Brooklyn Bows featured in Manhattan Brides Magazine

page 38.

Make.Shop.Live. is proud to be in this month's Manhattan Brides Magazine.  We have already featured our custom magnetic fabric bow ties for our friend's Brooklyn wedding. Click the below photo to learn how we did it!

Congrats to Alessandra and Paul Womack and it was a pleasure to provide these special re-purposed gifts for your guests to wear throughout the reception.  For more tips on re-purposing materials and custom event crafts, check back every Tuesday for the How-To's Day Tutorial.

Make.Shop.Live.

How-To's Day: Upcycled Dishwasher Label

We have been using this sad, pathetic "CLEAN" note to label what is inside the the dishwasher.  Our current routine is when you load and run the dishwasher you pull the magnetic note off the refrigerator and place it on the dishwasher.  This works and all, but the note is sloppy and depressing and I would really like something special just for the dishwasher that says "Clean" and "Dirty" so all you need to do is flip it to label which stage the dishwasher is at.

With that in mind here is a quick project to make a dishwasher label.

You will need jar lids, random paper, some way to letter (like stickers, cut paper letters or a marker), Mod Podge Dimensional Magic, and Rare Earth Disc Magnets. The Rare Earth Disc Magnets we are using are 1/2" X 1/16" Neodymium N42 magnets which have a pull force of 3lbs. These tiny magnets are more than adequate to hold up the lids perfectly. Please check out magnet safety here before using these super intense magnets.

Attach the magnet on the back of the lid with a glue like liquid fusion. Collage and assemble the papers and letters inside the lid so that one side says "Clean" and one side says "Dirty". Add a thin layer of the Mod Podge Dimensional Magic and let dry.

Now the dishwasher doesn't look so sad anymore! Yay!!! Plus, now we won't accidentally re wash the dishes or pull out dirty ones thinking they have been cleaned already.

We'd love to see what you come up with if you make one for yourself.  Leave us a comment or post a picture on our Facebook wall here.

XOXO, KC

Rare Earth Magnets - Safety Info

Neodymium Magnets Safety Information

Important Safety Warning!
Read Before You Use Neodymium Magnets

MAGNETS ARE NOT TOYS! INTENDED FOR ADULT USE ONLY! KEEP AWAY FROM ALL CHILDREN !
  
Disclaimer: Make. Shop. Live. neither assumes nor accepts any liability for damages resulting from the handling or use of magnets. Please make sure you have read and understood the following warnings, the crafter agrees that he/she is responsible for all damages and injuries caused by the magnets, which include personal injuries , property damages and magnet damages. Pull forces we provided is estimates only, we are not responsible for any inaccuracy of magnet pull force. Please test the pull force before any usage.

Neodymium magnets are very strong. Handling them with care is necessary to prevent personal injuries, property damages and magnet damages.

1. Neodymium magnets are brittle; they can be broken or can splinter in a collision. One should wear gloves and protective glasses when handling these magnets, because splinters could disengage and fly from the magnets.
2. Normal Neodymium magnets will lose their magnetic properties if heated above 175°F (80° C).  Higher temperature rare earth neodymium magnets are available in our store.
3. The strong magnetic fields of neodymium magnets can damage items such as television, computer monitors, credit cards, bank cards, computers, diskettes and other data carriers, video tapes, mechanical watches, hearing aids, loud speakers and VCRs. Pace-makers may be damaged or switch to "Test Mode" in the presence of a strong magnetic force, if a pace-maker is in use, keep a minimum of 3 feet distance.
4. You should avoid having constant contact with magnets of any size and keep a distance of at least 3 feet to large magnets.
5. Children should not be allowed to handle neodymium magnets as they can be dangerous. Small magnets pose a choking hazard and should never be swallowed or inserted into any part of the body.
6. Under no circumstances should you try to cut, saw or drill the Neodymium magnets! Not only would the magnet break, but the resulting dust from the magnet is very flammable. Neodymium magnets should never be burned, as burning them will create toxic fumes.

