Cabinet door magnetic memo board
November 16, 2010
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Recently I decided I was tired of the all of our random notes, phone numbers and pizza coupons cluttering up the side of the fridge, so I had a brilliant idea.
I still had magnetic paint from the chalkboard I created in our kitchen years ago:
Isn’t that lovely. I had taped them off, but I left the tape up there so long, it wouldn’t come off all the way:
So when I decided to finally tackle this again, I had to use an x-acto knife to get the tape off:
It had become one with the cabinet after all this time. :)
I got it cleaned up and went ahead with my idea to fix my failed idea. I found some perfectly sized pieces of galvanized metal at a local hardware store (you can also find them online here):
This stuff was perfect! I believe it has to be galvanized to be magnetic.
I put it up with hot glue, just in case I ever wanted to take it down:
Now I could hang our random bits of paper! But when I went to find our magnets, I couldn’t find one. It had been so long since I started this project, I had gotten rid of ALL of them in a purge. :)
Since I’ve been feeling crafty lately, I decided to make some new magnets.
I gathered my supplies:
The French Onion dip is optional. :)
You can find these flat glass beads at any craft store – I think they’re a few bucks for a bag?:
I use Aleene’s clear glue:
Just brush it on the back – you don’t have to use much!:
I kind of forgot that and globbed it on. It took forever for them to dry!
Just lay them glue side down on the paper. You’ll want to push them onto the paper well, so all of the air bubbles come out. After they dry, use an x-acto knife and trace around them to cut each one out.
I used some heavy duty magnets for these, and glued them on with liquid nails:
Oh yeah…they’re totally Christmasified:
Aren’t they too cute?
I used some square glass pieces I had as well -- they make adorable little magnets too:
I was so motivated, I printed out a list of pizza places and their phone numbers:
Now ourpizza place memo board is complete! And caauuute!:
Now the coupons, lists and phone numbers are hidden, but still easily accessible. All for less than $3 in metal sheets – that is what I’m talking about!
Unless your kitchen is all fabulous and you have ALL glass cabs, you could easily do this to the inside of any cabinet! Five useless coats of magnetic paint not necessary. :)
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I decided to utilize the cabs right next to the fridge – I wanted to paint the insets of the doors (inside) with that fun magnetic paint and make it into a little, private memo board.
I was all YAY – I’ll use what I have, it will take about 20 minutes, and I am good. Well, in my world, as soon as you think it or say it out loud, the opposite happens. Like when I was five minutes early to a dinner the other night (which never, ever EVER happens) and congratulated myself (to myself). Then I drove into the parking lot only to realize I was supposed to be at another location fifteen minutes away.
Anyway…I know better to say it out loud folks.
The thing with magnetic paint is that it needs to be shaken SUPER, freaky, well. Every time I’ve used it I’ve taken it to the hardware store and have it done in their machine. If you don’t, the magnetic goodness sits at the bottom no matter how well you stir. At least for me. I must be a wimp, cause I can’t get that stuff up into the paint to save my life.
Because I didn’t have much paint left (and Paint Guy tells me they can’t put an almost empty can in the shaker), I figured I could mix it myself.
About five coats later I finally gave in. The stuff was not magnetizing – so the inside of the doors sat like this for eight months:
Isn’t that lovely. I had taped them off, but I left the tape up there so long, it wouldn’t come off all the way:
So when I decided to finally tackle this again, I had to use an x-acto knife to get the tape off:
It had become one with the cabinet after all this time. :)
I got it cleaned up and went ahead with my idea to fix my failed idea. I found some perfectly sized pieces of galvanized metal at a local hardware store (you can also find them online here):
This stuff was perfect! I believe it has to be galvanized to be magnetic.
I put it up with hot glue, just in case I ever wanted to take it down:
Now I could hang our random bits of paper! But when I went to find our magnets, I couldn’t find one. It had been so long since I started this project, I had gotten rid of ALL of them in a purge. :)
Since I’ve been feeling crafty lately, I decided to make some new magnets.
I gathered my supplies:
The French Onion dip is optional. :)
You can find these flat glass beads at any craft store – I think they’re a few bucks for a bag?:
I use Aleene’s clear glue:
Just brush it on the back – you don’t have to use much!:
I kind of forgot that and globbed it on. It took forever for them to dry!
Just lay them glue side down on the paper. You’ll want to push them onto the paper well, so all of the air bubbles come out. After they dry, use an x-acto knife and trace around them to cut each one out.
