There’s been an eye-print trend going strong for the last year or two now, and I’m finally unable to resist its call. So I made these eye magnets out of polymer clay, and even though I’m no artist, the painting was easier than I expected thanks to a paint pen. I bet they’d make great brooches/pins, too–I might need to make another to try that out. If your mom is particularly cool (or an optometrist/ophthalmologist), she might even like a set of eye magnets for Mother’s Day.

Materials:
White oven-bake clay – I used Sculpey III
Glue – I used E6000
Mini magnets
Paint pen – I used a Sharpie oil-based pen
Clear sealer -I used Sculpey satin glaze
Knife – A plastic one works well
Rolling pin (or piece of pipe or dowel)
Scissors
Eye template – It should print out 1 7/8-inches wide, but you can make it bigger or smaller if you’d like.

Steps:
1. On a smooth surface, roll out a small piece of clay to about 1/8 to 1/4-inch thick.

2. Print out the eye template (I used black paper just so it would show up better in photos), cut it out, and place it on the clay and cut around it with the knife. Repeat for as many magnets as you’d like.

Smooth the cut edges of the clay with your fingers to get it nice and even.

3. Place your clay on a baking tray, and bake for the time and at the temperature recommended on your clay package (15 minutes at 275F for mine). You can bake the clay on a layer of parchment paper or cardboard to avoid a shiny surface where it was touching the metal, but just be careful not to let the paper touch the sides or elements on the oven.

4. After your clay has thoroughly cooled, draw the eye details on with the paint pen. First draw the eye outline, leaving room for the eyelashes along one edge.

Add the pupil in the middle, and eyelashes along the top. I’m no artist, and it was easier than I thought it would be to freehand.

5. Let your paint dry, then glue magnets on the back with a dab of glue.

6. After the glue has dried (or even while it’s drying, if you’re careful), flip the magnets over and give them a coat of clear sealer. This is maybe not totally necessary, but since magnets are handled a lot it will help them last longer.


On my cool fridge. Yes, Friends of Trees is a real organization in Oregon that’ll plant trees on your parking strip for very little money. Their logo is great. And isn’t my friends’ wedding invitation the cutest? The drawings look just like them.