REGLAZED SILHOUETTE PLATES

PROJECT: REGLAZED SILHOUETTE PLATES
Materials:Thrift shop or unwanted ceramic plates
8 1/2-by-11 inch inkjet sticker project paper
Scissors
Foam brushes
Rubbing alcohol
Porcelain paint

This project is an excellent example of resourcefulness: turning something
ordinary into a thing of beauty.
A visit to any Goodwill store will lead you to a treasure trove of plates
in unusual patterns, available for pennies. Also, your own home may
have stacks of unwanted ceramic tableware full of outdated floral and
kitschy patterns—perhaps passed down from another generation—
that clash with today’s simpler, cleaner table settings.
Like a chipped piece of furniture in need of a good coat of paint,
consider reglazing these plates into gorgeous new pieces.
Print an image off the computer of a silhouette you find pleasing on
sticker project paper; choose a shape that is easily identifiable. I chose
this simple image of a cow and enlarged it to fit the size of the plate.
With a pair of scissors, cut out the image, peel off the protective
backing, and adhere it to the center of the plate. With a foam brush,
clean the exposed surface with rubbing alcohol. Once dry, brush a coat
of porcelain paint on the plate. You may need several coats of paint,
depending how dark you want the glaze to be. Allow to dry overnight.
Peel off the image from the plate and place it in the oven. Heat it to
350 degrees and bake the plate for 25 minutes. Turn off the oven and
allow the plate to cool completely inside the oven. Your handmade
plates are hand-washable only.