Painted Ceramic Plate Sign

I have been on a kick of painting on glass lately.  I love how I can customize my own decor with very inexpensive pieces of glassware that I pick up in dollar stores, thrift stores and other places.  Today I am going to show you, yet another project painting in plates.

Papa and I were out shopping at Old Tyme Pottery one day and I was checking out the array of white ceramic dishes they carry, trying to decide on something to paint.  Papa found these square salad plates and suggested I come up with a design that would use the three together.  

So I purchased three square salad plates at $1.49 each not knowing exactly what I was going to do with them.

About a week later we were at Wal -Mart and I found this chevron stencil made by Folk Art.  I have been wanting one for a while so I picked it up.  My best ideas come when I wake up in the middle of the night and can't sleep.  Are any of you like that?  So, the idea came to use the chevron stencil on the plates and add some lettering.  I came up with the word E-A-T.  One letter per plate.

I began by cleaning the plates with soap and water and then wiping them with alcohol to make sure there was nothing on them.  I then taped this frame design stencil piece in the center of the plate.   I placed the chevron stencil over the top of it and painted the chevron stripes in blue using craft paint. Then outlined the square in black.  

After this was done I just stenciled one letter in the center of each square.  I baked it in a 425 degree oven for 30 minutes and let it sit in there over night to cool.  I placed the plates in the oven prior to turning it on so they would warm up with the oven and not break from the shock of being placed in a hot oven.  I have done ceramic pieces before but, used Sharpie markers to paint the design and have not had any problems with it.   However, I did have some fading of the paint this time like it had simply disappeared.  I decided to just go over all the painted areas and put a second coat on it but, did not rebake it.  I have no idea as to why this occured but, will definitely be using Sharpies on all my glass painting from now on.  

This is the finished sign.  I photographed it lying down as I will be hanging it above the kitchen cabinets.  Our kitchen is a hallway type with no windows and no natural light at all so, it is quite dark and difficult to get a picture.    I think it will be perfect there  along with our other hand painted projects I have done.

NOTE: These plates are strictly to be used as decorative items and are not intended to be used to hold any food meant for consumption.

Have you ever done a project that just didn't turn out the way you planned and had to do a little redo?  This happens to me quite frequently and sometimes it turns out ok and sometimes it winds up in the garbage.  Thank goodness I could save this one.  

I love hearing from you and reading your comments - I do answer all comments by email.

Until next time - have fun creating something you love.

I will be linking up to the parties listed on the I Party At page above.