I am so excited about this magnetic menu planner!! But first, I need to give credit to Robin Sampson from the Heart of Wisdom blog. She shared a similar idea on her blog, and I loved the idea of it. I wanted to make it as frugally as possible, so I searched for other magnetic menu planners and found this one from Amy at The Red Chair Blog. I tweaked it a little bit, but I love how it turned out!
Magnetic Menu Planner
Supplies:
- Copy paper
- Computer and printer
- Scrapbook paper
- Scissors (or paper-cutter)
- Laminator (or contact paper or packing tape)
- Magnets (from advertisements or phonebooks or a roll of magnet strip)
- Glue
- Refrigerator or other magnetic surface
1) Make a list of favorite dinners. I would suggest about 30-35. You may also want to include some for the days you eat out and some blank ones for new recipes (if you laminate them, you’ll be able to use a dry erase marker and reuse the blank ones). Type them up in a simple program and print them out. You will also need to print out the days of the week and a title for your menu. (I’m not giving you precise measurements, because they will vary according to how large or small you want the menu to be on your refrigerator!)
2) Cut the dinner ideas apart. Then, pick a couple of coordinating pieces of scrapbook or other decorative paper for your menu.
3) Cut the scrapbook paper a little bit larger than the dinner ideas.
4) Center and glue the pieces together.
5) Laminate and cut out each piece. If you do not have a laminator, contact paper or even packing tape will work.
6) Glue a magnet (you can reuse junk magnets from phone books or other advertising) to the back of each part.
7) Arrange on your refrigerator! Extra pieces are easily stored in a small basket or on the refrigerator for easy access.
So far, I love having my magnetic menu! I love that I can plan a whole month or just a week’s worth of dinners! I love that my dinner ideas are right in front of me (so I don’t get stuck in a rut)! I love how easy it is to swap out one meal for another (no pen marks all over the calendar when I need to make a change)!
The only thing I didn’t like about making this magnetic menu planner was that it was a little time-intensive. In my next post, I am going to share a simplified version made from paint samples with you!
KBH says
OMG! I love it!!!
butterfly wishes and Wonderland Dreams says
I LOVE THIS!!! I want one!!! now to get motivated to make it 🙂 adding to must make list.
thanks for sharing
Abbi says
That is very cute and it sounds easy to use too! I might have to try it. Thanks for linking it up to A Handmade Christmas!
Brown Sugar says
This is awesome! I'm making this my DIY project for the week – thanks! 🙂
Susan Logan says
Love the idea, just a thought: you can take a big cookie sheet and hang it on the wall in your kitchen and place the magnet menu on this. That way it will not get disturbed when the family uses the frig. I do this with my son’s magnet abc’s and 123’s, but I don’t hang it, it just sits on the floor or in his lap.
Stacie says
Great idea! It has worked pretty well on our refrigerator because I’m able to have them on the side — but not everyone has an open side!
Amy says
Hi, I am part of a mompreneur team that actually sells an affordable magnetic menu planner for those out there who aren’t as crafty. You can find us at http://www.sticktoitplanner.com. We are frugal moms and typically love to do home made versions of things rather than spend money. But what we have created is as affordable as doing it yourself – maybe even more so since we upgraded to a heavier gauge magnet than what you can get buying printable magnetic sheets or using the thin advertising magnets.
Keep on meal planning!