Today's project is a good one to do with the kids while they are out for school. We did this and made sugar scrubs as a family this week. I had bought a Santa plate a few years ago, and it broke before I even got to use it. Sad day. I decided that instead of spending the money on a new set, I was going to make it. This project only cost me about $5.00.
Now originally, I was going to do the sharpie mug trick I tried two years ago (Click here for the post). However, while I was at the store, I noticed they had these handy dandy enamel paints, so I decided to take a shot at using them. I'm happy to report that everything went well.
DIY Santa Cookie Plate and Matching Mug
Supplies
Plate and Mug (It was previously suggested to me to use cheap dollar store plates and mugs because they have a less smooth surface and therefore are more likely to take sharpies or paint)
Enamel Paints (I found my paint at Wal-Mart in the craft section for only a 1$ for each tube)*
Different Size Paint Brushes
Oven
*I should note that the enamel paints do warn not to have the paint come in contact with food. I made the personal decision that the cookies wouldn't be there for very long, so I wasn't concerned about them being on top of the plate. You could also just do a design on the outside of the plate.
Directions
1. Decide and Sketch Out Design
Before you start painting, it's a good idea to take a piece of paper and sketch out what you want your design to look like. I searched out other designs on Pinterest to get an idea of what I wanted mine to look like. My artist skills are limited so painting a Santa sounds like a good way to paint a big red blob. I decided to stick with a simple tree and lettering.
2. Start Painting
I've done quite a few painted signs at this point so I've worked out what type of script works for me and what doesn't. I find cursive much easier and cleaner than printed text. I also have found that you always want to pick a smaller brush than what you think you need. The paint will spread so it's easier to start small and add to it.
You will more than likely need to take your paint in layers. Always let the first layer try before adding the next layer. With light colors, you will probably need to added multiple layers to make the color more bright.
I personally find that I need to work my way from the top down to prevent smudging what I've already done. I also have to find a sweet spot speed wise where I'm being careful but not so slow my hand shakes.
Once you're done, let the plate and mug air dry for an hour.
3. Bake Your Plate
To cure the paint, you can let your plate sit out for 21 days instead of baking it. At this point in the game, that wasn't an option. So we decided to follow the directions on the paint bottle and bake the plate and mug for a half hour at 350 degrees.
I was surprised to see that the color didn't lose pigment when it cured. Sharpie mugs generally do, so this was a good option to keep the design clear.
I did notice that while the design doesn't rub off, it will come off if you scratch it. The paint says that it's dishwasher safe, but I'll probably just hand wash it. After all I can cowboy up and hand wash something once a year.
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