So after I wrote the post entitled, I wish I had a picture of…, I received several pictures from my family by email and discovered these polaroids in my photo stash. I’m in heaven. {Other than still recovering from the trauma of my boy haircut of course.} I just love the pictures of my sister and I singing with our microphones and record players. Classic.
So after looking through these polaroids, I decided I wanted to make Polaroid magnets for our refrigerator and give you my templates so that you could make them for yours as well.
I made two versions. The first is for my friends who are die hard traditional scrapbookers (who will be buried with their acid free, 12 x 12 scrapbooks in chronological order). The second is for my friends that have embraced the digital age and want to make them using Photoshop. I have just started using the digital stuff. It is not as difficult, as it is just foreign. And I’m also realizing that there are about 2o ways to do each step. It’s liberating and frustrating at the same time. I’m still a Photoshop novice.
Either way, here is a view of the finished product:
The larger version (2 inch square picture).
And the smaller version (1.5 inch square picture). I love this size!
So let’s start with the traditionalist.
I’ve included 2 downloadable pdfs. One for polaroids with a 1.5 inch square, and one for polaroids with a 2 inch square. Simple – just print, punch, adhere and trim.
First, print the template out on a 8.5 x 11 piece of glossy photo paper. When printed on the glossy paper, they really look like mini polaroids. There are nine to each sheet.
Here are the pdfs downloads:
Next, you can bust out those square punches again. I love my square punches. Some punches seem to be a tad larger than stated so eyeball your picture after you have punched it to determine if you think you need to trim them down slightly to keep the look of the polaroid. I turned my punch over and positioned my picture so that I made sure I punched the part of the picture I wanted for my magnet.
Then cut out the polaroids with your paper trimmer or exacto knife.
Here are the 2 inch and the 1.5 inch next to one another. Just lay the punched picture right on top of the colored box for exact placement.
Next, just adhere the picture to the “polaroid” template with sticky scrapbook tape or a Uhu gluestick.
Then, attach the polaroids to your chipboard using sticky tape, a Uhu glue stick, or rubber cement. Use what you have on hand (but not school glue as I found it warped a couple). Then take a Sharpie paint pen and color the edges of the chipboard that might be seen. Very simple, took a couple of minutes. These are the dimensions that I cut for the chipboard. I would even make them a tad smaller. I prefer that the chipboard be slightly smaller than the picture so that none of the chipboard shows.
Then laminate the pictures with either a Xyron machine or clear packing tape. I trimmed the excess laminating tape with an exacto knife. Attach a magnet to the back and voila – you have magnets ready to be proudly placed on your refrigerator.
For the digital masters out there
If you choose to use the digital template with Photoshop, here are the .psd files for Photoshop:
Also, you can follow along with the following video tutorial to insert your pictures into the template. It’s my first one so I would love any suggestions. This was way out of my comfort zone, but how great is that! I’m learning and my brain is stretching.
This is how the digital polaroids look side by side when printed out after your photos are inserted. And you bet that Richard Marx got his own magnet. Any man that had the nerve to wear hair like that deserves his own magnet!
Just like the “traditionalist” template, there is a gray guide line around the polaroid so that you can see the cut lines.
Cut and trim as needed.
Glue the polaroid to chipboard and add a magnet and you have super cute magnets!
Hope you enjoyed this! Please leave any questions or comments you may have. I try my best to respond to each one and find out the answers if I don’t know the answer. Again, I’m learning too. Isn’t it great?!
Blessings sweet friends,
Jenny
Giveaway: The fabulous Nicole Reaves is giving away one of her gorgeous graphic fresh start mini books away from her Etsy Shop. A winner will be chosen after 6pm (Arizona time) on Sunday evening and announced on Monday morning. Please leave a comment below telling me what memory of your past you wished you had a picture of. Also go and visit Nicole’s blog and etsy shop. I “met” Nicole while posting about our December Daily albums. She has been one of my favorite people to get to know through my new blogging experience this year. She is a great cheerleader and a talented crafter. Tell her I sent you!
Isn’t it lovely? Good luck everyone!
I shared my link over on Tidy Mom and Tatertots & Jello where you can see other great DIY crafts, recipes, and photography. Check them out!
