I’ve done a bit of travel around the world, mostly to Europe. While traveling I tend to have plenty of loose change. After this time I decided this time to make some Souvenir Magnets from Coins. This was a great solution because while there I could use them but after returning to the states they don’t have any use for me besides sitting in a jar. These Souvenir Magnets from Coins came out with an extremely professional quality and look phenomenal on my refrigerator. I am really pleased with how the Souvenir Coin Magnets turned out.
Read more about my travels! Last time Fitzi and I went to go visit his mother in Bad Salzschlirf, Germany. We visited the nearby town of Fulda, Germany. Then went on an even further excursion to Cologne, Germany.
Materials for Souvenir Magnets from Coins
- Coins or tokens
- 3/8″ Neodymium Rare-Earth Magnets
- Mod Podge Dimensional Magic
- Hot Glue Gun and Glue
- Optional: Sheet magnet
- Optional X-acto Blade
Assembly of the Souvenir Coin Magnets
This project is easy enough but beauty lies in the details. While I labeled the sheet magnet as optional it does help with the detailing in the magnets. Functionally the sheet magnet does not provide any real power. The power in the sheet magnet is in its surface area.
I spent the time to cut down the sheet magnet to disks. I did this with the assumption that they will assist with the magnetism of the souvenir magnets from coins. Unfortunately, they did almost nothing. What they did do was to add a small amount of thickness so the souvenir coin magnets appear more flush to the surface they adhere to. So while they failed in functionality they do assist in the aesthetic.
I do highly suggest the thin Neodymium magnets. There are some other small disk magnets that are tempting to use since you get twice as much for the same price. I have previously done this project with these style of magnets and I cannot in good conscience recommend them. They make the coin stick out a comical amount as well as not having enough strength to hold even a piece of paper. This means you’ll try to use them, they’ll fall, the impact on the ground will cause the glue to fail, and you’ll have magnets and coins disappearing to god knows where under your fridge. Trust me. It’s not worth it.
The Magic Touch
It’s easy enough to glue the Neodymium magnets and sheet magnet rings onto the souvenir magnets from coins and they will look lovely on the refrigerator just as they are. However, I wanted to up the ante and make them not look nearly as much like I just did this in my living room 7 months after my most recent trip abroad. I have been curious about Mod Podge Dimensional Magic and wanted to give the product a shot.
This product is similar to a resin but is an acrylic base. It requires no mixing and is great for small projects while resin is better suited for larger projects. This is my first time using it, however, after experiencing it I would not use Mod Podge Dimensional Magic on anything that will take a beating. While it functions wonderfully, it does show scratches and abrasions. You can read more about Mod Podge Dimensional Magic vs Resin at the blog modpodgerocksblog.com here.
The directions on the bottle tell me to not shake because it will cause air bubbles. I must say I never knew how much of a habit I have made to shaking everything until I’m not supposed to. Mod Podge Dimensional Magic is like a thin gel. It comes out cloudy and is pretty easy to control. The bubbles that I accidentally would not pop not even if I poked them with my Xacto. However, while the gel is still wet it’s easy enough to scrape them away. Depending on how thick the dimensional magic depends on how quickly it dries. Mine was able to be touched after three hours, but was still soft and would show my thumbprint. I suggest letting them dry overnight however it could take a full 24 hours.
Completed Souvenir Coin Magnets
Once dried the Souvenir magnets from coins are completed! They look really fantastic on my refrigerator and have an exceptional quality. They hold steady and are able to hold onto multiple papers. While they look fantastic they are actually really easy. There are even ways to simplify it, however, I enjoy the exaggerated effect the Mod Podge and sheet magnet gives.
Trial and Error with Souvenir Coin Magnets
- Sheet Magnets will add depth but not much else. – I could’ve saved some time cutting out those doughnuts. Use them as a sheet to keep the Neodymium magnets from sliding about.
- Don’t shake the Mod Podge Dimensional Magic – While I could get rid of most bubbles by dripping them off to the side but once in a while they will get through. They’re easy enough to get rid of, but if I didn’t have to deal with them in the first place it would make life easier.
- Be wary of coins with low-quality materials – After having my magnets for a few days I noticed that the copper colored coins started to discolor the Mod Podge Dimensional Magic. These also happen to be the coins that are magnetic which I don’t know if this a correlation or a causation. In either case use caution moving forward with the Mod Podge Dimensional Magic on coins with lower quality metal. The higher denomination coins are still as beautiful as when they were sealed.
Thank you for looking at my guide for Souvenir Magnets from coins. I hope you enjoyed this DIY guide and will check back in soon!