How-To's Day: Make a Magnetic Brooch

I started playing around with some super strong magnets from Etsy Seller CandyTiles2 that have made me want to put magnets on just about anything! These magnetic brooches take a spin giving you some flair without putting holes in your clothes. A total upgrade!

A quick note about magnets - they are pretty awesome unless you accidentally wipe data off a hard drive or demagnetize you hotel room key one too many times.  So don't let those happen to you if you get on the magnet bandwagon.

Also: This isn't the best for people with pacemakers so make sure you opt for a plain'ol pin back if the recipient has medical needs.

This project makes use of items that you probably have in the house currently: Plastic caps and lids. Using just fabric, buttons or adornments and a hot glue gun + your caps and magnets = awesomeness!

The caps come on just about everything now-a-days so I am always on the hunt for a million and a half ways to put them to good use. Rinse them clean and set out to dry before using them as materials.

UPCYCLING - Technique using pieces from used or wasted item as new materials for a project.

Here I am upcycling a  a piece of fabric from a dress with this amazing sketch-lined floral. The dress was a big hit during my SCAD graduation where it debuted and made a splash all summer. Once the dress had made it's mark and was off to pasture I decided to put it in the "dissect" pile to scrap down to fabric, buttons, zipper, etc. making raw materials for our projects.

As the base layer I wrapped the cap with a strip of fabric first. This clear cap lets some of the pattern shine through which is a pretty cool addition.

Then using a small scrap of fabric and a found plastic flower I arranged and glued them inside the plastic cap.

All you need to wear the brooch is a magnet on the inside of your shirt. Of course it can also be a fancy upcycled magnet ;) 

XOXO, KC

How-To's Day: MAKE Magnetic Mini Note Pads

This project is an excellent way to use small scraps of paper or to put the backside of fliers/ random paper to good use as well as cereal boxes and old cards... The possibilities are endless!!!

How- To: Make Your Own Bottle-Cap Magnets

The How- To: Make Your Own Bottle-Cap Magnets

Today addresses the question we have been asking ourselves about the extra time it takes to prep recyclables for use in green projects in relation to the ease of buying supplies at the store...

One thing I like about Etsy and Ebay is that you can find some items that are second-hand or eco-friendly. There are some items however that we all think about- if this was out there I would totally buy it!  

All those items that haven't made it yet as a staple, we want to make them!!!  We have to prep our items in bulk and there are a ton of possibilities in our treasures we just want to know what you wish there was already ;)  One item that has been going steady in our Etsy shop are these Blank Make Your Own Bottle-Cap Magnets-

They come in a set of (20) and are an easy way to make recycled bottle cap magnets in a fraction of the time!

What you need to start is Bottle-Caps, Magnets, Glue, Magazines and other Paper Images (You can use found imagery if you want to keep up the re-using them or you can print out your own images to further personalize them.)

STEP 1:

CUT out 1" Round Circles for inside the Bottle Cap.  I love pop-culture magnets with my ever changing TV Favorites (Usually I am seasons behind the "Regular Fans" since I don't have cable- BUT that's the beauty of Netflix :)  You can eye-ball and cut the images, trace the circles, or use a 1" Circle Punch found at any Arts and Craft Stores.

STEP 2:

Use a glue stick, Mod Podge or your favorite adhesive to lightly coat the back of the image to tack in place on the inside of the magnet. Let Dry.

STEP 3:

You can use a variety of Glues and Resins to Create the Top Coat of the Magnets. My best advise is to try a layer of your favorite adhesive to lightly coat the top of the image and see if you like the results when dry. Personally I do not use resin because I think it is overall icky, so I  endorse more environmentally friendly options.  There are thousands of different variations in finishes possible with different glues and resin.  Resin is very temperamental and all glues can dry different- testing will probably be necessary with all options.

You can purchase these 3D Epoxy Dome Bubble Lens Stickers from Etsy Seller auntchristys where you doubly save time and have bottle-cap magnets in no time!

FUN OPTION- Cut old Wine Corks to Create Mini-Cork Board that you can tack to and make a Hostess Gift for the next Wine Party You go too :)