Picture Bottle Cap Magnets Redux

We recently did a redux of our picture bottle cap magnets, one of our most popular craft posts here on the blog. We were excited to improve upon this previous project, making several changes, while using new family photos from the past year.

Making Picture Bottle Cap Magnets

Here’s what we did differently this time around:

Making Picture Bottle Cap Magnets

We bought bottle caps. After saving exactly six caps over the past year we wanted to make more than half a dozen magnets. So we picked up inexpensive bottle caps from our local art supplies store.

Making Picture Bottle Cap Magnets

We mixed silver paint in with our base color to paint the caps. On top of this we painted with homemade glitter glue to add extra sparkle to the bottle cap area framing the photos.

Making Picture Bottle Cap Magnets
Making Picture Bottle Cap Magnets

We used stronger magnets (adhered with this non-toxic super strong glue) so they could be more useful holding papers on the fridge.

Making Picture Bottle Cap Magnets

We used Golden’s Self Leveling Clear Gel, the artist version of Mod Podge Dimensional Magic, to create a smooth, glossy film over some of the magnets. (No more brush strokes obscuring our beautiful daughter’s face!)

Making Picture Bottle Cap Magnets
Making Picture Bottle Cap Magnets

We found this product took so long to dry that it changed the color of the pictures. Next time we might seal the photos first before applying the gel on top (or let the pictures dry longer after coming off the printer before coating them with gel), although we were pleased with the more artsy result using this product (shown on the right).

The rest of the magnets we used the same mod podge technique as last time:

Making Picture Bottle Cap Magnets

All in all, a little bit better, yet still super cute!

Unpacking the Kitchen(s)

We are settling into the cooking spaces in our new house.

Unpacking the Kitchen(s) - cooking in the play kitchen

While our daughter sets up her play kitchen:

Unpacking the Kitchen(s) - wooden play kitchen cakes and breads
Unpacking the Kitchen(s) - play kitchen and wooden cash register
Unpacking the Kitchen(s) - play kitchen felt salad
Unpacking the Kitchen(s) - wooden play kitchen toaster

the grownups are busy unpacking and organizing the family kitchen:

Unpacking the Kitchen(s) - love these bowls!
Unpacking the Kitchen(s) - spice and oil cupboard
Unpacking the Kitchen(s)

Located near each other, we can keep one another company while we cook away. I’ve been informed there are chocolate cupcakes and baked potatoes in the oven. Should we save you some? I’m not sure we’ll be able to resist the yumminess, but we do love to share.

Now please excuse me while I go unpack some more kitchen boxes. I know the measuring spoons are around here somewhere.

Here are some of our favorite play kitchen items, many of which are shown above: our handmade felt salad greens and mushrooms, cookware and dining set (made out of recycled milk jugs!), thrifted tea service and mini Corningware dishes, cake decorating set, pop-up toaster and mixer, cutting food and fruit crates, ice cream shop, checkout cash register, and colorful mini colanders.