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