If you’re having people over this winter, you may be feeling pressured to pull out all the stops to impress your guests. The truth is, you don’t have to spend tons of money on decorations! In fact, you can create beautiful and simple magnetic pieces that won’t break the bank AND will have your guests raving about them through the new year. Here are a few of our favorite magnet crafts below. 

DIY Twine Christmas Tree Magnets 

Instead of running around a million stores, head to a craft or general store—as well as our online shop—and gather thin twine, thick cardboard, 6mm x 3mm disc magnets, and a glue gun. You can find a detailed tutorial here, but the basic directions are: 

  1. Trace or outline a small Christmas tree on the cardboard and cut the tree shape out. 
  2. Take one end of the twine and hot glue it to the top half of the tree. Then, start to wrap the twine around the cardboard until the tree is completely covered in string. Cut off the twine remaining. 
  3. Hot glue the end to the back of the tree and then glue the magnet to the back of the tree as well. 

DIY Menorah

Compared to the twine Christmas trees, there are more steps to this craft, but it’s still pretty easy to follow along with. Read the detailed tutorial here, but to get the gist of the project, here are the steps: 

  1. Get a sanded and stained wood board
  2. Paint 8 shorter cylinders blue and one taller cylinder white
  3. Roll out the air-dry clay on a flat, smooth surface. Either use a cookie cutter in the shape of a flame or use a precision knife to cut out 9 flames from the clay.
  4. Let the wood board, cylinders, and clay dry overnight.
  5. Once dried and hardened, paint the clay flames yellow. Let paint dry.
  6. Use the hot glue gun to glue flames to the top of each cylinder.
  7. Measure and mark 9 dots on the wood board. Make sure the middle dot is higher than the 8 on either side of it.
  8. Glue a magnet on each of the dots. Let dry.

On the first night of Hanukkah, stick a cylinder on the first magnet. Each night, add a new “candle” until all 8 (plus the shamash candle) is on the wood board.

Magnet Vase/Mason Jars

Add some lights to a magnetic vase or mason jar to create a glowing centerpiece! Hopefully, you’ve followed the magnet vase DIY already so you can just add in a strand or two of string lights, but if you haven’t, here’s a refresher: 

  1. Measure 12 inches of 22mm copper plumbing pipe with a tape measure and use a pipe cutter to cut the pipe off at the 12-inch mark.
  2. Sand any rough edges of the pipes with sandpaper.
  3. Spray the copper pipe and copper elbow with clear lacquer spray to prevent any future tarnish.
  4. Make a ball with the tacky adhesive that is about the size and shape of the opening of the pipe.
  5. Sticky the adhesive into one of the openings of the copper elbow pipe, and flatten the side you can see, so that it creates a flat closing on the pipe.
  6. Add the magnet onto the adhesive on the end of the pipe.
  7. Connect the 22mm plumbing pipe and the copper elbow.
  8. Add another portion of the adhesive to the wall or surface you want to mount your vase, make sure it is about the same size as the other adhesive ball and flatten it to the wall.
  9. Add a penny washer to the middle of the flattened, round adhesive on the wall.
  10. Let both the adhesive and penny washer and the adhesive and magnet settle overnight.

The next day, add some flowers or greenery and attach the magnet vase to the penny washer and voilà!

If this post got you in the holiday spirit, check out our 2019 Holiday Gift Guide and get your shopping done early. You can also countdown to 2020 in style with these magnet crafts specific for NYE!