DIY Your Own Gorgeous Plates With This Dollar Tree Hack

There's no need to break the bank next time you host a dinner party. You can craft your own gorgeous plates with a handful of simple materials and a bit of DIY magic. You may assume you need to invest in a fancy dinnerware set to make your tablescape more interesting. But, believe it or not, you can cultivate a more elegant design with items they sell at the Dollar Store. Pick up some glass plate like the Moderno Clear Glass Dinner Plate from Dollar Tree, patterned napkins, and spray paint to craft a convincing fancy plate dupe.

Some other important materials you'll need for this project are dishwasher-safe Mod podge, scissors, a paint marker, and a working surface you don't mind getting paint all over. A tarp or large piece of cardboard should work just fine. When picking out your napkins, be sure you select double-ply, patterned napkins. You'll know you picked the right kind if you can easily peel the pattern from the napkin. You can opt to recreate a classic china-inspired plate or perhaps a more stylized plate based on a specific aesthetic or season. For instance, TikTok user, shellydoesdiy, created a traditional china plate but also made a couple Christmas-inspired ones as well. Pick your spray color based on the pattern you select. If you use a chinoiserie pattern, you might want to go for a white spray paint. If you do a spring floral pattern, maybe you'll find that yellow would look best. Opt for a silver or gold paint marker to use on the edge of the plate.

If you're ready to recreate this budget-friendly table decor, start by prepping your glass plates. They will likely have a price tag sticker on the bottom. We need this space to be nice and clean to pull off this project. Instead of scratching at the sticky tag, take a blow dryer to it until the adhesive melts. It should peel off clean. Thoroughly wash the plate and be sure it's free of any dust or fibers. Now it's time to prepare your fancy napkin pattern. First, peel the back layer of the napkin from the pattern. Once you're done with that, carefully cut out the shapes you want to include in your design. Take this time to map out where you'd like to place your patterns.

Once you decide on a design direction, add a thin layer of dishwasher-safe Mod podge onto the back of your glass plate. Arrange your napkin cut-outs on the plate. Apply another layer of Mod podge and let it dry. If you want to add a gold or silver embellishment with your paint pen, do so now. After the mod podge and paint is completely dry, cover the back of your plate with spray paint. Once that dries, apply one last layer of dishwasher safe mod podge and there you have it! You've created a beautiful and affordable Dollar Tree DIY plate.