Paperweight Pen Holder Craft
Paperweights and pen holders are essential components of any desk set, but combining the function of these two items into a single object saves valuable space on a crowded desk. Structural bricks are heavy enough to hold down a stack of papers and have holes perfect for holding pens and pencils. Kids can make this craft for teachers or for family members and customize it with their own designs.
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Choosing the Brick
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Structural bricks are made with holes in them, but the amount and sizes of holes vary greatly. Bricks with three holes in them have large holes that are not suited for holding pens. Look for bricks with eight to 10 holes in them that can accommodate a greater number of pens. The size of the holes in these bricks are well-suited for holding pens. If the brick is too large for the desk or has more holes than necessary, cut the brick in half. Score the brick with a hammer and chisel and then pound the chisel along the score to break the brick in half.
Closing the Holes
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The holes in structural bricks go all the way through the brick, which makes the pen holder difficult to move for use as a paperweight. The pens would simply fall through the holes when you pick up the brick. To remedy this problem, close the holes on one side of the brick before continuing with the craft. One simple option is to plug each hole with modeling clay that air dries. Push the clay into the holes and spread it out to cover a bit of the bottom. Alternatively, glue a piece of plexiglass cut to fit the size of the brick. Use a heavy-strength adhesive to glue the plexiglass to the bottom of the brick. After filling the holes, glue a piece of felt to the bottom of the brick to prevent scratching desks.
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Decorating
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You can use a wide assortment of art supplies for decorating the brick paperweight pen holder. Permanent colored markers are an easy-to-use option, but washable markers may be best suited for younger children. Paint the brick with acrylic craft paint and sprinkle glitter onto the wet paint, if desired. Bricks are porous, so it may take several coats of paint to achieve the desired results. Apply a picture to the brick with decoupage medium or watered-down glue. Other craft materials such as pom poms, feathers, fabric pieces, sequins, beads and artificial flowers can be glued to the surface of the brick using a hot glue gun or other strong adhesive.
Protecting the Project
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Paint and marker designs may wear off the brick surface over time, especially if the paperweight pen holder is used regularly. Protect the design with clear-coat polyurethane, which is available in spray cans. If the brick design will also use three-dimensional objects such as pom poms, spray the paint or drawings on the brick before applying these items. Do not spray the three-dimensional embellishments; these objects may fall off over time, but you can reapply them with glue as needed.
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References
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