I used some heavy duty magnets for these, and glued them on with liquid nails:
Oh yeah…they’re totally Christmasified:
I used some square glass pieces I had as well -- they make adorable little magnets too:
I was so motivated, I printed out a list of pizza places and their phone numbers:
Now our
Now the coupons, lists and phone numbers are hidden, but still easily accessible. All for less than $3 in metal sheets – that is what I’m talking about!
Unless your kitchen is all fabulous and you have ALL glass cabs, you could easily do this to the inside of any cabinet! Five useless coats of magnetic paint not necessary. :)
See more of our home here. To shop items in our home, click here! Never miss a post by signing up to get posts via email.
So cute! And congrats on the TV segment and all the new readers.
ReplyDeleteCute idea! Thanks for the mention of the magnetic paint?? I knew about the chalkboard paint, but didn't know about the magnet thing. Oh, and congrats on your mention on the Nate Burkus show! That's a big deal, I'd be jumping for joy!
ReplyDeleteHave a great night :-)
Congrats!! And a trip to tru value to look for galv is necessary!!
ReplyDeleteBIG congrats on being on the show! That is so WAY cool!!!
ReplyDeleteI am lived in Indiana as a teen (my parents still live near Mooresville) and I worked at Donatos as a youngin. Seeing your little ad for them brought back memories ;) Love the magnetic memo boards, btw. Adorable!
I was so excited to see you on Nate! Congratulations... and your photo looked great too!
ReplyDeleteBecca
I love the memo board! And your magnets are adorable. I know some folks who will be getting something similar for Christmas....
ReplyDeletebrilliant!! i wonder if this would come off of rental house cabinets easily! take one off and let me know ;) haha im kidding
ReplyDeleteThat is a way good idea!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to say congratulations on being on Nate's show! And almost to 8,000 followers, wow! A friend told me about your blog when you were just over 1,000. You deserve every bit of the attention!
I love those little magnets... so cute and easy!!
ReplyDeleteI totally missed your Nate appearance, :( yes, please post it. That is super cool, you are such a blog-stud! :)
What a great idea! I'm so trying this. Dang it I turned Nate on late and missed your segment. Please post the video I'd love to see it.
ReplyDeleteYAY! What a happy day! I had told my mom you would be on the show as she is an avid viewer. She called today and said, "honey, your friend is on the Nate show!" My friend! It made ME feel like a celebrity! lol! I am so exstatic for you...and to be honest I thought your project was a bit cuter than Nate's! ;) Congrats on an exciting feature you deserve it!
ReplyDeletesaw you on The Nate Show today!!! (I was already a follower!) Love this... glad to see I'm not the only one that put tons of coats of expensive magnetic paint... only for it not to work!! Great idea!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a neat idea! We are planning our kitchen reno, and I just might have to use this idea and incorporate some magnetic paint :)
ReplyDeleteSaw you on Nate today! I almost deleted it without watching and remembered you were going to be on. I was thrilled, like you were my best friend or something, haha! Anyway, love the magnet idea!
ReplyDeleteI love it. And now I have to go and watch Nate because I DVR'd it! Ta Ta for now and Congrats!
ReplyDeleteI watched the show today and what an amazing shout out to you!!! What an exciting day!!
ReplyDeleteThis project is a great idea! I hate having stuff on the fridge.
I made similar magnets but used photos instead. They make great gifts too!
http://www.frillydetails.com/2010/01/craft-time.html
Sarah... no joke i just finished making these too. I wanted you to know i got those little glass circles at my dollar store $1 that's right!! for a bag of i think 30. PLUS i had the same problem with the glue and used my E-6000 glue( AH MAZING) and let it air dry over night that baby aint going anywhere. YAY for xmas ones!!! LOVE IT!!!
ReplyDeleteYou were on the Nate show? darn, I missed it! I've seen some of the other bloggers I follow on the Nate show, but he didn't give a shout out do their blogs, you're lucky!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the segment! Thats awesome! I love Nate Berkus.
ReplyDeleteI have been a loyal fan of your blog for a looong time. I couldn't remember when you said you'd be on Nate but I told my fam that "my friend" would be on soon. So every night my girls would say " Is she going to be on tonight?" They asked again today and about 10 minutes later, there you were TDC!!!!! I imagine your fan base will increase many times over. Congrats Sarah!!!!
