It’s probably the kid in me that loves playing with clay. I takes me back to all those hours spend creating shapes and master pieces with play dough. Â If you are a maker and love working with your hands, you are going to want to make a set of these simple tropical leaf magnets for your fridge. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
![Two books and a picture are arranged with leaves on a white marble surface.](https://www.curbly.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/leaf_magnet_3.jpg)
![Green and light pink leaves are used as decorations.](https://www.curbly.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/leaf_magnet_4.jpg)
I’ve been on a tropical leaf kick for a while now.  I was itching to add to my leafy collection. If you love this trend, be sure to check out the Tablecloth and Pillow DIYs.  Oven-bake or FIMO clay is a flash back to my 13 year old self.  I loved to make necklaces and beads using this fun, easy to cure clay. Â
Here’s what you’ll need:
- FIMO or another brand of oven bake clay
- oak leaf cookie cutter (this set or this one would work well)
- small 1/2″ round magnets
- hot glue gun
- plastic drinking straw
- parchment paper
![Wooden rolling pin on top of a marble counter next to pink and green clay.](https://www.curbly.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/leaf_magnet_10.jpg)
Start by rolling out the clay to about 1/4 inch thickness.
![Using a cookie cutter to cut out green leaves.](https://www.curbly.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/leaf_magnet_9.jpg)
Using a small oak leaf cookie cutter, cut out your leaf shapes.
![two leave magnet](https://www.curbly.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/leaf_magnet_8.jpg)
To give the leaves that tropical feel, cut two or three holes in each of the leaves by bending the end of a plastic straw to create an oval shape. Â Then, using your finger tips, pitch the ends of the leaves to make them a little more pointed.
![Green and pink leaves are decorated on a white surface.](https://www.curbly.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/leaf_magnet_7.jpg)
![Leaf magnet on a kitchen stove](https://www.curbly.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/leaf_magnet_6.jpg)
Place the leaves on a parchment lined baking sheet, and bake for about 20 mins in a 230F oven (be sure to follow the instructions on the package of clay you are using, they time and temperature my vary).
![Green and pink leaves are being turned into magnets.](https://www.curbly.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/leaf_magnet_5.jpg)
And once they are completely cooled, attach a small magnet to the back of each leaf using a small amount of hot glue.
![Three green clay trees and 2 pink clay trees laying on grey marble.](https://www.curbly.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/leaf_magnet_2.jpg)
![Pink and green tropical leaf magnets sit on a marble countertop.](https://www.curbly.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/leaf_magnet_1.jpg)
This is a great activity to keep your kids entertained during the summer. Â Oven bake clay is inexpensive and easy to work with. Â Think of all the possibilities of shapes of design you could make to create a custom set of magnets for your fridge.