The Palette Muse

menu icon
go to homepage
  • DIY
    • Home Improvement
    • Home Maintenance
    • DIY with Paint
    • DIY Decor
    • Cabinets
    • Furniture
    • Camper
    • Makeovers
    • Tips
    • Tools
    • $100 Room Challenge
  • Crafts
    • Painting Crafts
    • Paper Crafts
    • Fabric and Yarn
    • Wreaths and Banners
    • Handmade Gifts
    • Christmas
    • Art
  • Design
    • Color
    • House Flipping
    • Home Staging
    • Bathroom
    • Bedroom
    • Home Office
    • Kitchen Design
    • Home Decorating
    • Outdoor Decor
  • Organizing
    • Airbnb
    • Cleaning
    • Planners and Worksheets
    • Printables
    • Saving Money
  • Family
    • Recipes
    • Camping
    • Creativity
    • Faith
    • Holidays
    • Musings
  • Printables
    • Get the Newsletter
  • About Me
    • Work With Me
      • Affiliate Disclosure
      • Disclosures & Disclaimers
      • Privacy Policy

subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • DIY
    • Home Improvement
    • Home Maintenance
    • DIY with Paint
    • DIY Decor
    • Cabinets
    • Furniture
    • Camper
    • Makeovers
    • Tips
    • Tools
    • $100 Room Challenge
  • Crafts
    • Painting Crafts
    • Paper Crafts
    • Fabric and Yarn
    • Wreaths and Banners
    • Handmade Gifts
    • Christmas
    • Art
  • Design
    • Color
    • House Flipping
    • Home Staging
    • Bathroom
    • Bedroom
    • Home Office
    • Kitchen Design
    • Home Decorating
    • Outdoor Decor
  • Organizing
    • Airbnb
    • Cleaning
    • Planners and Worksheets
    • Printables
    • Saving Money
  • Family
    • Recipes
    • Camping
    • Creativity
    • Faith
    • Holidays
    • Musings
  • Printables
    • Get the Newsletter
  • About Me
    • Work With Me
      • Affiliate Disclosure
      • Disclosures & Disclaimers
      • Privacy Policy

×

Fun and Easy Fridge Magnet Project

Modified: Aug 18, 2021 · This post may contain affiliate links · 40 Comments

  • Share
  • Email
  • Print

I don't know about you, but I fight a constant battle over the contents of my fridge. Not the interior contents; I've pretty much given up that battle. I'm talking about the landslide of papers, photos, coupons, and reminders that litter the front of the fridge. Fridge Chaos

I keep looking at cute message board crafts online and thinking if I just had the right board I could revolutionize our "system" (my euphemism for our mess), but deep down I know that I will never be able to switch to a different way of keeping track of our lives. I'm a visual person, and if it's not right in front of me, it doesn't exist in my world. (Like the doctor's appointment and school deadline that mysteriously slipped by me this week!) So if it's something that needs to be dealt with, looked at, or remembered in any way, it gets plopped on the fridge. And now that I have two little creative people in my life, they make their own contributions to the chaos (in more ways than just the fridge, believe me!).

So, bearing my own weaknesses in mind, and also my semi-compulsive need to live in an organized space, I set out to improve the situation in a way that will still work for me. What I came up with is a fun and easy little magnet craft that anyone can do to spiff up their own fridge.

Tools for Magnetic Photo Corners

All you need is a packet of Photo Corners, found in the scrapbooking aisle of any craft store, and a few self-adhesive magnetic strips. (I found these at Walmart.) Here is the easy part:Make Any Photo Magnetic

  1. Separate one of the magnetic strips from the sheet.Self-Adhesive Magnet Strips
  2. Measure (I just eyeballed it) the photo corners against the strip, to see how big to cut your pieces.
  3. Cut the strip in triangles. One diagonal cut, followed by a straight cut, and so on.Triangles fit best on the back of photo corners
  4. Remove the adhesive backing and stick the magnet to the back of a photo corner.Be sure you put them on the back!
  5. Repeat till you have enough corners to put 2-4 on each picture/ paper/ coupon. (Smaller pieces only need two corners, but anything larger than a 4x6 photo probably needs four.

Pictures take on a pretty vintage feel with photo corners

Now the hard part: arranging all your stuff! I made mine into a loose collage so that I can move and add stuff whenever I need to. Indeed, in the two days since I started this project, I've already changed out four pieces. Life moves fast!

Everything in order on the fridge
See the love note from my 6-year-old?

My fridge is one of the first things I see when I come into the house, so now instead of accosting me with a huge messy to-do list, it welcomes me with a less chaotic, and prettier, collage of our life. It may be a small thing, but every little bit helps, when you're trying to hang on to your sanity!Using Magnetic Photo Corners to Tame the Mess

 

The great thing about these magnetic photo corners is that they just slip on and off your photos, so they're a great alternative to pushpins, if you have a metal surface to use them on. They're so quick, easy, and inexpensive to make, and would make a cute little housewarming or hostess gift, if you put a bunch in a dressed up mason jar.

