How To Create A Wall Display With Vintage Silver Trays

Creating a wall display of silver serving trays is easier than you may think!

I love this look. Creating this display was one of the things that I most looked forward

 to when I was redecorating my dining room. I already had a small collection of silver 

plated serving trays that I had purchased at thrift shops. All I had to do was figure 

out where and how I wanted to hang them. Here is how I created the look.

I had the room painted sage green with one opposing wall painted deep plum.

After I had my furniture in place I decided that the trays would look great surrounding 

my baker's rack on the plum wall. I liked the idea of the contrast of vintage silver against

the deep plum. Because I was using different shaped trays, I held each tray up against the

wall to determine its placement and spacing. I didn't measure or do anything fancy, I

just decided which tray I liked next to which, and then estimated where I wanted to 

hang them.  This was important to do because the oblong trays could have been hung

either vertically or horizontally. I simply held each tray up against the wall and turned
it every which way until I was pleased with the order and placement.

Once I decided the placement of the trays on the wall, it was time to give each tray a

hook on the reverse side so that I could hang them. Here's how I did it.

Supplies needed: E6000 adhesive and large paper clips. That's it!

Before attaching my hooks, I washed my trays but I did not polish them. I wanted them
to retain their tarnished vintage finish so I just washed them in hot soapy dish water
and dried them. If you want your trays to be shiny, now is the time to polish them. 

For the hooks we will use E6000 adhesive and large paper clips. 
You can buy E6000 at most craft and hardware stores.

On the reverse side of your tray, determine where the center is. You can do this by
measuring with a ruler or measuring tape. Apply a long heavy bead of E6000
adhesive to that center spot near the edge or rim of the tray. If you tray is recessed like 
mine it the photo is, you will need to attach your hook not at the very lip of the tray, but at
the flat bottom area. This is so that the tray will hang flat against your wall. 

Pick up a large paper clip and gently bend it just slightly so that you separate the small 

bend from the large bend as shown in the photo. In the photo I am holding the large bend.

The smaller bend is what will go into the glue. The large bend will be the hook for the nail. 

Press the small bend of the paper clip into the adhesive that you put on the back of

your tray until the small bend of the clip is completely entrenched in adhesive. 

Allow adhesive to dry overnight.

Here is what it should look like. Once the adhesive has completely dried you 

can hang your trays!

Hammer your nail into your wall and then hang the tray on the nail by

hooking the large bend of the paper clip onto the nail. That's it! 

The size of the nail you use will be determined by the material that

your wall is made from and also the size and weight of your tray. For

large heavy trays you should use larger fasteners or mollys/anchors.

My completed display.

It's THAT easy!

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What do you think?

Custom Letter (or word) China Plates Tutorial

This project was actually created out of my need for signage for my new art studio

at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem, PA! Having lots of great wall space to fill, I needed

a way to display my name on my wall so that when folks visited my studio they could get

an idea of who I am and what I do. I'm never one to go the traditional route, so I didn't want to use standard printed signage. Instead, I put my brain into creative overdrive and   

created my own unique signage by working with what I'm most familiar with: plates!

I love how they turned out!

 I thought I'd share with you how I created these word plates in case you'd like

to create your own. Just imagine the word possibilities that you could create with these!

You could spell out anything that you could imagine and hang them anywhere in your home.

A few ideas: EAT or DINE (for the kitchen), RELAX or DREAM (for the bedroom), FAMILY

or HOME (for the living room or family room). You get the idea! 

This really is a great DIY home decor project that costs next to nothing (and its fun!) 

Check it out!

My finished letter plates, ready for hanging! This entire project only cost me $6.00!

Materials Needed

A collection of old plates, all similar in size
Black Sharpie marker
Large sized paper clips (you will need one for each plate)
E6000 adhesive
Toothpick or craft stick to apply adhesive
Paper plate (to rest the adhesive on while you are working)
Vinyl stick on letters (the repositionable type)


Instructions

1. The first thing you have to do is collect a bunch of different pattered plates. I used dinner-
sized plates which were all similar in size. Each was about 8" across (20.3 cm) give or take an inch or so. They do not all have to be exactly the same size, just close in size. I thought the 
large sized plates packed a punch and made a nice impact, so I went with those. You could also use smaller plates if you prefer. Just make sure the plates that you choose are all
around the same size. It just looks better that way! 

Where to get plates: thrift shops, yard sales, flea markets, friends and family. These are
the best places to find plates. You want to have a variety of different plates, so start
collecting them now and stash them away until you have a nice selection. How about sharing
this project idea with a friend? That way, you can give each other your duplicate plates (since
you will often find a few of the same pattern for sale at one time.) Once you have your plates,
wash them in warm soapy water and dry them, making sure they are very clean.
  

Repositionable vinyl peel off letters. These are the bomb!

2. The next thing you are going to do is get your paws on some repositionable vinyl letters. 

These are sold in different sizes. The size you will use will be determined by the size 

plates you are using, so you will want to collect your plates first and then purchase your 

vinyl letters afterward. I used the 4" (10.2 cm) vinyl letters. These are available from

craft stores, some hardware stores, as well as online. I bought mine at Dick Blick Art 

Supply because that was closest to where I live. One pack of the vinyl letters cost me

about $6.00, and I thought that was a bargain! I was lucky that I only had to buy one

package of letters. Depending on what you are going to spell out, you may need to buy

more than one package, so plan ahead! There are only so many of each letter included in 

a package. For example, the character count of letters in the package that I bought was 

as follows: A-2, B-1, C-1, D-2, E-3, F-1, etc., so check the package!

