A paperweight is a handy way to prepare yourself for next time. They are easy to make and require very little knowledge to create! All you need is a glass plate and some heavy duty cable ties.
You can make several varieties of paperweight, each with their own use. These include: tableware, craft, and decoration style. Most have handles or sides that can be placed against a tabletop or raised surface.
These styles are not for children, as some may be too risk-averse to create something they are comfortable with in case it breaks. However, there are no rules against making one yourself!
This article will talk about how to make a glass paperweight. This article will give you the basic steps for doing so.
Contents:
Put paper in the bottom of your paperweight
Now put a piece of glass in the top of your paperweight. This creates a barrier to equal distribution of heat and cold.
Put plenty of distance between your paperweight and furnace or radiators to ensure adequate heat retention. This also helps prevent condensation from forming!
Make sure your paperweight is in use- if you have a winter-time use for it, make sure to have it lit for temperature control and preservation of the glass.
By having the glass on one side and the metal on the other, you can create several different styles of paperweights.
Carefully pack sand around your glass
When you’re sanding your paperweight, it’s important to remember that the thicker the sand, the longer it will take to complete.
Because more sand requires more time to create a vacuum of dust and smooth surface, take your time and give yourself some space!
Work in a safe area with friends nearby, or in a club if you don’t have proper safety equipment. You do not have to be very good at this, just keep practicing!
Once you get the hang of it, you will be proud of how quickly you can make one. It is really nice gift that you can make yourself.
Take the paperweight to a jeweler for finishing touches
The first step in making a glass paperweight is finding a source for the best grade of masonite. Mactonite is a rock that is made up of tiny crystals that form when water and oxygen enter it.
This process creates small pockets of moisture, which works with the cut to create glassy sides. You can purchase masonite at your local home improvement store or online at sites like Amazon.
Next you need to find the right sized bag to hold your masonite. Most use one inch-square bags, one-inch-round bags, and one-gallon bags. Make sure you have the right size bag for your masonite due to possible water pressure issues or possible drainage issues.
Buy a metal base for your paperweight
If you want your paperweight to last longer, you need to buy a quality metal base. These can be bought at hardware stores, or they can be ordered on Amazon. These bases are typically for hanging pictures or displaying things.
These bases are typically for hanging pictures or displaying things. When setting your paperweight up, make sure the bottom of the base is lined up with the bottom of the water glass. This way, if someone bumps it, it will not break!
Carpenter’s glue is a good way to attach your paperweight to the water glass. If you do not have this, you can use double-sided tape but it may stick down more quickly and be more difficult to remove later.
Put it in the freezer to tighten the glass further
When you break your paperweight, you want to make sure it doesn’t pop back into shape. If you put it in the freezer, it can actually freeze even further and ensure that your new paperweight is even more firm.
You do not want your new glass paperweight to bend because it is frozen. Make your new piece of glass ice-proofed by putting a small piece of tape on the top of it. Remove and freeze again to add some more bulk.
Bullet point: Add some rind or salt crystals to make them look old
First, you can use either lemon or lime juice as the source of flavor, but never both. The combination might seem harmless, but it could create poor quality glass for doing this project.
Pay attention to how it shakes when you shake it
When making a paperweight, you will need some clean shaking hands. You will also need a steady hand as your paperweight requires you to handle it in a specific way to generate the required pressure.
You can do one or both!?!?!?!?!?!?? The key is to have the right kind of pressure when making your paperweight.
Too much pressure will not freeze the material well enough and may break it apart. This may not be such a bad thing if you are going to use it to seal an item, but first you start with this kind of pressure and then less of it until the material breaks open.
Make your glass paperweights by using half-full water bottles, putting book bindings together, or just cutting along a seam if they are thin enough.
Store it somewhere safe but visible
When you want to make a glass paperweight, you’ll first have to decide where to store your glass. Usually, you can make your paperweight by first cutting a length of wire about twelve inches long and then wrapping the cut end in layers of rubberbanding or thread.
You can then wrap and stretch your paperweight to its desired size! This is how you make a mama-san (bigger) or small (less) glass paperweights.
You can also cut shorter lengths of wire, roll up the ends of the wire, and then wrap and stretch your paperweight. This is how you make a baby (smaller) or mama-san (larger) glasspaperweights.
Don’t drop it!
If you do not want to touch your paperweight, then be careful. Some glass surfaces can get hot if they are improperly placed.
You can put your paperweight in a dishwasher, but make sure to check it first to make sure it does not break!
Be prepared to wash it! Once dry, repeat above process. Your glass paperweight will look beautiful and brighten up any room you enter.
There are a couple different ways to make your glass paperweight. You can go for the easiest one- simply place your glass paperweight on a flat surface, put some Towel Blocker on it to prevent water from dripping off, and let it dry! This one takes only a few minutes to do!
Or you can go for the more complicated- use spray paint or Vasoline as an insulator.