See how easy it is to make seasonal refrigerator magnets for fall and Thanksgiving with Homemade Modeling Dough. Make a simple dough in less than 15 minutes, and use your fingers to shape fun, fanciful, or beautiful creations. Use the ideas offered here or create magnets of your own design.
This craft project requires few materials and is great for family, classroom or group craft time. The modeling dough can be made in advance and stored ready-to-use in the refrigerator.
Related craft: Use the modeling dough to make some fun and fanciful Pencil Toppers. See this project for more modeling shape ideas.
Read through the project then gather the materials needed for making the magnets. Follow the craft recipe for Homemade Modeling Dough to make dough balls of red, yellow, orange and brown, or other colors best for the magnets you are making.
If doing this craft with a group, make one recipe of Homemade Modeling Dough for every three children. It's better to have too much than too little. Leftover modeling dough can be saved for weeks in the refrigerator. Instead of making modeling dough in a variety of colors, the magnets can be made with white dough and, after the magnets are dry, colored with markers or paint.
Spread a sheet of wax paper on the table so the dough won't stick.
Pinch off dough to make a small ball and leave the rest in a sealed container. Use fingers to shape your creation—see Modeling Ideas below. Attachments like caps and beaks can be shaped from smaller balls and glued in place with a dab of water. Use the toothpick to add features like leaf veins and eyes.
To make several balls of dough the same size, roll the dough into a long snake and cut into equal-sized pieces with the plastic knife. To make ¾" (1.5 cm) balls, roll the dough into a snake about ½" (1 cm) in diameter and cut into 1" (2 cm) segments.
When you have finished molding your magnet, leave it on the wax paper to dry. It should dry in a day or two to a hard finish. Magnets may be left plain or painted with clear nail polish or varnish for added durability and more vibrant colors. Be sure to work in a well-ventilated area when using nail polish or varnish.
Glue a magnet to the back of each of your refrigerator magnets.
This is just a start. What else can you make? Pumpkin or a slice of pumpkin pie? A candle? A pilgrim's hat? A cornucopia?
Tip: Modeling dough magnets can be heavy and it is easy to jar a magnet loose when opening and closing the refrigerator door. Use individual magnets meant for crafts for the best results.
That's it! Your magnets
are ready for the refrigerator!