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Comments
Angie
They are adorable! I’ll definitely make these.. I love polaroids
Kelly D.
I wish I had more photos of me with both of my parents. There are only 2, one taken on the day I was born and one from Christmas. I make sure to do this with my kids on every birthday!
Jenny
Great idea. I need to do that. I’m in very few pictures myself. It’s truly a shame, but something I’m going to start changing immediately.
Jenny
They turned out so cute Angie! I hope you make them!
sarabeth burke
wow! this is amazing-thanks so much for sharing this, i definitely see a polaroid mini in the near future
i have a ton of polaroid pics from childhood that are just awesome and i’m slowly sorting through them to get them into albums-i love the look that i’ve tried making my own unsuccessfully lol-so i appreciate the templates & sizes!!!!! thanks!!!!!
one picture of a memory i remember so vivid would be one of my abuelo and abuelita with the little me. i was blessed to know them for only a short time and embrace the stories that everyone shares
thanks for a great giveaway!!!!
Jenny
This has been the most popular response with comments – more pictures of loved ones, especially grandparents that have been lost. Such a good reminder for us today. Let me know how your polaroid minis turn out. Send me a tweet or an email. I look forward to seeing them!
melissa
wow very cool. Always up on the newest trends. I love this.
Jenny
Thanks Melissa. The magnets turned out so cute and I just love them scattered all over my frig.
Jenny S
I love these! I’ve made something similar, but I used the magnetic/lamination thing from Xyron. It does the lamination and magnetic backing all in one step. Love it!
Jenny
Yes- me too. I had run out of the laminating/magnetic refills and Michael’s was out so I just had to E6000 some magnets this time. That’s exactly what I wanted to do, and how I will do it in the future. I’ll edit my post later and add this because it does save a step.
Kathy Weeks
Love this! I will have to try it!
I wish I had a photo of our first house. Thanks for the chance to win!
Jenny
I wish I had a picture of my first house too. It’s only a couple of hours away. I should drive there one day and take a picture.
Jen Kinkade
these are adorable! you ROCK!!
and LOVE the album by Nicole…I have enjoyed getting to “know” both of you!
Jenny
Me too, Jen. I just adore you both!
Jen Kinkade
duh! forgot the memory part..
I wish I had a picture of me & my Dad, and more pics of me and my brother…both are gone and i miss them terribly!
Jenny
So sorry Jen for your losses. Pictures and stories are so invaluable- the more comments I read, the more I am reminded of this.
Jenn Nichols
I really wish I had pictures of me and my childhood best friend. We are no longer in contact and the one picture I thought I had of us is nowhere to be found. And the trip to DC we took in 5th grade. . .no one rook ANY pictures!!!
Jenny
I hope you guys reconnect and who knows? Maybe she will have a picture. Here’s hoping! Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Christine
It’s not so much a certain photo I wish for but the stories behind some photos I found of my grandmother and her siblings. Really wish they were all still here to spill the beans on each other!
Jenny
Yes Christine – I get this. The stories are just as important and that’s why I’m spending time writing those stories of my childhood that I don’t have pictures for. So glad that you have those pictures though.
Dorraine Coulter
Oh I love this! So cute, thanks for sharing! Polaroids are great!
I wish I had more pictures of me when I was pregnant with my daughter, I took a few but wish I had taken more. I so enjoyed my pregnancy, and now my precious little girl is 7. Time sure goes by fast!
Jenny
Time does fly by so quickly indeed! So glad you had an amazing pregnancy- you don’t hear that often, so what a blessing!
amy woodell
I ♥ this! My baby brother and also my only brother passed away in 2006 and I really wish I had more pics of us together. We were very close and so many of the memories we made were not captured in portraits.
Jenny
Oh Amy. I hope my kids never have to experience that. I’m truly sorry for your loss. All of these stories and comments just remind me of the importance of pictures and capturing our stories. Life is so short.
Joy
Very cute! Just a suggestion- If you save the file as a png file with “holes” where the pictures go, people could layer their pictures under your graphic and print even if they don’t have Photoshop.
Jenny
Thanks Joy. Jeff and I are going to work on that tomorrow. I so appreciate your suggestion. Such a new learning curve for me!
