Handmade Gift 911

Move on to the craft or art store for the rest. Put in your basket:

• ProMAG Magnetic Buttons (the 50-pack of 3/4" is ideal, and gives you five sets of 10 magnets for around $7)
• glass glue, which works better than hot glue (try Beacon's Glass, Metal & More, around $5)
• a bag of glass "gems" -- marbles that have been flattened on one side -- from the floral department (a pound should cost less than $5 and give you more than 50 pieces).

Don't forget to pick up a 24" x 36" frame, which is a standard size for poster frames. You can even find these at major discount retailers such as Target or Wal-Mart.

Make sure the frame backing is removable and replaceable, and try to choose one in which the fronting is a thin sheet of plastic instead of glass, which is more difficult to remove and discard.

Master the Magnets

Start with the magnets so they're dry by the time you've finished the board.

Grab your supplies and a cookie sheet, and make like a pastry chef: Line up the magnets on the back of the cookie sheet, spread glue on about 10 at a time and press the flat side of a glass gem onto each.

Leave the magnets in a well-ventilated place to dry for the recommended amount of time, and tuck into the second half of your gift.

Tame the Frame

First, remove the frame's backing.

A butter knife makes pulling back any metal tabs easier. Lift out the backing -- usually a sheet of corrugated cardboard -- and set it aside.

Remove any fronting, which will be easy if it's a thin sheet of plastic. Removing glass requires more care, particularly if it's secured with adhesive.

(If it is, put on some gloves and eyewear, take the frame outside, hold the frame with the "good" side facing you and carefully press the glass away from you to release it.)

It's best to customize your metal sheet before you frame it. This is the point at which you could wrap it with fabric or paper (securing on the back with hot glue or strong tape) or cover it with images, securing cut-outs with decoupage compound or glue.

Carefully drop the sheet of flashing into the frame, unblemished side out. Replace the backing and bend back down any little tabs using your butter knife.

Place the completed magnets on the board, and you're set.

All that's left is to wrap and gloat -- and vow never again to ruin your Good Life with an overly ambitious craft project when better-planned alternatives exist.

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