Mini Shadow Box Fridge Magnets

Today I am going to show you how to make an inexpensive, unique way to display your memories beyond the framed photo. You can make these mini shadow box fridge magnets to display vacation memories, remember special occasions, and more–with a combination of photographs and small mementos!

Here are the supplies you will need:

• 2″ circle punch
• Round Aluminum Favor Tins
• Xyron Machine
• Heavy Duty Magnets
• E-6000 Adhesive
• Seed Beads  (do a search for specific colors, there are tons!)
• Buttons, pearls, etc
• Small seashells
• Beach Sand
• Punched shapes

Directions:

The first thing you will want to do is select images that are around 2″ in size. You can do this in a photo editing program, or just use photos you have on hand. Wallet sized photos are perfect. Turn your 2″ circle craft punch over so you can see where it will punch.

Punch all of the photos you will be using.

(The aluminum tins come 12 tins to a package.)

Run all 12 of your selected images through a Xyron machine. The reason for the Xyron, is so your images will lay flat in the tin. This will prevent the seed beads, sand, or other selected material, to not get stuck underneath the photo-or stick to liquid adhesive that might escape the edges of your photo.

If you have not used a Xyron before, prepare to be hooked!

Load the machine with permanent adhesive. The sticker maker machines will already be defaulted to this.

Line up your images to utilize the space.

Roll the images through the machine. This will sandwich your image between adhesive-backed “bottom” and a protective top coating.

Peel the top coating away:

Your image is now, magically, a sticker!

Peel your image away from the backing, and adhere it into the bottom of the aluminum tin. Smooth it out.

Now is the time for you to get creative! You can add anything to the tins for the “shadowbox” part.

The obvious choice for this photo was some sand.

And some tiny shells.

Seed beads are a great choice as well.

You can really use anything you would like.

Just make sure the items you choose are NOT metallic, they will clump up and stick to the magnet you will be putting on the back later.

(Then you will need to pry the already glued tin back open, with an awl, and stab yourself in the finger. Allegedly.)

Fill your tin with your desired material, then put the lid on it, and eyeball the levels.

When you are satisfied with the level of your material, apply a thin line of glue around the perimeter of the tin. I recommend using E-6000, it is a strong bond, but also pliable.

Place the lid onto the tin, pressing down on all the edges.

Allow the adhesive drying time, and then the extra glue that squishes out of the sides of the tin will just peel off.

Using a dab of E-6000, glue your heavy duty magnet to the back of the tin.

Allow the adhesive to dry completely.

Stick those cute shadow boxes on your fridge!

Indulge me while I share with you some of the ones I did.

My daughter on her 4th birthday, I added candle buttons, and some sprinkles.

My son at the pool last year. I added seed beads and a fun sun button.

My daughter sledding last winter. I added some clear and pearl seed beads and some crystal snowflake buttons.

Last up is my daughter in Maui, on the black sand beach. No kidding-the sand was black from all of the surrounding volcanic rock. Lucky for me, my mom thought ahead and brought a baggie of that sand home with her. She shared some with me for this project.  Now it is on display on my fridge, a visual reminder of a fun trip!

Thanks Mom!

The tins are intended as wedding favors:

How fun would it be for your guests to finish the treat, and find the tin personalized with a photo?

There are so many possibilities with this project!

Get creative, and get filling some of your own!

About Shaunte

Shaunte is a 30-something, chocolate-loving, SAHM from Utah. She has been scrapbooking since 1997, the dreaded era of photos cropped with deco scissors. Since then, her work has evolved into a clean, linear, photo-focused style. Her favorite subjects to scrap are her husband and five kids (never a lack for subject material there).

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