ReplyDeleteHA! I love it and it only took 8 months! Sounds like me...Ive had this great board all ready for paint and a "Always Kiss Me Goodnight" rub on for a year. It finally got done! Miracles can happen. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I love the cute magnets.
ReplyDeleteI just saw it! You rock!!!! That is so awesome. Good for you girl!
ReplyDeleteChalkboard adhesive over a magnetic surface is my secret...no expensive chalkboard paint or magnetic paint...
ReplyDeleteI've found the chalkboard adhesive at homegoods and marshall's on clearance for less than $2...
i just used them on labels (well cut up cereal boxes)...check it here!
http://momnivoresdilemma.blogspot.com/2010/11/home-organized-home-easy-chalkboard.html
LOVE this idea! I'm totally doing this in the new house to cut down on the clutter!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! And.. I hate magnetic paint with a passion. Good save with the metal panels!
ReplyDeleteI remembered you mentioned your blog was going to be featured on The Nate show and I saw it today! Congrats it was so cool!! My husband was home for lunch and I said I recognize that island it's Thrifty Decor Chicks. He looked at me like I had two heads. I was so excited to see your work recognized. I have been following your blog via email for awhile and I wish you continued success. Jen H. hamm2(at)fuse(dot)net
ReplyDeleteYAY! I just stopped by to say I saw your segment on Nate today!!! Yay!! Congrats! I remember you saying it was coming...I am so glad I caught it! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome idea....I love how authentic you always are. Because haven't we all started a project and found it daunting only to make things worse! Looks awesome now! I chuckled about the saying it out loud thing....happens to me all the time! Love Nate and how he is showcasing bloggers!! Good for you! He knows a goodun when he sees it!
ReplyDeleteHugs Giggles
This turned out great, Sarah! Love the magnets, too! : )
ReplyDeleteI saw you on Nate yesterday YAY!!!! It was awesome. Congradulations.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea and I love the idea of using the glue gun in case you want to take them down. The magnets are so cauttte I can't wait to try to make some. Thanks for all your great ideas.
:) Michelle
Very great idea and yay on the shout-out given on the NBS!
ReplyDeleteI did this same project in the useless cabinet over my microwave. It's a recipe/menu board (since it's right over the stove) but also, TA DA!, I used the round magnetized spice containers on it. Picked them up at world market for a song, it looks SOOOOO custom and awesome.
ReplyDeleteI looooove this idea! I REALLY wish we didn't rent...I would totally be doing this too. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI think reading all the blogs I read has made the list of things I want to do when I finally purchase a house about a million miles long :) I can't wait to start that to-do list one day!
These are great! In fact it is very similar to what we are doing to the outside of all our cabinet doors. We are putting up metal "insets" covered with chalkboard "paint" once the rest of the cabinets are painted. Instant memo/menu boards=organization=happy hubby and kids!
ReplyDeleteThese are great! In fact it is very similar to what we are doing to the outside of all our cabinet doors. We are putting up metal "insets" covered with chalkboard "paint" once the rest of the cabinets are painted. Instant memo/menu boards=organization=happy hubby and kids!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the Nate show, Sarah! I haven't been able to watch it as consistently as I'd like (okay could probably watch it more if I actually worked out as often as I'm supposed to, because it's recorded on the TV that's by my treadmill :-() but I did watch the one I recorded yesterday and your segement was great! The house pics were good and so was the pic of you. You so deserve the recognition, so I'm glad ou got it.
ReplyDeleteI like your new magnet board and magnets too. :-)
Oh, Sarah. You are SO FUNNY. Just one of the many reasons I love you.
ReplyDeleteI find it hard to believe that the Nake Berkus show generated traffic for you. I think you've got that backwards. I think YOU are the one who generates traffic!
You really DO rock. :)
Please post the Nate segment if you have it, my DVR didn't record it even though I set it! Grr!
ReplyDeleteI love to see ways to hide life's necessary messiness.
ReplyDeleteWhat I want to know is when is that cutie, Nate going to have you ON the show? Come on Natie pooh. Ask her.
ReplyDeleteDI
Yay! I love this idea & love that it could make for some adorable Christmas gifts this year! I might try it this weekend :-)
ReplyDeleteEww....I like this idea!!! I can ALWAYS use hidden storage!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it will take me at least 8 months too to get to it. ;)
What a GREAT IDEA!! I'm always trying to clean up my refrig because I hate clutter but NEED some of that stuff and have nowhere to put it. But this is a total compromise! LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteAwesome idea! We have so many take out menus that they've graduated from taking up the side of the fridge to living in a huge pile on top of it. Oops.
