When is a plate more than a plate? When you make it yourself and give it as a hostess gift, that’s when. Add extra oomph by topping it with your special homemade fudge or give it as is. Either way, you’ll be sure to be invited again!!

Once again the basic techniques for making this plate are super simple, and allow for infinite variation. What you'll do is make a collage of various paper materials on the back side of a clear glass plate. Then, after the glue has dried, you’ll use either spray paint or acrylic craft paint to paint over the materials glued to the back of the plate. This creates a solid background for your collage.

Turn the plate over, and you’re bound to be impressed! As messy as this project looked when you were working on it from the back, that’s how sharp and professional it looks when it is finished and viewed from the right side.

In the example shown, I used cut-out fruits and flowers from a nursery catalogue to create my central motif. I added a piece from an ad for fabric from a home furnishings magazine to create the plaid center. Then all around the edge, I glued vintage cigar bands from a box full I bought at an estate sale.

Although I used a small number of cut-outs, the warm color palette and simplicity of the design are the things that make my plate look simple and elegant.

When planning your design, keep in mind that since you are essentially working backwards, on the back of the plate, if your items overlap, you will need to glue them on in such an order that they will appear the way you intend them to. For example, I glued the wreath of separate fruits on my plate, and then glued the plaid paper over that. Just think it through before you glue.

Here are just a few ideas of types of paper to use for this project. Magazines provide tons of possibilities. Choose images all of the same thing, or all of the same color, or put several unrelated images together to tell a story. Cut pieces of solid color areas into your own shapes, even letters and words (just remember to glue them on backwards so they will appear correctly from the front of the plate.)

Cut or tear your images, whichever you choose. If it is a formal look you are after, careful cutting is the way to go. Casually torn images yield an informal, arty style.

Wrapping paper is also an excellent material for this project. Take your time carefully cutting motifs from a pretty paper and arrange them as you go.

Visit the Asian markets for wonderfully colorful Chinese and Japanese papers to create an exotic design.

And yes, this is another time when the color copier can provide inspiration. Copy a snapshot of you and your friend together, and incorporate the copy into the collage for a personalized gift. This plate will be at home hanging on a plate hanger on the recipient’s wall.

Remember that plates are wonderful as wall décor as you design yours. Use scraps of your wallpaper along with other materials to make a series of three coordinating plates to hang above your dining room buffet.

What You Need:

Glass plate
Mod Podge decoupage medium
Junky brush
Magazines or other collage materials
Spray paint or acrylic craft paint.

What to Do:

1. Cut out images, as above. Use brush to apply a generous amount of ModPodge to the center area of the plate, or wherever you are starting your design. Apply images, face down into the ModPodge (don’t worry, it will dry clear) then coat with another layer of ModPodge. Use your fingers or the brush to smooth paper and press out any air bubbles.

2. Proceed to the border, or whatever other area of your plate you will decorate next. Apply ModPodge as above, then paper, let dry. Don’t worry that your plate looks messy. The streaks of clear dry Modpodge will not show in the finished project.

3. Use either spray paint or acrylic craft paint to paint over the entire back surface of the plate. Use a color that contrasts with your collage elements. Depending on the color you choose, you may need to apply more than one coat of paint to get an opaque covering.