Projects, Crafts & STEM

It’s that time of year again, the sun is shining, the days are longer and it seems like every weekend a new party, graduation or family get-together is happening. Although these times are fun, there’s one thing they all have in common, food and drinks. As your fridge begins to fill with leftovers, you’ll have to decide what’s most important, cold drinks or unspoiled food. Well, now you don’t have to decide. We’ve put together a step by step DIY magnet project that will have all of your metal topped bottles hanging above the food containers. Whether you have beer, soda or even an iced coffee, this project is sure to free up space in your fridge. Continue reading →

Let’s face it: everyone has spilled their drink or broken a glass before. This unavoidable mishap can happen when we’re alone, but it can be an even easier accident to make whenever you have guests in your home. Nothing is quite worse than needing to clean the carpet mid-party. Even worse, some stains may never fully wash out of clothing, carpet, or upholstery. But with the help of magnets, you can make carrying drinks much easier than ever before. Continue reading →

Recycling is a good way to dispose of glass bottles where local programs accept them. But these DIY bottle cap magnets are a fun alternative to tossing bottle caps into the recycling bin! The first step is to pick the fandom of your choice. We chose Harry Potter, but to each his (or her) own. Follow the steps below and you will have a fun new decoration for your fridge or anywhere you please! Continue reading →

Every year Americans threw away about 6.92 million tons of electronics in 2019, according to Earth911 including mobile phones, computers, TVs, fax machines, and more. All of this e-waste represents untapped sources of useful materials like batteries, copper, and even gold. Instead of throwing away old electronics, you can reuse the parts. Here’s how to use magnets to re-purpose old laptop batteries into a battery connector: Continue reading →

Whether you’re interested in science, art, dancing, or a combination of all three, you’ll love this science experiment. With powerful magnets and copper wire, you can upcycle a battery while also learning about homopolar motors and the Lorentz force. Get started! Continue reading →

Many bookworms will understand the frustration of losing your place when reading a good book. Whether you’re interrupted in the middle of an exciting chapter or you need to take notes on something you’ve just read, remembering your page number is one extra and unnecessary step. With this DIY project for a magnetic bookmark, you won’t leave all your pages dog-eared. Even if you’re not a big reader, with this magnetic bookmark you won’t lose your place in your magazine, textbook, and even your journal. Continue reading →

When you’re stuck inside on a rainy day, puzzles are a fun indoor activity to occupy your time. If you’ve already done all the puzzles in your house though, this DIY magnetic popsicle puzzle craft will help you make an endless supply of puzzles. Here's how to get started:  Continue reading →

There's nothing quite like rolling the windows down, turning the music up, and hitting the open road. Spring is the perfect time of year for that road trip you’ve been dreaming of for ages. So, why not “carpe that diem” and start planning your adventure? It’s always important to travel with a light load on any road trip you take, but a few small tools can make a huge difference during your travels. Once you’ve packed your first aid kit and cooler, try your hand at some of these DIY magnet projects to hack your way to road trip greatness! Continue reading →

If there’s one thing that sockets and socks have in common, it’s that for some reason they both always disappear. Because they are so small it makes them easy to lose, plus most boxes that they come in don’t keep them in their proper spots after initially opening it. One of the good things about them is that they are relatively cheap compared to other tools, which means you probably have multiple sets. To help you complete your sets, or keep your current set in one place we’ve put together a DIY magnet project that will keep them all in one, secure place. Continue reading →

In a past post we covered how lodestones were known in China more than two thousand years ago We used some of their original techniques to make a compass using a sewing needle and bowl of water, but sometimes a bowl of water is not around when you really need a compass, like when taking a hike. For those who don’t have bowl handy, you can use this DIY magnetic compass to find magnetic north. Continue reading →

If you grew up in the ‘90s, this DIY magnet project will certainly inspire some nostalgic feelings for you. Launching in 1989, the hand-held gaming console, Game Boy, wasn’t the first to be released, but became a runaway success, with the Game Boy and Game Boy Color together selling over 118 million units worldwide (PBS NewsHour). To bring back all those great feelings you had playing your Game Boy on the school bus, we’re going to transform your refrigerator into one. You won’t be able to play any actual games, but it will be great for keeping track of grocery lists, to-do lists, and provide a place to quickly write notes down. Before we get started, you’re going to need to get some materials to complete the project. Continue reading →

As far as DIY projects go, nearly all of them involve an adhesive of some sort. But attaching magnets with glue or using tape may not be the best way to approach every project. If you need a long-lasting, mess-free adhesive, heat shrink tubing is a great tool to use. While there are many uses for it in other magnet projects, we have one that will make the most of this incredible tubing. Continue reading →

All gardeners know the feeling of planting some herbs or veggies, only to have them look the same. Before you start planting, we have a magnetic DIY to help keep things organized! Remember what rows will yield which plants by using DIY magnetic plant markers! You'll never wonder which vegetables to expect from each row. Here’s how to make your own DIY magnetic plant markers: Continue reading →