Happy organizing! I'd love to hear from you if this sparks an idea...

More Crafts

  • Easy Dip Dyed Wooden Spoons
    Easy Dip Dyed Wooden Spoons
  • Organize your craft stash
    How to Organize Your Craft Stash
  • DIY Etched Glass Bottles
    How to Make Etched Glass Shampoo Bottles
  • The Palette Muse Ultimate Handmade Gift Guide
    The Ultimate Handmade Gift Guide for the Holiday Season

Comments

  1. normaleverydaylifeblog says

    April 25, 2014 at 1:06 pm

    Cute idea! Little changes can feel so good!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      April 29, 2014 at 1:30 pm

      Thanks! Most of the big things in life are really made up of the little things, right?

      Reply
  2. Catarina Alexon says

    April 26, 2014 at 3:45 am

    Agree with you completely about the importance of fridge magnets. Good idea!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      April 29, 2014 at 1:30 pm

      Thanks Catarina!

      Reply
  3. Melanie says

    April 26, 2014 at 9:52 am

    I like that idea and it really would be easy to do! I may try this at home... thanks!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      April 29, 2014 at 1:31 pm

      Thanks! It really is easy, and costs less than $5...

      Reply
  4. Paul Graham says

    April 27, 2014 at 8:10 am

    Hi Meredith. I'm no fan of chaos but I might be a bit over the top on this one as there has been nothing on my fridge door since my son was about 10. Still, one of these years I will probably have Grandchildren and when I do this may be the solution

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      April 29, 2014 at 1:32 pm

      Thanks Paul, I look forward to the day when I won't have stuff all over my fridge, but I have a suspicion that I might miss it once it's gone...

      Reply
  5. jacquiegum says

    April 28, 2014 at 10:33 am

    What a terrific idea! Although my current abode has a wood refrigerator door! LOL But I can doing this in sort of a magnetized blackboard fashion at my desk...which looks alarmingly like your before picture! Great stuff!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      April 29, 2014 at 1:33 pm

      Yes, Jacquie, I think my desk is next on the list...

      Reply
  6. Patricia Weber (@patweber) says

    April 28, 2014 at 11:37 am

    It took me about 18 years to get over putting things on the fridge. Even not being in the kitchen right now I can say, I have just 4 things on it - and 2 are getting ready to come off of it. But I have to say, if I was raising a family I LOVE this idea for keeping things so tidy on the refridge door. Thanks for sharing it!

    Over from LI group BHB

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      April 29, 2014 at 1:35 pm

      Thanks Pat! Keeping things tidy is like fighting a never-ending battle at our house! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Tim says

    April 28, 2014 at 1:12 pm

    I am part of the stainless appliance crowd and therefore no magnets. I do have a magnet kiwi on my washing machine though!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      April 29, 2014 at 1:36 pm

      I didn't even think of stainless steel! That's all the excuse I need to upgrade my appliances...thanks!

      Reply
  8. ballnchainz says

    April 28, 2014 at 7:50 pm

    This is Jay,

    Like you I am a visual person and if I do not see it then it does not exist. My wife used to move papers that I had on my end table and then I would miss appointments. Now she has learned to either tell me where she put it or not touch it at all. great and relatable post

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      April 29, 2014 at 1:37 pm

      Thanks Jay. I kept trying to move stuff and put it away, but even when I knew where I put it, it was like it just ceased to exist! Oh well, at least this works for now..

      Reply
  9. tuhinmech says

    April 29, 2014 at 7:58 am

    Wow! Nice Nice! 🙂 I too am a visual person like you and this tendency makes me to download, print and paste notes, flowcharts, quotes in a messy way! I really want to try this but not sure how my mom would react when I will ask her to share the fridge with me... lol

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      April 29, 2014 at 1:39 pm

      Ha! I know my fridge is my command center, if I had to share it with anyone I'd lose track of everything! Good luck with that... 🙂

      Reply
  10. Lenie says

    April 29, 2014 at 11:25 am

    My fridge looks very much like yours - I get pictures and cards from my grandchildren I just can't throw away so I constantly need to add more to the point of overlapping them. I think I'll remove all the fridge magnets, buy a small whiteboard to hang over my desk and use your idea for it.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      April 29, 2014 at 1:42 pm

      Lenie, it's a beautiful problem to have that your grandchildren are cluttering up your fridge. 🙂 I love the whiteboard idea.

      Reply
  11. Jeri Walker-Bickett (@JeriWB) says

    April 29, 2014 at 11:15 pm

    Great idea. I like to put stuff all over my fridge. Mostly magnets I get as souvenirs when traveling, but it would be fun t add more photos into the mix as well.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      May 02, 2014 at 9:53 am

      Thanks! I love photos that make me smile, mixed in with all the to-do's. My kids have started a campaign to collect a magnet from every state we visit, so those will soon take over, I'm sure.