ReplyDeleteNate Berkus?!?! So cool! And I love, love, love this project~
ReplyDeleteWe used that stuff for a half cork/half magnet board for my daughter's room years ago. I never thought of doing that on the inside of a cabinet door! That would be perfect for the inside of my pantry cabinet (which is about 5ft tall & right next to the fridge). Thanks for the great idea!!
ReplyDeleteLisa
I'm totally going to do this. Sometime soon :)
ReplyDeleteI missed you on the Nate show!! AGGHHH!! Please post it so I can watch it.
Love ya,
Patty
C O N G R A T S on your show appearance! It's fabulous recognition of your inventive decoratoring genius!!!! Speaking of which, your idea for magentic cabinet interiors is total. pure. raw. awesomeness. Lurve it. Lurve it. Lurve it. I had made magnetic standing signs to hang the very same kinds of things ... which is great if you have lots of extra counter space. But if your kicten is ridiculously short on space, like mine, you end up moving everything around until it drives you to madness. I can't wait to do this. Just need to find my local True Value store!!!! :)))))
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna have to check my DVR- I haven't watched it all week! Did you take a picture of your picture on TV? It could be this years Christmas card.
ReplyDeleteLove the metal idea, although the masking tape that holds random bits up inside of my cabinets is feeling a bit resentful....
sarah i FULLY understand your headache with the magnetic paint...we bought a can of it for our sons playroom and even thought it sid it would only take a couple coats we used THE. ENTIRE. CAN of it and it still barely magnetized. luckily tho we called the company who manufactured it and they gave us a full refund...they were amazing!!! loved ur segment on nate & LOVE your new memo boards
ReplyDeletecongrats on the show feature!!
ReplyDeleteI love what you did to the cabinet. I get TIRED of all the papers on the fridge. That then get pulled down by the two year old... someone the papers never seem to be high enough.
Love this idea!
Great job on this project.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, SAW YOU ON NATE! I can't imagine how surreal it was for you, as it was surreal for ME just seeing all the pictures I've gawked at online be on his show! CONGRATS...well deserved!
Sarah
www.thebirdspapaya.blogspot.com
i love this idea! and great for people (not me) who have those stainless steel fridges that aren't magnetic. i'm totally doing this in our next place (our lease is almost up!)
ReplyDeleteCongratulationd on your Nate Berkus segment....I can only imagine how giddy you must be feeling :o) Love the magnetic board idea.....very clever! The little magnets are soooo cute!
ReplyDeleteKristen
Please don't take this the wrong way, Sarah.... I totally love you!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I think this idea rocks. I was lamenting my messy-looking fridge just yesterday. Yee hah! TDC to the rescue.
Oh, I love the Christmas magnet idea! (Now, I just have to find blackboard paint and 8 months.) Just kidding. Great ideas!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you Sarah! You deserve it!
ReplyDeleteSuper cute! I have our phone lists taped to the inside of my cabinet door but this is much better and cuter (is cute-er a word?) I may have to re-think my doors and add some magnets because lets face it....who doesn't love a cute magnet board?
ReplyDeleteI loooove this idea. Much better than rummaging through a drawer full of coupons and menus!
ReplyDeleteThat is SO much better than the metal basket of random paper I have on my counter. ;) Looks great!!!
ReplyDeleteOh those magnets would make adorable Teacher gifts too! They are adorable.
ReplyDeleteHow clever!!! I just scotch tape things to the inside of my cabs:):) Now.....tada!!!! I have a new BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please come see me! www.designsbypinky.blogspot.com Pretty please???:):)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the segment! I don't get Nate's show, but I'm sure they spoke fabulously of you. Woo hoo!
ReplyDeleteAnd super cute cabinet upgrade on the cheap. I love it.
I love this.! I love making those magnets! My son and I mad a cookie sheet full. We still have a few left after giving away a lot of them as gifts. It's a great little go to gift.
ReplyDeleteI love how you used the inside of the cabinets. I have things taped up inside of mine. One is a note asking people not to use my mugs for bowls. I might or might not have 'signed' it - "Mom, who is feeling stabby about it." *shrug* A girl NEEDS her cocoa, ya know?
I was so excited for you when Nate started showing your blog yesterday! He didn't even touch upon the half of it. You need your own day a week on his show!
I am so thrilled for you.