Jamie
I wish I had a picture of me and my best friend from middle school. He passed away freshman year, and it wasn’t until after the fact that I realized we never took any pics together
Thank you so much for the template! too cute! I’m going to add these into project life too!
Jenny
Jamie- I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend. That breaks my heart. Treasure those fond memories though. BTW- I’m using my polaroids in my PL this week too.
Lisa F.
Such a cute project! Great tutorial and video – Thanks very much!
Jenny
Thanks Lisa! Let me know how your magnets turn out!
Misty K in Ohio
I love these!! I wish I had more memories of my school years. Thanks for sharing!!
Jenny
I went to so many schools. I wish I had pictures of all of them too, especially my high school and my classmates.
Amanda S.
I wish I had more pictures of me with my Grandma when I was younger. She passed away 10 years ago around the time I graduated from college.
That minibook is awesome! Thanks for the chance to win!
Jenny
Oh Amanda, the mini book is amazing! I think we always wish we had more pictures of our loved ones when they are gone. There is just never too many pictures in my opinion. Thank you for the reminder. I need to get more pictures of my parents just playing with my kids.
Kendra
I SO want to do this! I wish I had pictures of my sister and I playing together in just everyday settings. We have mostly photos that were “staged” or taken on holidays. And I love reading Nicole everyday!
Jenny
Kendra- I hope you make the magnets. Let me know how they turn out! I mostly have holiday pictures myself too. And I love reading Nicole, too! She’s a great lady and I LOVE this mini book.
Shannon A
Thanks for the giveaway! I wish that I had more consistent pictures from all parts of my childhood.
Jenny
Yes, Shannon. I get this. I’m trying to get well rounded pictures of my kid’s lives too. Thanks for the reminder.
Rebekah W
I wish I had more photos of my grandpa and me. I love him so much and miss him terribly.
I adore the polaroid magnets!
Jenny
I’m so sorry about your grandfather. I lost one of my grandfathers when I was very young and I wish today that I have known him more. Treasure those memories. Glad you love the magnets- my refrigerator looks so unbelievably happy.
Tracy O
great templates…those will certainly come in handy. My parents were great about taking pictures of us when I was little. I think I would like more pics of the everyday stuff though…our cars, our house, etc. but we do have alot of pics of our childhood. One thing I wish I had more pics of was when i was pregnant with my kiddos…I think I have one from each child…looking back, I wish I had not been so worried about what I looked like and just took the pics.
Jenny
Yes, it is easy for us as women to be so concerned with what we look like. No one else really cares. I think this is where Project Life has helped me. I’ve taken pictures of our cars, our house, kid’s school, classmates, etc. I am so much more aware of stories and photo opportunities.
Lyndee
I wish there were pictures of the amazing fort we built when I was a kid. It had everything!
Jenny
I wish I could see them. I loved the book Bridge to Terabithia and the fort/magical land they made in that book. Sounds amazing.
Nirupama Kumar
Ask and you shall recieve, huh? That’s awesome.
And, thanks for the tutorial.
Another way is this program:
http://www.poladroid.net/
For all those photoshop illiterate people like me.
Jenny
Thanks for the resource, I will check it out. And yes, it was so exciting to get those pictures. I’ll treasure them always.
Rachelle
I wish I had a photo of all the times my sister and I dressed up my younger brother in our dance costumes!!
Jenny
Yes! My sister and I spent hours playing with the Fisher Price people and villages. I too wish I had pictures of that.
Samantha Welch
What a cute idea! Thanks for the freebies and the tutorial. I’d love to win one of those cute notebooks!
Jenny
My refrigerator is so much happier now! And Nicole’s mini book is adorable!
Julie
Looks great and takes for the treat!
Julie
Jenny
You are welcome and let me know if you have any questions with the downloads or tutorial.
Lisa Muniz
I wish I had more pictures with my parents in them. There are many of me and my sister, but few of the 4 of us, If any!
Jenny
Few of the 6 of us as well Lisa. Thanks for the reminder. I need to get Jeff AND I in those pictures.
TracyJ
Thanks for these cute templates/download. I love polaroids and remember my parents and grandparents using the poloaroid cameras!! I always wish for “more” pics…. I don’t think I ever really think “I sure wish I had less pictures to documnet that memory.”
