small piece of plexiglass, which can help keep your magnets smaller. This is especially helpful when working with kids, as it allows them to have a more manageable piece of clay.

To attach the magnet, use a small piece of magnet tape, which can be cut to size. This is a great way to add a strong magnetic force to your clay design.

To create a polymer clay refrigerator magnet, you'll need to bake the clay design in a toaster oven at 275 degrees F for 30 minutes.

Smaller and flatter 3-D designs work best for magnets, so keep that in mind when sculpting your magnet.

For Premo clay, you bake at 275 degrees F for every 1/4″, so make sure to read the baking instructions on the clay you chose to work with.

Use a magnetic thermometer to monitor your temperature, as you want it to be as even as possible to avoid cracking your pieces.

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After baking, let the clay cool and harden before attaching the magnet tape to the back of each magnet.

Make sure the sculptures children are creating are larger than the size magnets you purchased, as you can give artists a magnet to check the size of their creation before baking.

You can use a rolling pin to roll out the clay to a 1/8″ thickness, making it easier to cut out strips with a craft blade.

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To add a magnet to your polymer clay refrigerator magnet, glue 1-2 magnets on the back of your clay design.

The amount of glue you use is crucial, so it's best to use a superglue that allows you to control the amount that comes out, like we did.

Make sure to choose a magnet that's the right size for your sculpture, depending on how big or small you want your magnet to be.

We limited the amount of polymer clay our kids used to keep their magnets smaller, which also helped us choose the right size magnet for them.

Smaller and flatter 3-D designs work best for magnets, so keep that in mind when sculpting your creations.

To add texture, use a toothpick and other tools to shape your clay. Make sure that all clay is pushed together for a solid design.

You can use a rolling pin to roll out the clay to a 1/8″ thickness, which is ideal for cutting out strips with a craft blade.

For word magnets, stamp words onto the clay strips using small letter stamps, cutting them out as you go along.