Meddybemps Train Shop Magnet Project

The Yellowstone & Western Railway is an imaginary tourist line, running 26 miles from Lima, Idaho, to West Yellowstone, Montana, near the gates of Yellowstone National Park. To promote tourism, inexpensive refrigerator magnets showing scenes from the park are given to the passengers.

File Preparation Steps
1. Come up with a concept. I decided to use a digital photograph and the creation tools available on Zazzle.com to show that you can make products without owning specialized software. I would simply upload the photo and then add type using Zazzle's tools.
2. Forget any other preparation. Go on to Product Creation Steps.

Product Creation Steps
1. Go to www.Zazzle.com. Click on "Create".
2. Select "Magnets" under the heading for "Unique Gifts".
3. Click on the "Create a Magnet" button. A blank (round) magnet appears on a new page along with a window titled, "Get Started", inviting you to upload artwork. Follow links to "what kind of image" and "what size image" if you don't already have that information.
4. Click on "Select image". A window appears for uploading your image. Type text in window provided (or add it in a later step). Click on "Make it now" button.
5. A new page appears with your photo and text superimposed on a round button. Several controls are to the right of the button.
- Choose "Magnet Options" and switch to a square shape.
- Choose "Customize It!" to make other changes.
- Click on either your picture or the text and drag them or use the "Move" arrows to reposition them individually. You can also make your picture larger or smaller using magnifying glass icons. I moved the bison picture up and made initial adjustments to the text (I moved it again after making the appearance choices descibed below).
- Click on "Colors" to pick a background color. I chose green.
- Select your text and, with items in the "Text Appearance" menu, pick type size, color and typeface (I chose white lettering, size 11, in a font called Playbill).
6. When you are satisfied, save your design, purchase a copy, or start over.

Give it a try. It's easy!

See these other sample projects:
Upper Lazy River Whoppers Softball Team Shirt
Wally's Wig-Wag Cafe Mug
E. Gerbeaver & Sons Lumber Company Wall Clock