I always love the days and moments leading up to any holiday. The anticipation, excitement and planning are a big part of the fun.
The past few days, we’ve had discussions with our kids about Thanksgiving. From why we celebrate it to what we are thankful for. And with that, I had an idea to create a Thankful plate for this holiday so we can be mindful of all the blessings we have while enjoying our annual feast.
This was such a fun project. My three oldest kids really enjoyed it and took it seriously. They are so excited to eat off of their homemade plate and to show it off to our extended family next week.
We made two kinds of thankful plates. Both are lovely and can be used time and again, so it is a matter of preference.
Here’s my appearance on The Rhode Show showing you how to make these adorable plates!
Painted Decoupage Thankful Plate
Materials:
Clear dinner plate (I found ours for $1 each at the dollar store)
Mod Podge
Acrylic Paint
Drawing made by your child or Thanksgiving print out
Paint brush
Sponge brush
Crayons and markers
Rubbing alcohol (for wiping the plate clean ahead of project)
Method:
1. Using a cotton ball or tissue, rub the plate with alcohol to clean it.
2. Trace a circle using the inner part of the plate, then cut it out.
3. Have your child draw what they are thankful for on it. Be sure to have them sign their name and include the year.
4. Lightly paint Mod Podge on to the back of the plate. Place your child’s design, design side down on to the glue. This is so you can see the design from the front of the plate.
5. Let that dry a bit. Then paint a thin layer of Mod Podge over the design on the back of the plate to seal it on to the plate.
6. Let that dry completely before painting. Next, paint the back of the plate with the color of your choosing. You may need two coats of paint, so be sure that it dries completely before putting on the second coat.
7. We let our plates dry over night before applying a glossy Mod Podge over the paint. That is the final step and keeps the acrylic paint in tact, otherwise the paint will chip or wash off.
8. Admire your child’s beautiful plates and enjoy!
***To protect your child’s hard work for years to come, be sure to only hand wash this plate and not submerge it in water.***
Heirloom Thanksgiving Plate
This plate would make a wonderful hostess gift or can be put on display in your home as part of your holiday decor. We are using Sharpies for this craft, and while Sharpie says their products are considered non-toxic, Sharpie markers are only recommended for use on ceramic or glassware when the product is being used for decorative or display purposes. That’s why this design is on the rim of the plate. You could put dessert or something small on it, or include it with your decorations.
Materials:
Oven-safe ceramic plate (I also found this for $1 at the dollar store!)
Oil-based Sharpie markers
Method:
1. Wipe down the rim of the plate with rubbing alcohol before starting.
2. Decorate your plate with your design. (We decided to all have a turn and write down what we are thankful for around the rim of the plate.)
3. Let the marker ink dry completely.
4. Bake the plates in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes to set the marker. Remove the plates from the oven once they are cool enough to touch.
Which plate do you want to make with your family?