Before you apply the letters, lay all of your plates out on a large tabletop and turn them 

until you are pleased with the positions of the patterns on the plates. Position the plates 

on your table top in the same order that you would like them hung on your wall. Next, carefully peel off your first vinyl letter and starting with the top of the letter, position it on your plate (either centered or not, your choice). Slowly apply the letter to your plate, starting with the top of the letter and working down. Go very slow to make sure you don't get any air bubbles or wrinkles in you letters when you are applying them. Yes, they are repositionable, but they also stick really well! You do not want to have to reposition them unless it is absolutely necessary! The first time that you apply them is when they have the best adhesion!  Once your letter is applied, smooth it out with your fingers and then move on to the next one. 

There you have it! Isn't that cool? 


3. Once you have all of your letters on your plates you are ready to attach hooks
to the reverse side to hang them with. You can buy those wire plate hangers if
you prefer, but my way is free! Yay! 

Before you attach a hanger on the reverse side of your plate you need to eyeball it
and make a marker mark on the reverse side to indicate exactly where you will be 
gluing the hanger. You want to do this so that your letters will not be crooked when
hung on the wall. With one hand, hold your plate in front of you, perfectly centered 
(facing you), and with your other hand make a small marker mark on the reverse 
side at the top center edge. Just estimate as best you can where the top center 
is on the reverse side of your plate. Then draw a line going down the back of 
the plate from the marker mark that you made towards the center and over the 
foot (ridge) of the plate. That is the spot where you will glue your hanger.  

This line indicates the top center of the plate from the reverse side

4. Open up a large paper clip as shown in the photo below. Use your fingers to bend the

paper clip so that it sits relatively flat against your plate. It doesn't have to be perfect,

 just try to make it flat if you can. I positioned the small end of the paper clip towards

the center of the plate so that the large end of the paper clip would serve as the hook

for hanging.  

I recommend this adhesive. I would NOT recommend using a hot glue gun! 

5. Now you are ready to glue the clip to the plate. Use your craft stick or toothpick to 

apply a thick, generous coating of adhesive to the small end of the paper clip, traveling up

 towards the hook/large end. Coat the entire small end of the clip to the plate. Do not 

be stingy with your adhesive! Spread it around the clip with your toothpick or craft 

stick. Make sure it is really well coated with a nice thick coating of adhesive.

 Allow to dry 24 hours or at least overnight. 

Clip with dried adhesive

6. All you have to do now is hang them on your wall. I used regular nails to hang mine, 

but depending on what your wall material is made of (and especially if you are hanging

 large, heavy plates) you may need to use reinforcements for your nails, such as mollys 

or anchors. If you are unsure of what type of nail to use, ask for advice at your

 local hardware store. 

That's it! 

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial!  

What do you think?

What would your plates say?

Disclaimer: Please use your best judgment when completing this or any craft project! Always remember that safety comes first! Use good sense when choosing where you will hang your plates and always use the correct length and type of nail and/or supports to hang heavy items. When completing this or any project you do so at your own risk. 

China Plate Wall Displays: Cheap and Easy!

Plate walls are simple to make and cost next to nothing - they are also no longer limited to kitchen or living room walls...

But I don't have any plates!
 Find them at yard sales, thrift shops, or online. 

I don't know where to start! 
To coordinate plates with your room, pick a color from your room's  decor - your rug or curtain fabric, and go from there. Or, you might want to contrast plates with your wall color. Check out this collection of wall displays and be inspired! 

Personalize your plates: Decoupage photos on plates to use as photo frames

These dainty rose floral plates are perfect for this shabby desk and chair




Quaint display




Love: Plates with words. via Bees Knees




This dining room wall is covered with bright plates

Blue and white transferware from Nancy's Daily Dish





Keeping it simple 







This plate display was wrapped around the corner and to the next wall




Kitchen plate wall



Lovely spring mantle display via Martha Stewart




Plate wall display coordinated with surrounding furnishings completes the look




Mix whimsical plates with traditional plates for an eclectic, Bohemian look




These framed fruit plates have an elegant, uniform look - even with their variety of colors and patterns. 




Framed plates




via BHG




This clever crafter spray painted thrift store plates to create a rainbow of color.





Plates displayed in a narrow space





These plates and trays, tightly displayed - are all tied together with a theme




Another tight/overlapping display. via BHG




This is plate wallpaper!




Stark white plates create contrast in this bedroom display



Unique or unusual plates add interest





Plates in a line look organized and are different from the displays you commonly see




Another example of a linear wall arrangement

Black and white






Cute powder room display




Instead of plates, tureen lids are displayed in this small bath




Interesting formation of different sizes and shapes




A display of platters via BHG magazine




This massive outdoor plate wall display makes a statement






Contrast



These multicolored plates work well with the brightly painted piano

Decoupage old photos to plates for a personalized display



Decoupage words on plates. I am going to do this with some favorite poems and song lyrics.





Another example of  images decoupaged on plates





Painted house numbers on an old platter



Outdoor plate wall


How to hang plates:
You don't need any type of fancy-schmancy plate hanger mechanisms!  You don't want to use those anyway. They are irritating!  All you need is some E6000 and large paper clips. Perfect! 


Photo via in my own style






What do you think? 
Are you going to dish it out?