Jenny
You are so welcome- I learned so much in making them. I agree though – there isn’t a picture that I’m not excited to have. Great perspective.
Patricia
I wish I had more photos of my grandparents. Great giveaway! I’d love to win one of these notebooks so I can document my One Little Word for 2012!
Jenny
Pictures with grandparents are always treasures in my book! And this mini journal from Nicole is adorable! I want one too!
Laura Kirk
I wish I had just one of the polaroids of my Dad and me. There weren’t many but, like him, they are all gone.
Laura
Jenny
Oh Laura. This is exactly why I am nuts about taking pictures because of reasons just like this. I’m so sorry.
Erin Colby
I wish I had a picture of my Grandma, my Mother, and I all together.
Jenny
Me too, Erin. Me too. Isn’t it the simple things that we wish we had pictures of. Out of all these comments, no one has mentioned huge events like holidays or graduations. Just people wanting relationships captured.
Cristina
I am so glad you recovered some old photos! This past year my mom was able to get from her uncle some photos of my grandpa as a child – I had long given up hope to ever retrieve those, and it was such an extraordinary gift! Now I wish I had photos of my grandparents’ wedding. They were such a beautiful couple!
Jenny
I hope somehow you can find some pictures of their wedding too. It was such a blessing to open up a couple of emails with my childhood photos. I also plan on taking my scanner over to my grandparent’s house and scanning the photos on their walls so I can have them. There are a couple of great ones of my parents when they were first married.
Tricia
Hi Jenny,
I saw these once before and never made them because I didn’t want to figure out the sizing, so thank you. I found these on pinterest and realized I saw your video on Becky Higgins. Read some of your posts and know I’m a subscriber. You have a great blog. Thanks for sharing.
Jenny
Thank you Tricia. I just love that pinterest. So addicting! So glad you found your way over to my blog. I’m just loving this journey!
Amy L
Hi Jenny,
This isn’t really “my” memory…but I wish I had a photo of my mom when she was pregnant with me. I was born in 1973, so maybe it wasn’t “in” to take pregnancy photos, but I would love to see one.
And thank you for the giveaway. I love mini-albums!
Jenny
Amy – I am going to ask my mom if she has any pregnancy pictures. I would love to see one as well. And I was born in 1973, and I don’t think pictures were as big in general as today. It’s too bad.
Pidgen
I wish I had a photo of my best friend and I at her brial luncheon! We got through the whole day and realized no one had taken any photos! Opps! I really wish there was at least one. Thanks for this lovely chance to win!
Jenny
I completely understand. It’s so easy to get busy with an event and then regret not taking 30 seconds to grab a couple of pictures. I say recreate it on her first anniversary!
Kris
am I missing something on the traditional way? Are you cutting the original picture?
Thanks, kris
Jenny
On the traditional way, I was taking a 4 x 6 picture and using one of my punches and punching either a 2 inch or a 1.5 square {as shown in the pictures}. The digital route allows you to shrink the picture if you want to get more of it in the square. Does that make sense? If you don’t have a punch, you could always just use an exacto knife and ruler (or scissors) and cut a square as well to fit the colored square and then just attach with glue. Please feel free to comment if you need further clarification!
Amber
awesome! thanks so much! i’m def going to be making some!!!
Jenny
Thanks for stopping by Amber. I would love to see what you create with the polaroids. Send me an email or send via twitter! Have a great day.
Katie
Thanks for the great templates, I just pinned this
Jenny
Thanks Katie for pinning the templates. I hope many people find them easy to use and cover their refrigerators with pictures that make them happy and feel energized! Glad you stopped by!
Sharyn
I wish I had more photo’s of me as a child with my siblings – all 4 of us together, other than the one with the terrible haircuts and the matching velour tracksuits (sweats) we all wore. Now I think I have just dated myself. And yes I used a polaroid back then. Loving the mini book too! Thanks so much for the polaroid templates! xxx
Jenny
You are so welcome for the polaroid template. So hope you will use it! And I’m working so hard at taking pictures with all 4 of my kids. My goal is to get a decent one every week. And I had a velour tracksuit and my folks had a polaroid that I would pay big money to have now! Thanks Sharyn.