Monday, March 19, 2012

The Simplest Makeover On Earth

Have you ever done a little project that you just loved for the simplicity of the thing? That's how I feel about the easy peasy project that I did over the weekend for my kitchen.

Actually, I not only love it for the simplicity, I love it because it was so cheap it was almost free and  because, well.. I just love the way it looks on the wall.

I mentioned on my last post that I am changing out my kitchen accessories from red to Granny Smith green for the spring.  I needed to replace the red and white plates that hang over my kitchen table.
lousy picture

  I have been eyeing some black and white ones in different patterns at Hobby Lobby for months now, but I'm really too cheap to pay ten bucks apiece for a decorative plate.

Instead,  I made some of my own. I used those square plates from the Dollar Tree that I had on my St.Patrick's Day table and some tissue paper that I had around the house.



I realize that Mod Podge is crafting for dummies,
 but I'll walk through the steps just in case anyone is interested.


First, spray the plate with primer. It works better on a painted surface.
Then, just spray the tissue in place with spray adhesive

(These are decorative wall plates and not for eating so they go face up 
on the front of the plate and not the back. )


Press the paper into every nook and cranny with your fingers. Nearly all wrinkles and air bubbles can be pushed smooth if you're just patient.

Crease the edges


Cut away the excess. 

Then brush on the Mod Podge with a large foam brush. 
I used the glossy Mod Podge for this one because plates are shiny. 

I push it around the edges with my fingers. 

Let it dry...


I never use scissors for decoupage because you can't get a good edge.
 However, my exacto blades are kind of dull right now. 

Some of the edges were a raggedy mess

But even they shaved away really easily with a good, sharp kitchen knife.
(Which then needed to be resharpened, of course...)

Just carefully shave away uneven edges 
with the side of the blade after it's dry but before it has set too long.


And Ta Da! 


Total cost for four plates was $4.00 for the plates
since I had every bit of that tissue paper around the house.

Here they are next to Paddy O'Pauper's table.
(Those red and white plates are the ones that were hanging there.)


I'll be changing out the table and the rest of the accessories 
to Granny Smith green this week, 
but I wanted to share the simplest makeover ever right now.

And that's how I spent my St. Patrick's Day...
Gluing old tissue paper to cheap plates. 
Kind of pathetic, isn't it?

So, what did you do over the weekend?

*****
Sharing this on Met Monday

39 comments:

Susan Nowell @ My Place to Yours said...

Um, since I'm exhilarated just thinking about your fun project, does that make me pathetic, too? If so, I guess I'm in good company! I LOVE everything about this project.

Crickit said...

What a great project! It turned out beautifully! :)

Debbie said...

Good morning! I am soo glad you did a walk through on this project as I wondered HOW it was done....I LOVE IT. They look great...and your right, 4 bucks beats 40 all to pieces. Enjoy your day! HUGS

Donna@Conghaile Cottage said...

"LOVE,LOVE,LOVE"! The patterns in the tissue(NOW on the plates) is SO PRETTY. It will go with ANYTHING you put on your table! You spent your St Patrick's Day wisely and I can see you smiling with your accomplishment! I spent the day cooking and eating, cooking and eating! I like what you did BEST!!!
Have a great week,
Hugs,
Donna

Denise said...

Awesome project.

The Decorative Dreamer said...

How cute! They turned out really good and shine just like real dishes too. You certainly thought of it all. Excellent job, and I love the papers you used as well. I will definitely be keeping this one in the old memory bank for future use!

Christine said...

I am soooooo doing this!

Debbiedoos said...

Those are adorable! I love to decorate with plates as they add so much fun and color to a wall. FYI, my new URL is http://debbie-debbiedoos.com. I moved to word press and I feel Like I am in a new world...not a good one right now LOL!!~~

Renée said...

You are such a fun teacher and this is maybe my favorite "show and tell" ever! I made something like this for Mother's Day years ago with my little hand print. Think of all the fun ways your simplest makeover can brighten our homes. Thanks Debbie, pinning and thinking!

Anonymous said...

Debbie, your plates are great! What a wonderful idea! Thanks for sharing the tutorial! I have to try this; I love it!

At The Picket Fence said...

Way to go! I love the black and white and love the price even more! :-)
Vanessa

Suzy said...

These are so cute! What a great way to inexpensively change up your accessories.

Barbara F. said...

This dummy never used Mod Podge, so this was a helpful tutorial. I like that now I can make my own holiday plates for show. Great post. xo

Denise said...

Your plates are just wonderful. I LOVE the way they look on the wall. I am so going to try this project. Plates are always such a great room accessory but usually so expensive. This tip will certainly fix that problem. Thanks, sis, for sharing.

Ruby Jean said...