I just might have to use this idea on my new kitchen. We just signed for our house last night and should be getting the key by this Friday! I can't wait to get busy! What am I saying?
ReplyDeleteNow that I know you like Donatos Pizza your cool factor went up like 100pts. That is such super yummy pizza. Chicken Mariachi is our fav 'round here.
ReplyDelete- ohh yeah.... clever idea with the magnet boards!
Love it--and want to copy it in my tiny kitchen!
ReplyDeleteDid you get the hardware store people to cut the metal to size, or did you have to do it yourself?
I did something similar with cork board but over time I accumulated soooooo many take out menus and coupons (lurrve me some coupons!) that I had to come up with an alternative plan. I ended up using a 3 ring binder (with the little pockets inside) and some of those see-through sheet protector jobbies (all of which I already had, but you can get them at any office supply store. I keep the menus in the sheet protectors (so they are easily updated) and the coupons in the little pockets. I keep the binder in a drawer (you know the one!)in my kitchen and it is SO easy now when we feel like ordering out. Everything is in one place but is easily transported to other rooms for everyone to decide what they want. Love your cabinets btw! Mine are a very similar style and color! Great minds... =)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteVery cute!! My mother-in-law also does something similiar inside her cabinets. She likes to hold up recipes on the cabinets while she's cooking. Then the recipe doesn't get wet, or dropped while you are in the middle of cooking or baking & it's up there at eye level :)
ReplyDeleteI love this! I have been telling my hubby we need to do something like this too. I love making those magnets too, so fun. I usually just take my circle cutter and cut out the shape first, but I like your way too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat organized idea
ReplyDeleteAwesome idea!! It's very cool.
ReplyDeletehttp://metamorphouse.blogspot.com/
So what metal pieces did you use? If I go to a True Value what do I ask for?
ReplyDeleteMy cabinets have a little lip where the panel meets the frame. (This would be the area where you inset the metal.) I can stick recipe cards in this area. I stick the cards in this seam by the raised panel on the outside when I am making the recipe and hide my favorites inside the cabinet door by my baking area. I hope this makes sense!!
ReplyDeleteLove you blog, from a fellow Hoosier!
Wow what a fabulous idea! I am totally doing this, I am also sick of our coupons and what not cluttering up everything!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your success! Good for you and the hidden memo board is great. :)
ReplyDeleteLove the christmas magnets! The magnetic cabinets are great!
ReplyDeleteI was thrilled to see you mentioned on Nate's show, and thrilled that I found your blog before he mentioned it...Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteI would love you to post the video clip since I don't get his show - in Houston! Congratulations again, we love ya! And also congrats on the feature in Holiday:)
ReplyDeleteLOVE this idea and LOVE your blog! I found your site after watching the Nate Berkus Show and will definitely be visiting frequently!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea!! I'm going to attempt it this weekend, and if successful I'll send pictures and post my (hopeful) success along with your inspiration on my blog. Wish me luck!!! Oh, and I love your site, I will be frequenting daily!
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear that I am not the only one that has trouble with magnetic paint! My thrifty advent calendar project left the thrifty category when I realized the $20 magnetic paint I bought was not strong enough to hold the boxes I bought. I added on another coat and it all bubbled! Ahhhh! I ended up buying a $15 piece of sheet metal and it now works great. I need to find this 80 cent stuff! When you have the hardware store stir it is it magnetic enough to hold heavier objects, more than a magnet? By the way, I just got done making sets of magnets for my MOPS moms for Christmas. I did it exactly like you, even had Christmas paper with images in circles :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a creative idea! I was at Hob Lob today and found the same paper. I discovered that a 1 inch circle punch is the perfect size for cutting the circles. Avoid finger craps from the exacto and save time! :)
ReplyDeleteWhere did you find the glass beads? The ones I saw were iridescent and the image was hard to see. I'm going to try Michael's tomorrow.
BTW... Congratulations on your segment on the Nate show. So happy for you! Happy Thanksgiving, Sarah!
I am a preschool teacher and was looking for ideas for parent gifts. I'm going to use this idea!(using kid's faces):)Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the first things I did to our house when we moved in years ago. I love not having all that stuff on the front of the frig!!!
ReplyDeleteI love you! My kitchen is tiny and I've wanted a blackboard and couldn't get one it. I can now!! :) Thanks x
ReplyDeleteI have wanted to post something like this on my website and this gave me an idea. Cheers..
ReplyDeleteI featured this yesterday! www.smallfineprint.com
ReplyDelete