      Reply
  12. Susan Cooper/findingourwaynow.com says

    April 30, 2014 at 3:04 pm

    I LOVE this idea. I'm off to the store to get some supplies to do just what you did. Mine isn't so much the fridge (that bad enough... LOL), it's my office board. It is a mess and for the same reason as yours. 🙂

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      May 02, 2014 at 9:54 am

      Susan, I'm so glad! I hope it's helpful, and I'd love to see pictures when you're done, if you want to share.

      Reply
  13. Beth Niebuhr says

    May 01, 2014 at 12:10 pm

    I have a stainless steel fridge and so it's bare. Now on the other hand, my desk is chaotic.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      May 02, 2014 at 9:55 am

      It seems everyone has a messy space somewhere! Perhaps that's just the sign of a creative mind?

      Reply
  14. Michele Harvey says

    May 01, 2014 at 10:37 pm

    What a creative fridge magnet idea. It makes a big difference. The collage looks great and it's very organized. I hang things up on my fridge sometimes but they often fall off.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      May 02, 2014 at 9:57 am

      Thanks Michele! It's a challenge to find the organization system that works for you. Maybe you just need stronger magnets? 🙂

      Reply
  15. crystalzakrison says

    May 02, 2014 at 9:00 pm

    Great idea. My refrigerator looks like a disperse of confusion right now. You have reminded me to organize my fridge! =)

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      May 06, 2014 at 11:32 am

      Oops, sorry! Didn't mean to create more work for people. 🙂 But it feels so good when it's done.

      Reply
  16. Anna Khan says

    May 03, 2014 at 12:26 am

    This is really a fantastic idea and the fridge look very organised , clean. Just a small thing can change to good.
    Good thing about photo corners that I came to know that you mentioned is they can be removed and then can be used on another photo again.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      May 06, 2014 at 11:22 am

      Thanks! Yes, I've already reshuffled most of what's on my fridge again!

      Reply
  17. Susanna says

    May 03, 2014 at 4:45 am

    Wow! How simple yet so effective! I'm going to get some photo corners and magnetic strips this week - definitely - and organise my messy, messy firdge

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      May 06, 2014 at 11:22 am

      Thanks, and good luck! 🙂

      Reply
  18. Christina says

    May 03, 2014 at 11:54 am

    I was working with photo corners this week while framing my photos for a showcase at a local coffee shop. Such a genius idea to add magnetic strips for the fridge!

    I was wondering if you could come up with and idea for using old video tapes as a "frame" or creative way to display photos.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      May 06, 2014 at 11:24 am

      Christina, that's a great idea, let me put some thought into it. Are you talking about the tapes themselves, like VHS? And are you thinking they'd hang on a wall, or sit on a table?

      Reply
      • Christina says

        May 06, 2014 at 1:49 pm

        Hi Meredith, yes the VHS ones. They have become dinosaurs with the popularity of DVD's. I was wondering how to repurpose them using photos. They could hang on a wall or sit on a table. There's so many ideas - could even be a coaster for cups, although would have to protect the photo in some way (waterproof). It's a fun little idea, ya?

        Reply
        • Meredith says

          May 08, 2014 at 10:03 am

          I love it! I'll see what I can come up with...

          Reply
  19. P-Ann :) says

    May 11, 2014 at 9:13 pm

    I have your exact same frig!! That makes me smile! 🙂 So I'm still a little confused - Are the little corner pieces just tiny magnets or are they stuck to the pictures & you are constantly making new ones as you throw old pictures/notes away?

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      May 12, 2014 at 8:42 pm

      Yay! Is yours as messy as mine? 🙂 The corner pieces are paper photo corners glued to little magnets.Photo corners are how photos used to be attached to photo albums. They're little paper pieces that slip off and on the photos without actually attaching to them. So they're easy to change out whenever you need to, sort of like pulling a photo out of a frame. Once you have enough for all the photos you need at any one time, you never need to make more. You can usually find photo corners in the scrapbook aisle. Let me know if you can't find them and I'll figure out where you can order them.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome!

I'm Meredith, the designer, crafter, and DIY-er behind The Palette Muse. I love all things colorful and creative, and I love sharing them with you. Thanks for visiting today!

More about me

Popular

  • The Best Way to Paint Kitchen Cabinets (No Sanding!)
  • What I Wish I'd Known about Double Barn Doors
  • How to Paint Laminate Cabinets
    How to Paint Laminate Cabinets without Sanding
  • How to Make Your Own Simple Chair Covers

Seasonal

  • Turquoise and terracotta complement each other in this Southwestern inspired turquoise color palette.
    Turquoise Color Palette
  • New Mexican Hot Chocolate Recipe
    New Mexican Hot Chocolate Recipe
  • Our Latest Flip House Before and After
    Our Latest Flip House Project - Before and After
  • warm amethyst color palette with shades of purple and very faint orange.
    Warm Amethyst Color Palette

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Work With Me

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 The Palette Muse

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Email