Oh WOW!!!! I LOVE it.. What a Great idea.. They Really do look AMAZING!!!

Ann said...

Sooooo cute! Who'da thunk you could get pretty decor from dollar plates?

Thanks for the tutorial AND the ideas!

Cheers!

Gina said...

Sometimes the easiest projects are the best projects. These turned out great...I love them!

Kathleen said...

Your plates look great! I love the holders too. I think we need Dollar Tree to open up over here.

Lynn said...

Lovin' your new plates, the great thing is you can make them look exactly the way you'd like-enjoy:@)

Pat@Back Porch Musings said...

I love the black and white plates and admire your creativity!

Chatty Crone said...

Okay - don't call me a dummy! lol seriously - what kind of 'tissue' did you use? sandie

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness! You just keep getting craftier and craftier!
The plates look great and Paddy's tablescape is quite lovely!

Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads said...

I love your plates! I use black and white in my kitchen, and I was just thinking that I wanted to replace some of the plates I had hanging in there.

Maryann said...

I am impressed as always with your creativity
Think I am going to have to find some of that mod podge and give this a whirl

Miss Char said...

They look fabulous Debbie and you sure can't beat the price. Mod Podge to the rescue once again. Thanks for sharing.

The Charm of Home said...

Debbie,
You did a good job with that! It looks fantastic!
Sherry

Sanghamitra Bhattacherjee(Mukherjee) said...

Awesome project and you did a great job!
Thanks for sharing.
Hope to see you on my blog:)

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

I really like the new look! Great job! I have thought about getting the clear glass plates at DT and doing a napkin or tissue paper on the bottom, but didn't think of doing tissue paper on the top of plastic plates!

Katherine

SoonerLaura said...

LOVE the black and white. This reminds me I bought some plates to hang on the wall MONTHS and MONTHS ago, I think I shoved them under a bed when guests stopped by - note to myself - look for plates. I spent my weekend - hanging out with friends, working on the landscaping, cleaning house and sewing my daughter's prom dress.

Rettabug said...

That was positively Brilliant on your part, Debbie! I would have just gone at them with the Mod Podge & probably would have made a huge mess. I've only used it once before.
I love the new, updated look & what a save! Yay, YOU!!

Hugs,
Rett

Anonymous said...

Wow and Wow! I just this week put a dozen of these Walmart special white squared plates in the garage sale to be box - clearing out my cabinets for new and better china finds. Well - with a summer of crafting ahead - I'm not getting rid of them now! I'm inspired! Thanks for the tips! May have to collage it, though - we shall see what we shall see . . .

Joy!
Kathy

The Polka Dot Closet said...

Debbie, I have never read anything about mod podge, so I had no idea how to use it. I was just spreading on mod podge and putting down paper and podging over it? Your way is much better with spray adhesive as I was always tearing the tissue. I never thought to use a knife to cut the edge! See, I'm a dummy! Oh and the lady with the pretty sewing room, she calls me Auntie Carol, but she really is just a blogging friend LOL!

Carol

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Oh my gosh,
How stylish and such an easy thing to make. I love your choice of patterns!
Yvonne

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

This is astounding how you can turn a simple plate into beauty...you say simple but talented to me!

Sharon said...

Honestly, I continue to be so amazed at what Decoupage Debbie is able to accomplish. These plates are adorable. I just love them!

I've always been a fan of black and white - and I love it next to the green contrast.

Such a clever girl...

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Brilliant! What else can I say? These look beautiful, and what a bargain. I love it.
I also want to tell you that I love getting comments from you on my blog~ especially if they are long comments. You brighten my day with your comments almost as much as it brightens my day to read your blog. Thanks! laurie

Mrs. Kelley Dibble said...

AbsoLUTEly superb! Love your creativity!

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

Wow! I absolutely LOVE the dishes! Tissue paper and mod podge are wonderful materials to transforms items. I've never used them on the front of plates though. Love this idea and will probably be using it somewhere in my house :)

Denise at Forest Manor said...

Hi Debbie,

I saw this post on Monday and meant to comment then, but it's been one of those weeks. First, may I say that I love the red and white plates with your pale yellow walls? That is such a pretty combination!!

But your black and white plates really pop; you did a great job with those. That is such an inexpensive way to get a designer look. Hobby Lobby has pretty things, but I rarely buy there because they tend to be pricey. I just haven't found anyone to beat Home Goods prices.

I, too, think it's fun to change out accessories with the seasons. I'm hoping to put my bunnies out in the house this weekend.

Thanks for your kind comments about the kitchen renovation; I really appreciate them. We have yet another thing in common, as we moved into our house in 1996, too. With the house being 40 years old this year, we have many projects that need to be done. One at a time, Denise, one at a time. :)

Have a great weekend!

Denise

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