Molly's Sketchbook: Felt Aquarium Magnets

When I was in the third grade my class took a field trip to Point Reyes, California to look at the tide pools. I was fascinated by them, each pool was like a small secret world. There were orange and purple sea stars, tiny little fish, and flower-like sea anemones. When I stuck my finger in an anemone's mouth it's sticky petal-like tentacles would close around it, thinking it was food (this probably isn't a nice thing to do to an anemone, but it certainly made an impression on me). My love for the ocean and all of its creatures has only grown in the subsequent years. I did some snorkeling in Hawaii and saw fish of every size, shape and color though the crystal clear water. It's hard to believe that some of the fish I saw were even real, they seemed too bright and too bizarre to be found in nature.

When we decided to make a set of felt-covered magnets I knew I wanted to make an underwater scene. I found pictures of my favorite fish and other sea life and came up with nine different creatures. Making them with of our bright, beautiful 100% wool felt was very simple and so much fun! I loved watching them come alive and once they were all done I had a surprisingly fun time posing them on their light blue magnetic board (AKA the Aquarium).

This underwater world makes a great gift for a child, or even an adult, who loves the ocean. The tiny magnet inside each creature is super powerful, which makes this a really useful present, a whimsical take on a bulletin board. If you'd like to make your own underwater world please visit my Felt Aquarium Magnets Project Journal. Thanks!- Molly

Comments

[naoko]

I'm soooo impressed with this! ! How creative, cute, and beautiful! Wow!

[nergis]

ohhh soooo nice:)

[Sharon]

Ohhhhh I want to play with them! Love it!

[Melissa]

Yet another purl bee project I just HAVE to make!! My list is growing faster than I can make the projects!!

[Melissa]

VERY nice! These would make great magnets for the side of our filing cabinet in the school room! I think the kiddoes would like helping make them, too!

[julie]

oh my, i have to share this! ditto on the project list - it's growing and growing!

[Stephanie]

Those are so so so cute!

[sara hoverson]

oh my goodness!!! i want some!!

[jen]

oh no! i need a new fridge that is magnetic!

[lilyhaven]

Those are PRECIOUS!!! I want some!!

[Andi]

A great idea. Looks amazing!

[Marie Grace]

So simple and ridiculously cute!

[darlene]

ooh! i could play with those and have some fun, waste some time, be a kid!

[Puglette]

hi molly, your magnets are very sweet. i remember the field trip to point reyes too...i think every kid growing up in the sf bay area goes on a school field trip to point reyes. i grew up in redwood city.
:o)
puglette

[Giggles]

What a great idea! They look perfect on the blue board.

[Cerise]

Those are so great and colorful!!

[Meg McG]

these are awesome. like EVERYTHING you guys come up with, thanks for all the effort in sharing such great projects.

[Nina - Tabiboo]

That's such a lovely idea - they remind me of the 'Fuzzy Felts' I used to play with when I was little!

Nina x

[Isobel]

Those are lovely. Definitely one for the to-do list!

[helen]

I LOVE it! with my daughter going through a nemo-crazed phase, I will definitely try this project! thanks so much for the amazing idea and instruction.

[Julie]

These are so cute! Thanks for inspiring me!

[Danielle]

Too Cute! They would make adorable appliques too!

[Alisa]

This is perhaps the neatest idea I have ever come across. My kiddos would love these. Thanks so much for sharing!

[Susannah @ Art Nest]

I'm loving the jelly fish! So bright and happy!

Susannah @ Art Nest

[Cheryl]

Love the magnets, what a great idea! Isn't felt wonderful!

[Carme]

This magnets are really beatiful and sweet ... I want to do with my daughter one of this rainy days here in Barcelona. Nice job, congratulations!

[Josie]

This project is so creative, fun and perfect. YEAH Molly!

[Mal*]

I just got a windfall of felt and have been stumped as to what to do with it. This is a great suggestion!

[vanessa]

Yes! What a wonderful thing for adults and children to do together, and you'd be guarnateed to get some wonderful fish from the kids....................... I don't have kids myself, but it's suddenly very tempting to paint my fridge that gorgeous blue, and have an aquarium in my kitchen, rather than the big white space that is currently my fridge!
Thank you so much for this idea................... I have to say, I'm surprised there isn't a publication or book called "Molly's Sketchbook", because Molly should be better known, other than just by us crafters who love the purl bee.
Vanessa xxx

[aj]

WOW. Those are so wonderfully cute and well done. Thanks so much for sharing!!!

[Lorraine]

These are so dang cute. I love all of the projects yall send out. Thanks for such a great post. Even if I don't get to them all they are so much fun as eye candy!

[di]

What a gorgeous project!! My son would love a set of these. Thanks for the inspiration and sharing the process.

[Silvia]

Very nice!! I love them!

[meg (kiss my style)]

these are adorable! our 2 year old would love them :)

[Prairie Girl]

Oh I just love this project! I made a felt board for my daughter on her first birthday and fancy that I chose an aqua blue felt - and she's absolutely in love with Finding Nemo. Seems like the board is just WAITING for some of these adorable fish. So excited to get started!

[pauline]

absolutely adorable !!
i love this sealife.

[nurks]

It is an amazing project! It looks easy and cute!!

love
nurks

[Billie]

Wonderful! I love the sea life and Point Reyes, great teaching tool for little ones. My favorite theme when I taught preschool.

[Sara]

I love these! What a cute idea ... the colors are beautiful and I love the display you've done on the light blue magnet board. Considering "our" favorite movie of the moment is The Little Mermaid, I am going to make some!