Question: what decade are we in? Because by the amount of Star Wars memorabilia you can find these days, you’d think it was 1980. Though the 80’s might seem like a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, it’s pretty apparent that this revival will be around for a while longer. That means it’s as good a time as any to hop on the bandwagon and make some Star Wars themed crafts. Safety note: Neodymium magnets are not toys and are intended for adults 18 and older. Any project that uses neodymium magnets should be done only under the direct supervision of an adult, and the magnets should be kept away from young children and pets. If two or more magnets, or a magnet and a metal object, are swallowed, they can pull together through the intestinal walls and cause serious injury. Get emergency medical care right away if you suspect a magnet has been swallowed. We all know that “once you start down a dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.” And what is the best way to steer clear of the dark side? By making a nightlight to guide you on your journey (whether to Tatooine or just to the bathroom)! These Star Wars themed nightlights are adorable and extremely easy and fun to make. May the (magnetic) Force be with you! Continue reading →

After a summer picnic, you probably have a few paper plates leftover. Instead of storing them or throwing them away, you can upcycle them and turn them into a fun game. Here’s how to make a magnetic maze out of paper plates and popsicle sticks: Continue reading →

The homopolar motor is one of the simplest electric motors. They use electromagnetism to support motion and were developed by Michael Faraday in the 1800’s. Homopolar force can be explained using the Lorentz force. This force is caused by electric currents and magnetic fields that are perpendicular to each other, causing rotation. In one of our past blogs, we showed you how to make a similar homopolar motor. The one we are designing today uses two magnets to create forward propelling motion instead of spinning. This motor will act like a small car, moving forward when placed properly. To get started with your DIY magnet car, you’ll need some supplies you can probably find in your kitchen, along with some magnets, of course! Continue reading →

Spring has finally arrived! This season is the perfect time to get outside and greet the great outdoors once again. But, if this early spring chill is keeping you cooped up, it might be time to bring nature indoors with you. If Snow White’s animal friends aren’t really your style, perhaps nature-themed magnets will do the trick. These magnets can be great for organizing your desk, playing games, or simply adding a bohemian vibe to your living space. They’re also extremely easy to make and a really fun way to welcome the new season. Here are a few different nature-inspired magnet projects to try: Continue reading →

Plenty of everyday objects can become cool magnets with a small magnet attached, but most things cannot be magnetized themselves. So, instead of trying to magnetize your furniture or your shoes, here are a few items you could find around your home and turn into cool fridge magnets: Continue reading →

It’s spring again! For many people, this means spring cleaning. If you’re brave enough to tackle your craft room, you’ve probably found several random trinkets that you may not find a use for in the future. Instead of shoving your miscellaneous pieces back into a drawer, you can turn these random items into cute magnets to hold notes on your fridge or as gifts for your friends: Continue reading →

mag·net ˈmaɡnət/ noun A piece of iron (or an ore, alloy, or other material) that has its component atoms so ordered that the material exhibits properties of magnetism, If you weren’t aware, the above is probably our favorite word in the dictionary. If we needed to select other favorite words, they would probably be: metallic, alloy, outer space, neodymium, physics...you catch the drift. Though we assume you would have a few different choices, we have a great new way for you to combine your favorite words with magnets. Continue reading →

Chess is one of oldest board games still played today. People were playing chess as early as 600 AD. Today, chess is global competition with tournaments played around the world every year. For many players though a simple game of chess can’t be completed in one sitting. When your chess match lasts days, weeks, or even months at a time, how do you make sure the pieces aren’t jostled or misplaced while you’re away from the board? You can create a magnetic chess set to keep your game in place so you can pick up right where you left off any time you want. Continue reading →

Whether or not you consider yourself an artist, there are plenty of ways to create awesome abstract projects in your home. Painting can seem a little intimidating to those who aren’t familiar with the medium, but if you’re not a huge fan of simply splashing paint onto paper, it might be time to get a little creative! Using magnets to paint may sound a little strange, but it’s an easy way to combine science and art to make a neat decoration for your home. So, get ready to channel your inner Jackson Pollock and create your next masterpiece! Continue reading →

We can trace the existence of darts to as early as the Middle Ages, when a form of the game was a training pastime for English archers. Legend says King Henry VIII wanted his archers to be able to practice aim year round. Today, the game can be found in bars and pubs across the world. Now, you may have seen magnetic darts in stores, but none quite like this. Rather than using a dart with its point replaced by a magnet and throwing it at a magnetic pad, YouTuber Magnetic Games has used the power of magnetism to load and shoot the traditional sharp darts. Now this DIY is NOT recommended for children, but you may feel like a kid again with how fun it is. Continue reading →

The world is a pretty big place with 7 continents and over 190 countries so learning geography is not an easy task. Many American students begin by learning the orientation of all 50 states that make up the United States of America. While 50 states is only a small fraction of the rest of the world, it’s a great place to start. Here’s a fun activity you can use to learn all 50 states with a magnetic map: Continue reading →