Glass Photo Charm (and magnets!) Tutorial

As promised, here's the step-by-step walkthrough on how to complete our projects from this month's meeting!  Sorry for the lack of photos (I didn't think to have someone snap pics while we were crafting on Tuesday - oopsie).

Glass Photo Charm

Materials Needed:


7/8" square glass tiles
Diamond Glaze
Small photos or patterned papers*
Jewelry bail
E-6000 glue
Small scissors


(click on each item to see a Google shopping result)

*Your photo will need to be cropped to size (7/8" square, 300 dpi) in order to fit on these tiny square tiles.  You can do this in most photo editing software programs.  Inkjet printed photos will NOT work well for this project as the ink may smear/bleed when you apply the glues.  I recommend having multiple photos printed on photo-quality paper.  Bunch 'em all up on a 4x6 and send them to your nearest 1-hour photo lab or take to a print shop and ask them to print for you on a thicker stock paper, using a laser jet.

Shopping tips:

Diamond Glaze can be ordered through our very own 2Katies!
You can purchase sterling silver-plated jewelry bails at Hobby Lobby in the leatherworking section.
E-6000 is sold at Walmart in the craft glue section.

How To:

1. Select your photo and position your glass tile on top of it to make sure it looks right.
2. Spread a dime-sized amount of Diamond Glaze onto the flat side of your glass tile.
3. Press glass tile onto your photo - be sure & position it correctly, then hold all 4 corners down for a few seconds.
4. Let dry for approximately 1 hour.
5. Using small, sharp scissors, carefully trim the excess paper from around the edge of the under side of your tile.
6. Apply a small amount of Diamond Glaze to the back side of your tile.  Use your finger to go around the edges of the back of your photo, as well.
7. Let dry for approximately 1 hour.
8. Place a small dab of E-6000 onto your jewelry bail and press it onto the back side of your tile (be sure you place it in the correct spot!)
9. Let dry for 24-72 hours.

That's it!  Easy peasy, right?  :)

If you're looking for some fun little things to use on your charms, check out all the inchies available on Etsy.  These are perfect for little charms, but remember that inchies are, well, 1 inch.  And our glass tiles are 7/8"... so, basic math tells me that the inchies will be sliiiiiiiiiightly bigger than our glass tiles, yes?

You can also order glass tiles in other sizes - circles, rectangles, blah blah blah.

Photo Magnets

Materials Needed:

Glass floral marbles (Hobby Lobby's work best)
Diamond Glaze
Small photos or patterned papers
Small Neodymuim magnets (these are the super strong ones)
Hot glue gun & hot glue 
Small scissors

For the photo magnets, you'll follow steps 1-5 from the jewelry charm... you can also do step 6 (Diamond Glazing the back) if you want, but I don't see the need for it since these little guys are MUCH cheaper to replace if one should get wet/ruined.

To finish the backs of my magnets, I always use hot glue.  Because I'm impatient, really, but I've been using these magents for a long time and have never had an issue with the hot glue holding the magnet on.  Even if I did, I'd just hot glue it back on.  :)

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And that's pretty much it!  If you guys have any questions about any of the steps posted, please let me know.  I know it's easier to follow tutorials with photos, I'll do better next time.  Pinky swear.