DIY cork magnet: simple decorative craft idea

a great decoration for your fridge or pinboard for positive affirmations, crafting as a mindfulness exercise

There has been a lot of talk about positive affirmations and mindfulness in recent years. But what are they actually about and how can they help us in our daily lives?

This blog post is about making beautiful cork magnets for your fridge or pinboard, an upcycling project using corks from wine or champagne bottles, and discovering the power of positive affirmations and how they and mindfulness can help us to live better by being more present in the here and now. Together we will look for ways to integrate them into our everyday lives, perhaps by creating something small and pretty to reap the benefits of these powerful tools.

I believe in the power of the present moment. I believe in living consciously in the here and now. I also believe in the power of intention and the power of love. I believe in the potential for good in each of us. Why? Because I have experienced it. I have experienced the love, kindness and goodness in people. I have seen it in the way they treat others, the way they show the best of their humanity. And I like to reflect on that... do you? Do you feel like continuing to live and learn more about how all of this can help us feel more whole and live more consciously in the present moment?

Magnets are always very practical, apart from the fascination that they miraculously have the ability to function forever without ever needing to be recharged. For me, magnets are most useful in that they fix notes, lists or small drawings on my metal pinboard. In many households, the fridge also serves as a pinboard or the magnets simply adorn the fridge door. Of course, a pretty magnet is also a nice gift or a souvenir that we bring home from a trip.

Schönheit, Ordnung und Funktionalität stehen in einer engen Beziehung und haben eine tiefe und bedeutungsvolle Verbindung zueinander (wie ich euch schon im Beitrag "Herbstdekoration" erzählt habe). Ich wollte mich nicht einfach mit schnöden "nackten" oder gekauften Magneten zufrieden geben, sondern zog es vor selbst etwas mit persönlicher Note zu gestalten, das besser zu meinem Stil und zur gewünschten Verwendung passt.

Beauty, order and functionality are closely related and have a deep and meaningful connection to each other (as I already told you in the post "Autumn decorations"). I didn't want to just settle for plain "naked" or store-bought magnets, but preferred to create something myself with a personal touch that would better suit my style and desired use.

I had some of these small (4-5 mm diameter), very strong magnets in the drawer that are also used for costume jewelry. I didn't quite know what to do with them as they are so small and strong that it's hard to get them off anything metallic as they are so hard to grip. Also, if they slip out of your hand, they are easily gone once and for all as they roll somewhere or stick to the back of the heater or somehow just get lost. They are quite dangerous for small children.

When I looked around my room, where I usually do my little creative work, I saw some very simple and boring magnets on my pinboard that I had bought somewhere at some point and that are so weak that they fall off at the slightest movement. I had long wanted to replace them. So I came up with the idea of how I could use the small, strong magnets - or at least one of them, because so far it's just an experiment.

What you need:

• small neodymium magnets

• superglue

• Champagne cork

I glued the magnet to a piece of champagne cork with some superglue. To do this, I cut off the top half centimeter as a slice from the cork of a champagne bottle. It's really easy to do with a sharp knife. Unfortunately, I can't remember which sparkling wine, champagne or prosecco the cork came from - you'll just have to try several different types to discover the most beautiful corks...

Because of the strength of the magnet, I wasn't sure whether it would stick firmly enough to the cork, but so far it has held well and to my satisfaction for about 6 months. I'm thinking about making some more - for my pin board and to give as gifts. I like the consistency of cork, the versatility, its soft lightness and I especially like the crown pictured on it.

Making these magnets is perfect for "meditating" during a mindfulness exercise... Being present while doing something means paying conscious attention to what we are doing and everything we feel, see and think while doing it: this alone is a very simple form of meditation that requires little effort, prior knowledge or effort. In more precise or scientific terms, mindfulness is made up of the following aspects:

• Directing attention / conscious focus of attention

• acceptance

• Non-judgmental attitude (no criticism and/or self-criticism)

• Compassion (for oneself, for the plant from which the cork comes :-), ... for everything and everyone)

• Observation in metacognition (observing oneself while observing)

• Curiosity (for objects, materials, for ourselves and others)

The moment you take an object in your hand (such as a cork or a magnet in this example), observe and look at it from a (new) perspective with curiosity, without judging it, is already a mindfulness exercise that brings you more into the here and now.

The magnets can also be used to hang up post-it notes in your field of vision on which you can write positive affirmations that give you strength and remind you how you can better master your everyday life, achieve your wishes and goals, etc.

Some examples of powerful positive affirmations:

• I enjoy my work.

• I have a positive and constructive attitude.

• I can do this!

• I am determined and resilient.

• I am proud of myself.

• I have the courage to be different.

• I deserve to have my wishes and dreams come true.

• I have my life under control.

If you would like to explore this topic in more depth, why not browse here or try this free course.

Where do you use your magnets? I look forward to exchanging ideas with you, feel free to write me a comment or a message. Cheers and have fun making magnets in the here and now! A hug and see you soon!