DIY Paperweights: 10 Ideas

I DIY paperweight They make your desk decidedly more original. Besides being useful for keeping papers and documents organized, they can also be interesting decorative elements for your desk, welcome gifts, or small projects to involve the kids in. If you're looking for inspiration, below are 10 simple and imaginative ideas for creating unique paperweights using readily available materials (even recycled ones) and a whole lot of creativity.

Painted stones

Let's start with the probably most common and economical idea. Very nice paperweights can be obtained starting from sassiPick a few smooth-surfaced ones and clean them thoroughly. Then paint them using acrylic paints. You can simply choose a solid color or draw flowers, animals, or geometric patterns. Once dry, protect the surface with a layer of clear varnish.

Wooden clothespins

Another particularly useful object in this case, easily found in practically every home, are the wooden clothespins, the ones we generally use to hang laundry. Gather one, paint it with acrylic paints or embellish it with washi tape or your favorite writing. Glue them to a heavy surface, like a flat rock or wooden disc. Or use them as is. You can add embellishments with hot glue if you like.

Marble

If a tray has broken marbleDon't throw it away. Recover some pieces and clean them. You can leave them plain or decorate them with permanent markers or paint. You can also engrave them by printing letters on them. A tip? Place a piece of felt underneath to avoid scratching the surfaces or ruining the sheets.

Aluminum

Another type of DIY paperweight is obtained by modelling some aluminum wire often. Fold it directly with your hands or pliers, creating shapes such as hearts, spirals or letters. You will get some minimal paperweights, light but functional, perfect for decorating your desk.

Paper clips

Le paper clips They're naturally designed to hold papers, but what if, instead of using them plain, you embellished them with a design of your choice (like a crocheted heart, as shown in the photo)? They'd become cheerful, playful paperweights, perfect for adding a pop of color to the office.

Felt Discs

even the felt It can be used to create a unique paperweight. Cut and sewn to size, it can become, for example, a kitten like the one in the photo. Simply stuff it with a heavy material, such as small stones, to make it even more functional.

Gypsum

Plaster, like resin (as we'll see shortly), is an excellent material for this type of project. Even just a silicone mold is enough to create detailed paperweights. In this case, it's a globe, but you could create a variety of other designs. Pour the liquid plaster into the molds, let it dry completely and customize it as you like.

Salt dough

The paperweight in the shape of birds with a stone base is cute. It is made with salt dough (made by mixing two parts flour, one part salt, and one part water) and shaping it by hand. You can also add food coloring, or paint it once it's dry. The color and design combinations are endless; just go wild!

Bike chain

Would you ever have thought of using the chain from an old bike To keep documents organized on the table? Once it's perfectly clean, you can glue it around a support (preferably made of a sturdy material) and use it right away.

Resin

La resin It's a staple in DIY projects, but even more so when it comes to paperweights. It allows you to create elegant and refined pieces like the ones you see above. To make them, all you need to do is:

• Pour the transparent resin into the silicone molds after mixing it with the catalyst according to the instructions (you can find them on the package)
• Add elements as desired such as dried flowers, glitter or shells
• Leave to harden for 24 hours, after which you can unmold and smooth it, if necessary.

Read also:

• How to organize your home office
• Creatively Recycling Folders: 10 Useful Ideas
• Recycling Ring Binders: 10 Ideas

Cover photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash