Decoupage Photograph Plates- cool wall decor!

This past week, I came up with a project that I wanted to try for my mother’s upcoming birthday. How about a wall of photo plates? Great idea and the plates make beautiful decorations!

diy photo plate wall art

Cool aren’t they?  This is a great way to save memories in a unique way as home decor! And the cost?  Just pennies.  Use dollar store plates and paper copies from your printer.  How easy is that?

For this project I used:

Paper copies photographs
Clear glass plates
Scissors
Pencil
Paintbrush
Mod Podge (Matte Finish)
Dark Gray Acrylic Paint

diy photo plate wall art

I started out with some black and white photos, printed out on my laser jet printer. (Be sure to use a laser jet printer or copier when making copies of your photos for this project). Ink jet printers will cause the ink to bleed when the Mod Podge is painted on. Ask me how I know….

diy photo plate wall art

I used saucer sized clear plates for this project that I found at Walmart for just $1.00 a piece. Lay the plate over the photograph and trace around the plate.

diy photo plate wall art

Cut out the image…

diy photo plate wall art

To allow for the bend of the plate, trim around as shown. Try not to add trim lines across any faces. Turns out I really didn’t have to cut them as deep as shown above- maybe about an inch in.

diy photo plate wall art

Paint the back of the plate with Matte Mod Podge…

diy photo plate wall art

Press the photo face down onto the back of the plate, smoothing out the edges and any wrinkles.

diy photo plate wall art

It should dry in about an hour. Flip the plate over and you should be able to see your handiwork! Once dry, add a layer of Mod Podge to the back. (I found that if I added the Mod Podge to the back when the other side was still wet, that it turned the photo a cool looking green- so I did this on two of the plates for a bit of variety).

diy photo plate wall art

Finally, since the photos didn’t quite meet the edges of the plates, I painted the backs a dark gray with acrylic paint and then added a final coating of Mod Podge for protection.

diy photo plate wall art

Some of the plates turned out better than others. But I’m sure my mother is going to love them. The photo above is of my dad sitting on the steps of the house he grew up in. This photo worked well with the plate.

diy photo plate wall art

This is my family back when I was very young. I’m thinking this particular photo may have worked better on a larger plate so as not to have faces along the rim of the plate.

diy photo plate wall art

My sister and my dad …

diy photo plate wall art

For future photo projects, I will either go for plates without that inner circle or opt for photos that work better with the plates I have. But all in all, I was happy with the outcome. For hanging, most craft store and Walmart sell plate hangers, or you can sit them on plate easels on a desk. This particular process can be done with any print out, or even fabric! Lot’s of variety here. I think mom is going to like her birthday present.

 

Want to try your hand at quilting?  My newest quilt Pattern- Batiks Gone Wild!  A great gift!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you new to the Sitcom?  Be sure to check out my Frequently Asked Questions Page!

For over 150 crafty tutorials for all ages, visit my Tutorial Page!