Vintage Valentine Paperweights

With Valentine's Day less than three weeks away, it's the perfect time to add a sentimental touch of romance (or schoolhouse puppy love) to your desk with a vintage Valentine Paperweight.  If you don't have any old Valentine's Day cards at hand, check with a local antique shop to see if they have a selection available. I had the luxury of sorting through a few boxes of old Valentine's Day cards earlier this month and chose three simple,...

Wedgwood Cabochon Paperweight

Sorting through mountains of costume jewelry is like therapy for me.  If you have the time and patience for it, I'd highly recommend it.  Just mind the brooches.  Getting poked by sharp pin is no fun at all. The Wedgwood cabochon I used for this project came from the heap of costume jewelry pictured below.  It's a nice piece that set me back $2.00, a bargain for any fan of Wedgwood Jasperware. Most cabochons sold by jewelry...

First Prize at the County Fair!

  Today's paperweight showcases a few items that were bundled together in an old scrapbook album I purchased.  I really love the look of vintage paper, especially when it's a bit tattered.  It really lends a lot of interest to to paperweight by creating depth, texture, and age.  This is why I often refer to PhotoWeights as little shadowboxes you keep on your desk. The items I used are pictured above.  Because...

Antique Puzzle Game Paperweights

Because hand-held, antique puzzle games are getting more and more difficult to find, I was thrilled to come across this Old Funny Face game from the 1920s for just $1.00.  It's a simple piece that includes a man's profile printed on a paper board, less the line for his nose.  In place of his nose, there's a metal chain that can be moved to form different shapes. This puzzle, I thought, would make a perfect paperweight. ...

Finding Inspiration in the Bottom of a Junk Box

On the third Sunday of each month, you can usually find me pulling my vintage shopping cart through the aisles of the Long Beach Antique Market in Long Beach, California.  This time I was on the lookout for old Valentine's Day cards.  I also came across a few bags filled with other goodies that I'm sure will take me a couple hours to sort through. If you create paperweights to sell in your shop or sell on Etsy, and occasionally...

Glass Dragonfly Paperweight with Script Background

Whenever I find myself at Michaels, I spend the longest time looking through their selection of charms and pendants.  With so many to choose from, it's hard to limit myself to just two or three. Some of my favorite pendant designs are by Bead Landing, a brand exclusive to Michaels.  Deco Chic, Bead Corner, and Industrial Chic are a few other lines with unique, interesting pieces. It's easy to design a paperweight around a pendant. ...

Wallpaper Paperweights Made With Scraps and Samples

I'm often asked about the types of items that can be used to create easy paperweights as gifts that look as though they came out of an elegant boutique.  Wallpaper is among my favorite things to recommend. Wallpaper is available in an endless variety of designs, textures, and colors.  In addition to current patterns and reproductions, it's also possible to find samples from each decade dating back more than a century.  Turning...

What's Your Resolution for 2012? Create a Paperweight to Help You Stay Focused on Your Goals

Is this your year to travel abroad? The new year has always been a time to look back on the past and resolve to make changes for the coming year.  For many of us, staying focused on these goals can be a challenge. Whether you've resolved to get organized, drop a few extra pounds, or learn something new, you'll have fun creating a motivational paperweight that will help you stay on track. You don't have to put an incredible amount...