Here is how to make cardboard magnets!
When I first started building my creative business back in the mid-1990s, I did not have a huge budget for supplies. What I did have was a stack of discarded cardboard boxes, basic craft paint, and a desire to make extra money to help cover household bills.
We lived down the street from a liquor store and the owner let us take the boxes to make crafts. You know we turned those into CASH!
Here is my video that tells all about how to make cardboard magnets
More than 25 years and a six-figure art career later, this remains one of my absolute favorite entry-level projects: turning plain cardboard scrap into vibrant, high-gloss art magnets that sell.
Supplies to make cardboard magnets
- Clean cardboard boxes (corrugated, shipping boxes are great!).
- Scissors or a craft knife.
- Original illustrations or royalty-free art printed on semi-gloss paper.
- Craft acrylic paint and brushes.
- Glue stick and Mod Podge.
- High-gloss spray sealer or varnish.
- Strong craft magnets and adhesive.
- Optional flair: micro-glitter, paint pens, or flatback crystals.
How to make them:
- Cut and basecoat the shapes: Cut your cardboard into simple shapes like circles, rectangles, or hearts. Basecoat both sides with acrylic paint to give yourself a clean, professional surface.
- Mount the artwork: Print your designs on semi-gloss paper rather than standard printer paper so the colors stay rich. Coat the back of the print generously with a glue stick, smooth it onto the cardboard, and seal over the top with a thin layer of Mod Podge. This step prevents the final varnish from soaking into the paper.
- Add hand-painted accents: Bring the piece to life by hand. Add polka-dot borders, accent outlines, or brushstrokes directly around the image. If you want some sparkle, paint a fine line of Mod Podge along the rim and dust it with micro-glitter.
- Seal and mount the magnet: Give the entire piece a generous coat of high-gloss spray varnish. Once fully cured, attach a sturdy magnet to the back.
How to sell and price them
- Tell the upcycling story: When I sold these in my early days, I told customers how we repurposed boxes from the liquor store. They laughed and loved that we were so resourceful. People love knowing an item kept trash out of a landfill, and that narrative makes a small item feel much more special.
- Keep your art legit: Stick to your own illustrations or verified royalty-free graphics. Never use copyrighted characters or unlicensed imagery if you are running a real business.
- Know your numbers: Watch your supply costs so extras like crystals do not eat into your profit. Retail these individually for $6 to $8 each. If you pitch boutique owners for wholesale, package them in sets of 12 at around $4.50 per magnet to lock in larger orders upfront.
Have fun making cardboard magnets!
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